Dear Parents and Guardians of Nessacus Students,

Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year.

My name is John Martin and I am the new principal at Nessacus.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your sons and daughters for making me feel welcome to the Central Berkshire community.  By all accounts the opening of Nessacus has been a very positive one and I am hopeful that this is the beginning of a very rewarding and positive school year for all of us.  

A brief interlude:

One of the prompts aspiring, or for that matter veteran, administrators and teachers encounter during interviews or as an exercise in professional development is to reflect on a personal philosophy of education and vision.

What follows is an excerpt that summarizes mine.  

The philosophic battles notwithstanding, the real challenge for educators and the communities in which they serve during the 21st century will be how they confront, and then ultimately resolve the paradox that exists in public schools today:  How to balance the need for a healthy and nurturing school environment with the demands of high stake, state and federal mandates, how to maintain high standards and increase literacy, while at the same time, to avoid confusing accountability with homogeneity, and how to develop character and foster humanity in an increasingly impersonal and technological society.

The districts and schools that recognize this and are then able to assume the challenge and successfully forge the balance between these apparently disparate points of view will in the end achieve their mission.  They will be able to establish the goals that we would have for all of our children, all of our students. And our mission statements will reflect an educational purpose, an educational philosophy that incorporates high standards and high expectations with the ideals and values that we aspire to keep firmly rooted in our public school systems.  And these districts and schools will be models for the entire nation.

At some point in the near future we can talk more at length about how a broad philosophic approach is itemized with detail and programs and policies.  But that said I wanted to give you an idea of where I’m rooted and where I’m coming from as I begin my first year at Nessacus.  With your help I am certain it is going to be a great year.     

Let me introduce you to some of the other new faces in our crowd:

• Mary Ann Gingras will be teaching Social Studies on the red team.

• Kent Godfrey is the lead teacher in the PAL Program.

• Kim Lagerwall will be teaching English/Language Arts on the purple team.

• As of this writing we are still in process to fill our World Language position.

• Support staff that you might not yet know includes Karen Bossio, Kara Demler and Maria Loza.

Two rather significant building projects occurred during the summer:

1.  Two coats of “December Northwind Blue” paint were applied to the corridors on the first floor.  It is our goal to continue painting during one of the breaks this year.  I hope you will agree the fresh color is a welcome addition.

2.  A greenhouse was constructed in the atrium between the two corridors.  A project long in the planning I would like to thank all of those who contributed to seeing this initiative to fruition.  The greenhouse should provide all of our students with a myriad of learning experiences and opportunities.  We look forward to its long life. 

Lastly:

Note that changes in the Nessacus Student Handbook include modifications to the Student Dress Code.  Also, this fall we will be working to craft an anti-bullying policy that reflects the recent Massachusetts anti-bullying legislation.

Please be sure to review these and all of the policies found in the handbook with your son or daughter.  

In my short time here it has become apparent that Nessacus’ fine reputation is well deserved.  It is my goal to see that we not only enjoy that reputation, but also and more importantly work hard to enhance it.   

Respectfully,

John E. Martin
Principal
Nessacus Regional Middle School