Welcome to the last day of the WEEK, people!
For our 6-12ers, that means you made it through the first week of school AGAIN. Thank you for making our students feel right at home in their new classes, and while I know that setting classroom expectations is A LOT of work, I know how valuable it is to what you do. Pat yourselves on the back, this is the work that lays the foundation for the amazing things you do!
In the news this week:
- Scholastic Gold!
- Ray Daniels is in the House!
- Guitar Ambassador, Justin Gallagher comes through!
- Durfee Art team welcomes a new team member...
Scholastic GOLD:
BMC Durfee has made the list! We have not had a GOLD key art winner (silver and honorable mention, yes) at Durfee in a long time. The most heart warming part of this is that Ismael Alves (above photo) is in our MLL and Special Education programs (18+ program).
Winning a regional Gold Key makes Ismael eligible for a National Gold Key, and his work will be submitted to compete against students across the COUNTRY for this award.
Excellent instruction, hard work, and a belief that all kids can do amazing things is what this is all about.
Parabens, Ismael, and Congrats Heather Pereira!
Ray Daniels and the Durfee Band/Orchestra:
Ray (above) is a really cool guy. He works in a number of places- check him out HERE from is Tufts University info. So, Ray is guest conducting with our kids a few times a month, and I simply love having him as another adult mentor that can push our kids to be amazing. His feedback and leadership are so valuable, and the high level of expectation (that is also the high level of expectation that Nicole and Julia set, but it's so nice to see it reinforced with an outsider LOL) is palpable when you see him with our ensembles.
Justin "Guitar Hero" Gallagher:
Justin Gallagher will be rewarding one of our Durfee guitar students with a guitar (value $1000 retail) today. How, you ask? Well, our colleague over at Talbot Middle School, Mr. Paul Silvia is the Patron Saint of Orphaned Guitars. He specializes in repairing guitars and string instruments that have been neglected or abandoned and he donates them to deserving youth. This is truly God's work in action, and I am so excited to see this quality instrument land in the hands of one of our kids.
A New Addition to the Durfee Art Team:
With Barbara Mullen stepping away from teaching (we will miss her, but wish her the best), we had the sculpture position open and posted. We are so happy to say that we have secured an UNBELIEVABLE candidate. We welcome Joseph Fontinha to the team, as he brings years of creative and educational experience to the table.
Wrapping up this blog with a thank you to all of you in the one year process for the teacher evaluation. Some great conversation is happening at these meetings, and it's not only a learning tool for you, the teacher, but for the evaluator as well, as we learn so much from your insight and work communicating with parents, building relationships with kids, ect. So, thank you.
Have a great weekend.
Jackie
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