Dear Sackets Harbor School Community,
What a terrific summer we have had I hope everyone had the opportunity to find time for some summer time enjoyment, relaxation, and spend some quality time out of doors. The village has been a buzz of activity during the Can Am Days, Grand Tactical Reenactment, a visit by Funny Cide, rededication of the Covington Memorial in the Military Cemetery, and the many tourists and visitors who came to enjoy our wonderful village and surrounding area. As the days grow shorter and the nights turn a little better for sleeping, we turn our attention to another school year.
This year our students will continue to be challenged to “walk the talk” and embrace the ideals set forth in Rachel’s Challenge. Our Sackets PTO has graciously set up a second training for our students and staff. As part of this, Mrs. Gaffney and I will also be embarking on a priority of goal setting with our students at the secondary level. Students will be asked to establish goals (academic & personal), but also set periodic benchmark points to assess and determine how well they are meeting or advancing these goals. Studies show that those individuals that write and establish goals have a higher likelihood of meeting or exceeding those goals. This is an extremely powerful tool to establish as we embark on raising the standards of our young people.
As many of you have already heard, the “cut scores” for the New York State ELA and mathematics assessments (grades 3-8) were raised this summer after our students were administered the assessments in April and May. While we are all for “raising the bar”, we are sensitive that our community may feel that our students are no longer succeeding or doing as well as they have in the past. Cut scores are raw data that determine whether a student receives a 1, 2, 3, or 4 on the assessments. A 4 point rating is the highest and 1 is the lowest. If a student receives either a 1 or 2, they are mandated to receive additional academic intervention services and are deemed to not be “proficient”. Sackets Harbor students have always scored well on these assessments utilizing the prior “cut scores” and have had a handful of mandated academic intervention students. Anytime there is a change in how a test is administered, assessed, or how the data is reported, there tends to be a lowering of student scores until which time we (students, parents, faculty and staff) are familiar with these changes. I equate this to driving down a road that you travel every day, going the speed limit that you are familiar with. During the night, the speed limit is lowered and you are not informed of the change. The next morning you drive down that same road and you are pulled over and given a speeding ticket. As time passes, many people are given speeding tickets for the same reason. Despite using the excuse that you were unfamiliar with the change, you are still held accountable for the ticket. When the data is reported by the Chief of Police to the Village Board and Mayor, it is apparent that the number of tickets has increased from the previous year and one might conclude that the village is full of “speed demons” and dangerous drivers. Interestingly enough, the incidence of tickets decreased as the residents became familiar with the new speed limit and all was well in the village. It is Mrs. Gaffney’s and my goal to make all of the necessary adjustments to our assessment administration, grade level curriculum scope and sequence documents, testing preparation, and parental contacts to bring everyone on board with these State Education Department changes. I would only ask that we not make assumptions out of data that may not provide valid information. It is not my intent to blame or make excuses, merely provide the best explanation of what is happening in the world of state-wide assessments.
I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to all who attended our graduation ceremony in June. This was a wonderful day to pay tribute to our graduating seniors and send them off into “the big leagues and adult world”. I wish our recent graduates and their families the very best. We also said goodbye to Mrs. Joey Dame who retired after twenty five years of service to our district. We also wish her the very best in retirement.
The maintenance staff has been working diligently to get the building prepared to welcome everyone back to another exciting year. Soccer season is fast approaching and we will be playing on our “home turf” this year. I encourage anyone able and willing to come support our fall athletes and enjoy the fall afternoons here at the school.
The Board of Education and entire school community wish to express our sincere gratitude for your support of and passing of the 2010-2011 school budget. Mrs. Angela Green was sworn in on July 7th as the newest BOE member. As I reflect upon the state of affairs in Albany and the continued economic difficulties, this year promises to be a difficult time again. We are very lucky to have a supportive community that values education and wants the very best for our young people of Sackets Harbor.
As the remaining days of summer draw to a close, I look forward to seeing everyone again for the start of a new year. Our Open House is scheduled for Wednesday, September 1, 2010 from 5:30-7:00. This is a terrific opportunity to meet your child(ren)’s teacher(s) and tour the building. I look forward to seeing all of you at that time.
Sincerely,
Frederick E Hall, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools
