Dear Parents and Guardians,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to another school year. Guilford Central School is a special place that strives to provide a safe, nurturing environment in which each child can flourish. The staff and I look forward to working with you towards this goal.
The staff began the year with two days of Responsive Classroom (RC) training on August 25 and 26. Over the course of the fall we will be engaged in a 30-hour training in The Responsive Classroom, a teaching approach that “emphasizes social, emotional, and academic growth in a strong and safe school community.” The core principles and practices of the Responsive Classroom aim to build classrooms and school that are challenging, joyful and safe. Responsive Classroom schools believe it is vitally important to know children as individuals; emphasizes the idea that academic learning and social learning are intimately connected; and seek a balance between a focus on the individual learner and an equally important focus on teaching individuals how to be members of a democratic community. Given our school vision and mission, we believe that this comprehensive professional development in RC will help move us forward as a school staff and community. You can find the GCS mission and vision printed at the bottom of this letter.
The year also ushers in the addition of a new staff member to our school. Crista Yagjian joins us as our Special Educator. Ms. Yagjian has taught Special Education at the Deerfield Valley Elementary School in Wilmington, VT and at the Conway Grammar School in Conway, MA. She is also a Guilford resident! We are excited and pleased to have Crista as a member of our school community.
SCHOOL BUILDING NEWS
As some of you may already know, asbestos is located in the building. It has been in the building for many years. It is in the wrapping of some pipes and it is completely enclosed. It is also in the ceiling tiles in the hallway leading from the cafeteria to the middle school and in the middle school classrooms. For over twenty years, the WSESU has been working with the EPA to inspect and manage the asbestos found in school buildings. In our most recent inspection last year, the EPA, in their routine monitoring of all WSESU schools, checked the condition of our asbestos material. According to the EPA, it does not present a danger to students or staff. Our custodians routinely check the condition of the pipe wrappings and the ceiling tiles for any changes that would necessitate the removal of material. All asbestos in the building is in the same condition as found by the EPA. We, as all WSESU schools, will continue to work with the EPA to ensure a safe, healthy learning environment for students. If you would like to view our management plan or speak further with me regarding this issue, please contact me at school.
TRANSPORTATION NEWS
We purchased a new school bus with seat belts over the summer. The new bus will be used for the Route 5 run and for longer field trips, such as our Winter Sports transportation to Mt. Snow. Students riding the new bus will be expected to use the seat belts. We are asking for your help in enforcing this rule. Violations of simple rules such as not buckling up and/or twirling the belts will be dealt with in the same manner as other bus violations.
HANDBOOK NEWS
In closing, I want to mention that the 2009-10 parent/student handbook will be posted on the school web site, www.guilfordschool.org in the very near future. We will be printing a limited number of the 2009-10 handbook. If you would like one of the printed copies, call the office to reserve a copy.
Again, welcome back to school and I hope that you have a great Labor Day weekend.
Sincerely yours,
John Gagnon
Principal