On Wednesday evening, primary school families gathered at our Brighton location to learn from their children's teachers all about the plans and goals for the year.  Parents (and grandparents) were invited to look at student work and samples of activities.  Many teachers gave parents an opportunity to write down their hopes and dreams for their child in school this year as well as a chance to write a note directly to their child and leave it for them to discover when they arrived at school today. 

 Families also met with Primary School Director Brad Kershner and with Resident Artists Tess Plotkin and David Cordes to learn more about daily routines and the music curriculum at the Primary level.  Many families attended and were pleased to learn more about what their student is learning every day.

On Thursday evening, our Dorchester teachers and staff welcomed families to our classrooms.  Families rotated through meetings in a large group with administrators and in a smaller setting with their child's individual teachers.  In the larger meetings, Dean of Students Ashley Jaundoo discussed behavior expectations on the bus as well as in the classroom and stressed that her role is to get to know every student in order to support their social and emotional growth.  

Academic Dean  Elise Mostello then outlined the assessment plans for this year.  Our students participate in the Achievement Network, (ANET) which means they take an assessment every six weeks in order to give their teachers information about how much of the material they have mastered.  We are also switching statewide assessments.  In the past our grade 3 through 8 students have taken the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, (MCAS) in the spring along with all public school students.  This year, districts were given the option to switch tests to the PARCC, a test which is more closely aligned with the Common Core, the new national curriculum standards.   There will be more information available as we get closer to the spring.  Both of these assessments will be completed online using computers here at the school.  It's a new day!

In the classrooms, parents heard all about the learning expeditions their child will be engaged in this year and about the classroom routines and expectations.  They also had a chance to ask questions about the curriculum.  In eighth grade, families began the conversation about the transition to high school.  All parents who attended received a folder full of updated information including a school calendar and curriculum information.  If you did not attend, Curriculum Night, your child should have that folder to bring home to you tonight.

Last Friday, our Abreu Upper Strings, our newest violin and viola student musicians, had an opportunity to show what they were learning to an audience (in this case their teachers, Ms. Glasburg and Ms. Teevens). By having their learning validated by an audience/the outside world, they begin to understand the relevance of the material their learning, as well as the value of their own voices to others. It's a way for them to share the process and product of disciplined practice, and the power of working together as a group.  All ensembles will occasionally present one of these mini-concerts.