Events Calendar

	Theory of Action
	We believe that if there is a clear focus on the effective delivery of an aligned curriculum by high quality teachers who employ the use of student data to drive instruction, students will be engaged, learn at proficient and advanced levels, graduate, and be college and career ready.

	Our Mission and Vision
	We are committed to developing a community of learners who are academically proficient, demonstrate strong character and exhibit self confidence. As whalers’ oil provided light to the world, so shall New Bedford students shine with academic excellence.

Congratulations April Attendance Champs! NBHS: Gold House - 87.7% Middle Schools: Normandin - 95.5% Alternative Schools: Trinity Day Academy - 85.2% Elementary Schools: Swift - 97.5%

Good Morning:

As most of you probably know, my name is Michael Shea and as of today I am the Acting Interim Superintendent. I am a product of the New Bedford School System, my mother was a teacher in the New Bedford system and I am a proud member of the Class of 1970. The opportunities I’ve had during my professional life came from the strong foundation that I received in this system. I believe that every child should have the same opportunities. I have a strong connection to this community and this district. I have experience as a teacher, supervisor, 18 years as an Academic Principal and 6 years as a Superintendent.

I am very excited and honored to be in this position during the search process for the next Superintendent of the New Bedford Public School District.

I will be meeting with many of you to hear your concerns and suggestions to help move the school district ahead. I am looking forward to working with those who have a vision and desire to help the children of New Bedford to have the best education possible. A team of hard workers will always achieve more than an individual. I am the bridge between the present and the future. I intend to make this bridge as strong as possible.

I hope you have a great day today and I am looking forward to many great days ahead.

Michael Shea

Acting/Interim Superintendent

                             New Bedford's Newest Doctors

Congratulations to Dr. Heather Larkin, Dr. Sue Anne Marks, Dr. Kristin Fortin and Dr. Kathleen Mackenzie!

They received their Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Northeastern University on April 21, 2012.

New Bedford Public Schools proudly announces the Homework Helpers Cable TV Show. read more

New Bedford Public Schools is working in collaboration with the staff of Riverside Trauma Center. The center helps local communities, schools, government agencies, healthcare and human services providers, and workplaces cope with the emotional aftermath of traumatic events such as natural disasters, accidents, suicides, or homicides. We have consulted with them in the past, and are appreciative that Riverside’s trauma-response professionals stand ready to provide “psychological first aid” to individuals and organizations affected after a tragedy. read more

Keeping our children safe ( English )
Keeping our children safe ( Portuguese )
Keeping our children safe ( Spanish)

*** Employment Opportunities ***

Normandin Middle School hosted the 2nd Annual New Bedford Public Schools’ Where Are YOU Headed? Elementary Basketball Tournament and Slam Dunk Contest.

The day was not just about playing basketball. It was about celebrating the partnership of our students and their families with the New Bedford Public Schools. The day stressed the importance of working together to help all of New Bedford’s youth be successful in school and life. School administrators stressed to the crowd that we must all set high expectations that our students are in attendance at school each and every day. By doing this our children can be headed for success in whatever they choose to do.

Students from the following elementary schools participated in the tournament: Campbell, Carney, DeValles, Gomes, Hathaway, Hayden-McFadden, Parker, and Pulaski.

Congratulations to Gomes Elementary School! They won the championship for the second year in a row!

Over 600 elementary and middle school students and family members attended Perfect Attendance Night at the New Bedford Whaler's home game against Taunton High School on January 30th.

Congratulations to the following schools for earning April's Attendance Winners!

Elementary Schools:
      Swift - takes the banner - 97.5%

Middle Schools:
      Normandin - keeps the banner - 95.5%

Alternative Schools:
      Trinity Day Academy - keeps the banner - 85.2%

New Bedford High School:
      Gold House - keeps the banner - 87.7%
          overall at NBHS 85.9%

Congratulations to the students and staff for their continued hard work and diligence in coming to school every day!

