Superintendent’s Message
3/2007

The Great Opportunities in the Winnisquam Regional School District

One thing I strive to do is to give thanks and appreciate the good things that have taken place each day.  Every day offers opportunities for each of us.    As I reflect upon this year, I have been in the Winnisquam Regional School District for seven months.   I am thankful to be here for many reasons.  One of which is to visit the schools and see the positive impact that teachers and staff have on students.  Sometimes when we are in the midst of changes or in the middle of teaching others, it is difficult to know how much we are affecting the lives of students.  Every action we take has a ripple effect on others. 

We have taken on a lot of initiatives this year such as differentiated instruction, assessments, inclusion, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Middle and High School State Scholars to name a few.  I see the implementation of it in the classrooms.  I also see that we have highly dedicated teachers and staff in this district.  I am inspired by the enthusiasm and the student engagement.  As I reviewed some of my notes on classrooms visits, almost all have had 100% student engagement.  The high percentage of student engagement speaks to the fact that our teachers have great relationships with the students.  It also says that our students value their teachers. 

Building and shaping positive relationships are experiences that stay with us for a life time.  They influence who we are, what we are about, and how we will interact with others.  The relevance of the relationships with what and how we teach is just as critical in shaping the future of our students.  Setting high expectations with rigorous content and critical thinking prepares them for success in an ever-changing world.  Nothing can ever remain the same.  If it did, then we would not have the technology and comforts that we all rely on for living our lives more efficiently and effectively.  With the technological advances that society brings means that educators have to think, teach, and approach strategies in the classroom that will prepare students to succeed in a world that is different than it was 5 or 10 years ago.  This adds a challenge to do things somewhat differently in the classroom.  Does it mean that we’ve been doing things wrong?  Absolutely not!  It just means that we must evolve with our ever changing world of advancements that requires our kids to have different skill levels to have post-secondary success.  This adds another level of challenge to a teacher’s job.  But, I’ve always been taught to see challenges as opportunities to make a difference in this world.  When I walk into the classrooms of our district, I see our teachers making a difference.  An example of that is from a poem written by a 5^th grade student about her teacher, Mr. Bryant at Southwick School.  I would like to share it with you.

Can one person change another’s life Yes A man changed my life once He opened my eyes And showed me there’s more than one way to solve a problem And other people care about each other Even if they’ve just met them He also taught me to care about others  Even if they don’t care about me That unforgettable man Who has taught me so much In so little time Is Mr. Bryant The Greatest teacher ever And the only teacher who has cared so much about me And everyone who enters his magical room. Hannah

Every action has reaction which causes a ripple effect.  As I reflect on the opportunities that we have in this district, I am inspired and proud to be part of it with such dedicated teachers and staff in our schools.