New Bedford Public Schools Theory of Action SY 11-12

A focus on the delivery of an aligned curriculum by highly qualified teachers who employ the use of student assessment data to drive instruction, along with effective teacher enhancement and school improvement efforts, will result in students who learn at proficient and advanced levels, and who will be prepared for post-secondary opportunities, will graduate, and will become career/life directed. These efforts will be supported by community stakeholders.

Strategic Goals and Objectives

Goal: Set high academic standards for all students and believe they can achieve them. Increase MCAS scores. Objectives: Improve core instruction. Establish district-wide Literacy initiative. Continue district-wide STEM efforts.	Goal: Create a positive school culture that builds character and self confidence. Engage parents and community in the learning process. Objective: Work with parents and community stakeholders.	Goal: Establish a professional staff that demonstrates quality, diversity and a strong background in content knowledge and pedagogy. Objective: Complete Professional Development Plan and enhance focused PD efforts district-wide.

Strategic Initiatives

Core Instruction: · Implement “looking at the learning”/“Studying Skillful Teaching” initiatives through Research for Better Teaching (RBT) at middle and elementary school levels. · Improve/enhance effectiveness of School and District Data Teams (RBT) and the establishment of Data Coach roles for teachers at each of the middle and elementary schools. · RBT and Efficacy Institute efforts to work directly in the schools in SY ‘11- ‘12. Curriculum/Instruction: · Hire Curriculum Administrator to oversee district-wide curriculum, instruction, and assessment efforts. · Hire Assistant Superintendent for Accountability and School Improvement to oversee district-wide school improvement efforts. · Continue progression towards district-wide implementation of TMI/ blended learning to personalize learning, in support of differentiated instruction. · Re-establish a “Literacy Across the Curriculum” initiative, with a focus at the High School and across the district. · Complete work on ELA curriculum maps · Continue and expand STEM initiatives at the 5th grade, middle school and high school levels. · Expand and enhance the Engineering Academy at New Bedford High School · Continue Aviation program collaboration (with Bridgewater State University [BSU])/coursework at the High School. Expand partnership with BSU. Assessment: · Continue expansion of use of Galileo in ELA for benchmark assessments · Expand technology-based use of DIBELS through Wireless Generation · Continue use of Galileo in math for benchmark assessments	Learning Environment · Work with Efficacy Institute (educators, parents, community leaders and students are engaged in results-driven approach to education reform: Mission, Mindset, and Method, including “student ambassadors”). · Work with K12 Insight to survey of students, staff, parents and the community re: climate. · Facilitate de-escalation of negative student behavior, particularly at the middle schools and High School. · Implement anti-bullying efforts district-wide as outlined in the NBPS Bullying Prevention Plan. · Enhance and expand community engagement/ community-curriculum partnerships including: o    Citizens Schools o    Education Foundation o    Education Roundtable o    Inter-Church Council o    NorthStar Learning Centers (after-school programs) o    SMILES student mentoring/tutoring program o    United Interfaith Action o    Whaling Museum o    Women’s Fund o    Workforce Investment Board (WIB) o    Bristol Community College - Dropout/Recovery – continued efforts with BCC in the development of a comprehensive system of dropout prevention and recovery (Middle College). o    Bridgewater State University expansions including– Aviation program & student teachers/lab school at HayMac & 2012 summer program. o    UMass Dartmouth, including CUSP teacher training initiatives. o    Friends Academy – TMI collaboration, including use of WIDE World training in collaboration with Harvard University · Other – Prioritization of dropout prevention initiatives/increase graduation rates/increase MCAS scores: o    Use of DESE Early Warning System to identify potential dropouts. o    ED/MA DESE sponsored RTTT efforts, including career readiness. o    Continued work with Brockton High School for turnaround efforts at New Bedford High School. o    District-wide “Where are you headed?” campaign	Professional Development/ Data Teams · Data teams/PLCs had continued meeting in SY ‘10-‘11 through the MA DESE Dissemination grant and will continue in SY ‘11-‘12. · Training to improve/enhance effectiveness of Data Teams (RBT) and training for Teachers to serve in Data Coach roles (took place during the summer of 2011) at each of the schools. · Continue Education Data Warehouse training in SY 11-12. · Trainings for “looking at the learning/“Studying Skillful Teaching” provided by RBT were held during summer ‘11 for teaching staff, and the administrators’ course will be held in SY ‘11-‘12. Courses will continue to be provided until all staff are trained. · Training for educators, parents, community leaders and students for a results- driven approach to education reform: Mission, Mindset, and Method., including “student ambassadors”). Training was conducted in spring ‘11 for administrators and is being conducted for the teaching staff in fall ’11 by the Efficacy Institute. · Training for TMI/ blended learning to personalize learning for support of differentiation. (Teacher trainings were held three times per week for much of the 10-11 school year and are continuing this school year. A train-the-trainers session for TMI and use of ExtraLearning Online was held April, 2011 for further dissemination district-wide.) Newly trained trainers will provide training and support at their own schools and at other schools in the district. · WIDE World training in collaboration with Harvard University and Friends Academy for TMI - SY 11-12. · District-wide Literacy Team meetings/training through RBG took place in the spring of 2011 in support of district-wide “Literacy Across the Curriculum” initiative. (Work with Brockton High School staff for High School initiative will continue.) · Training in use of assessment to drive instruction provided by Math Supervisor and ELA Director - ongoing in SY 11-12. · Training in support of efforts related to Dropout Prevention Initiatives/ Increase Graduation Rates: o    Team from Brockton High School to provide support in NBHS improvement process. o    Completion of comprehensive dropout prevention plan. · De-escalation training was provided at district-wide PD day at the opening of the 2011-2012 school year. · BSU teacher training efforts- induction, minority recruitment & licensure

Overview of Major New Bedford Public Schools’ Improvement Initiatives
· At the middle school and elementary school levels, the district is working with Research for Better Teaching (RBT) to address issues pertaining to core instruction and effective use of data teams. Both the “Studying Skillful Teaching” course and the Data course took place during the summer of 2011, with the administrator course for observing and analyzing teaching (OAT) scheduled for SY ’11-‘12. Onsite work will commence in SY 11-12. A focused training was provided for Parker. (Dr. Saphier was to have been the keynote speaker for our district-wide professional development day on August 31, 2011 to “kick off” the school year, but it was delivered by an RBT staff person instead.)

· Work has begun with the Efficacy Institute. Efforts are currently concentrated at the three middle schools and Hayden-McFadden Elementary School, but will expand to additional schools in the district. (The Efficacy Institute’s work is “rooted in the belief that intellectual capacity is neither fixed nor given; rather, you can get smart.”) Through workshops, coaching and training, educators, parents, community leaders and students are engaged in results-driven approach to education reform: Mission, Mindset, and Method. [Consensus will be built around a Mission of academic proficiency and strong character for all students, and establishing a healthy Mindset to support it, backed by a data-driven Method of self-directed improvement.]

· Technology Mediated Instruction (TMI) – Efforts are continuing in SY 11-12 in the targeted use of technology to support classroom instruction and personalize the learning. Trainings for teachers were provided three days per week after school for much of last school year and are continuing. Implementation and training support has been provided by a district Facilitator/Specialist. Consultants from the Remediation and Training Institute traveled to the district in April 2011 to provide a “train-the-trainers” session in the use of ExtraLearning Online to build district training and implementation capacity. The ten teachers who were trained will provide further training and support at their own schools and at other schools in the district.

· To further support our TMI efforts we have begun a partnership with Friends Academy in the use of technology in the classroom and online professional development at Hayden-McFadden. Through that partnership there is a collaboration with Harvard University in the use of their WIDE World online teacher training. A grant awarded to Friends Academy will provide much of the funding.

· The district is moving forward with a “Literacy across the Curriculum” initiative. A district-wide Literacy Action Team was convened in the spring to develop a district-wide Literacy Plan - the first draft of which was completed in July, 2011. The Literacy Action Team has continued its work on the plan, with implementation planned during the 2011-2012 school year. As part of that plan, changes are being made at New Bedford High School, patterned after what has been implemented at Brockton High School – a school that experienced successes in student achievement and in lowering the dropout rate. (New Bedford staff members visited Brockton High in SY 10-11 several times, including subsequent meetings to continue the planning process.) District-wide literacy efforts will also be connected to curriculum development related to transition to the Common Core standards (the new Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks).

· Race to the Top (RTTT) initiatives: To date, district principals and administrators have developed a Common Core team to attend state Curriculum Summits and develop Common Core alignment plans. A Mathematics Learning Community of teachers has been assembled to access Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) approved professional development to improve classroom instruction and support fellow teachers. The district will begin a partnership with the National Institute for School Leadership (NISL) for district leaders and principals to enhance their leadership skills, make systemic improvements, and focus on learning. NISL training is being planned for SY ’11-’12 in collaboration with Dartmouth Public Schools. Counselors at New Bedford High School have been working with a facilitation team to begin utilization of YourPlanForCollege.org, an online student planning and portfolio system. The district will use RTTT funds, as well as state and partner support, to develop and implement a STEM-focused Early College High School/Engineering Academy within New Bedford High school. In addition, an Early College Planning group was established with BCC to review student pathways to increase New Bedford High School’s dual enrollment and student recovery rates, resulting in the Middle College initiative. KEYS for school improvement, an online climate survey for improvement of school culture, has been piloted at two schools, with additional surveys taking place during SY 2011-2012 through the support of K-12 Insight. In summer of 2011, district IT staff made ready district systems to implement Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) for increased alignment of student information and human resource systems.

· Dropout/Recovery efforts: As referred to above, the district has worked with Bristol Community College (BCC) in the development of a comprehensive system of dropout prevention and recovery/adult education. A Middle College initiative was begun in late September 2011. Students are enrolled in college level courses while earning high school credit. It is planned that this work, as well as other recommended strategies suggested by the UMass Dartmouth Urban Initiative, will continue through RTTT and other funding sources, and will include the hiring of Graduation Coaches and Recovery Specialists.

· Bridgewater State University (BSU) Partnership: NBPS and BSU will expand existing teacher training initiatives, including follow-up new teacher induction workshops. Work will also take place in the recruitment of minority teaching candidates and teacher retention, including support of teacher licensure efforts. In addition, a 6-week summer 2012 summer program will take place at BSU. A liaison has been hired by BSU to work with NBPS in the recruitment of students. Also, it is planned that BSU Business, IT and MSW students will support various NBPS efforts.

· Level 4: The district worked with Cambridge Education to finalize a Turnaround Plan for the Level 4 Parker Elementary School, which has been approved by ESE. An ESE funded .5 FTE Plan Manager will be working with the district in the oversight of improvement initiatives at Parker, and will support turnaround efforts district-wide. The district Accelerated Turnaround Plan was completed and submitted to MA DESE on September 7, 2011. A feedback session was conducted in New Bedford by DESE staff and the Plan was resubmitted on October 12, 2011.

Budget FY 2012:

FY 2012 Budget English

FY 2012 Budget Portuguese

FY 2012 Budget Spanish

Magnet School Application 2011-2012

Magnet School Application English

Magnet School Application Portuguese

Magnet School Application Spanish

2011 marks the Sixth Year of October as Bullying Prevention Month Nation-Wide

Many schools are celebrating Bullying Prevention Month in their own creative ways. In classrooms, teachers are talking with students about bullying and discussing children’s literature on the topic. Many schools are also holding assemblies with student performances of original skits, and other presentations that highlight the importance of preventing, recognizing and reporting bullying behaviors.

Every Month is Bullying Prevention Month in New Bedford Public Schools!

All schools in the district are gearing up to implement what research has shown to be one of the most effective bullying prevention programs available, the Olweus model. Each school has formed a committee that will receive training in the Olweus program during October or November. The program will be fully implemented in all schools as the school year progresses, following training of all staff and kick-off events district-wide.

If you would like to learn more about this issue, or obtain resources to help your child understand how to respond to bullying behaviors, you may wish to visit one of the sites below.

Learn more about National Bullying Prevention Month at the Pacer Center, or visit www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov to get more ideas and information.

Bullying Prevention Plan:

Bullying is a serious issue facing our entire society. It is a problem that can have a serious negative impact on our children, including physical, mental and emotional consequences that can become barriers to learning. Modern communication tools now available to many children and adolescents can make information more available to students, allowing them to learn more than ever before. However, these same communication tools can also become instruments of cyberbullying. These tools bring the impact of bullying that happens outside of school into the school environment, where it can disrupt learning for all students.

As parents and educators, one of our primary goals is to ensure the safety of our children at home, at school, and in our community. In May 2010, the Massachusetts legislature passed a law requiring all public schools to develop strategies to prevent and respond to student bullying behaviors, including cyberbullying. In order to help parents better understand our responsibilities under the new law, information is available in the document titled "Bullying Prevention in Massachusetts Schools: Information for Parents" which is located in these languages under the following links: English, Portuguese, Spanish. Printed copies of this notification will also be included in Student Handbooks and can be sent home with students upon request to their child’s school principal.

The New Bedford Public Schools is committed to the prevention and early intervention in incidents of bullying involving our students. The school district has fulfilled its obligation under current Massachusetts law to submit our plan to address this issue to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Plan has been drafted with the input of students, teachers, parents and guardians, and administrators, as well as many other individuals concerned about the safety of our students. You may use this link to review the Plan online.

A critical component of the Plan is the adoption of an evidence-based bullying prevention program in the current school year. After careful consideration, the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program has been selected for adoption by all New Bedford Public Schools. This model requires that schools train a Coordinating Committee to plan and implement bullying prevention activities in their school. Parents and other community members are welcomed as volunteers for this role. Interested parties may contact the principal at the school where they are interested in working on this Coordinating Committee. More information about the program is available at www.olweus.org.

After review of the New Bedford Public Schools Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan, any individual with questions or comments on the Plan may contact Denise Gaudette, Director of Support Services at dgaudette@newbedfordschools.org.

The New Bedford Public Schools wish to thank all those who contributed their time and expertise to the development of the Plan, and those who are involved in the ongoing work of the Coordinating Committee at one of our schools, for their commitment to the welfare of our students.

Another way to share your thoughts about this issue would be to participate in a brief parent survey, which you can complete online at SurveyMonkey for Parents. The survey can be completed in just a few minutes. You may also want to preview the Olweus Bullying Questionnaire designed to gather information about bullying from students. You can find sample questions from the survey online at http://www.olweus.org/public/questionnaire.page. Each of our schools will be using this survey template to gather data that will guide program implementation to meet student needs at their school. As a parent, you have the right to preview the survey that will be used at your child’s school, and to opt your child out of participation in the survey. If you wish to do so, contact your child’s school principal no later than October 31, 2011.

If you have a concern about bullying behaviors impacting your child, please contact your child's school principal. To discuss ideas about preventing and addressing this important issue, you can also contact Denise Gaudette, Director of Support Services at 508-997-4511 x 3220.

With the help of parents and other community members, the New Bedford Public School district is committed to the development and implementation of an effective plan to reduce and prevent bullying in all our schools. Please share your thoughts and ideas on this issue with us.

Parent Survey

Bullying Prevention Final Plan

 

 

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