USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Middleton > Town annual report of Middleton, MA. 1956 > Part 6
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My appreciation is hereby extended to the entire staff, the School Committee and the citizens of the Town of Middleton for their support and cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
RAYMOND S. DOWER, JR. Superintendent of Schools
118
SCHOOL REPORT
PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
To the Superintendent of Schools of the Town of Middleton:
Herein, and on the following pages, is my first annual report as Principal of the Howe-Manning School to the citizens of the Town of Middleton. I have divided the report into major sections in order to cover the topics more comprehensively.
FACULTY
One more teacher has been added to the staff this year. This was necessitated by the increase in enrollment and two fifth grade class- rooms as against only one last year.
The faculty now numbers fifteen classroom teachers, an Art Supervisor, Music Supervisor, Reading Supervisor, Penmanship Super- visor and Principal. New teachers added to the faculty include: Grade One, Mrs. Evelyn Hausman; Grade Two, Miss Joanne Belle and Miss Mary Kelley; Grade Four, Miss Maureen Collins; Grade Five, Miss Rose Durgin; Grades Six and Seven, Miss Ann Hennessey; Grade Seven, Mr. Arthur Mignault.
The sixth grade class of Mr. Eugene Winter has been departmen- talized this year in order to make use of Mr. Winter's scientific, background in teaching grades six, seven and eight. The teaching assignments for departmentally organizes grades six, seven and eight are as follows: Grade Six, Mr. Eugene Winter - Science, Music and Art; Grade Seven, Mr. Arthur Mignault - Social Studies, Boys' Physical Education and Penmanship; Grades Eight, Miss Shirley Foley - Language Arts, Girls' Physical Education and Penmanship; Mrs. Lillian Taylor - Mathematics and Guidance.
CURRICULUM
The curriculum workshop study procedure has been carried on again this year. One afternoon a month, the second Wednesday, the school children are dismissed at noon so the staff may have the rest of the afternoon for study and conferences. This program has received wide attention with several of our neighboring communities pattern- ing their study after this workshop.
This year has seen even greater use of audio-visual aids as a classroom technique. Some of this is the result of the availability of an even greater number of films at a greatly reduced cost through
119
SCHOOL REPORT
the Massachusetts Film Cooperative of the State Department of Education. Further progress is made possible by the use of student projectionists who are able to learn much about film, filmstrips, magnetic tape and public address systems while at the same time offering a service to teachers and the other children of the school.
More books have been added to the Library and Miss Ashley and her student assistants, who are members of the Future Teachers of America Club interested in learning this phase of a teacher's life, are doing a very fine job of distributing these books at the close of the school day. This is especially remarkable since it has been necessary to take over the library room for administrative purposes and the distribution of books must be handled quickly and efficiently.
In the field of Guidance an innovation has been the addition of textbooks emphasizing proper character traits which are known as the Modern McGuffey readers and have been placed in grades four, five and six in order to extend downward our formal Guidance classes into these grades. Howe-Manning School was one of the very first schools in the State to put this brand new series into the classroom.
A subscription has been entered into a brand new club called the "Guidance Filmstrip of the Month Club" to aid in the already existing group guidance classes presently being conducted in grades seven and eight. We also have extended our Comprehensive Guidance Service received from Science Research Associates in order to include more occupational information as well as research work in our formal Guidance classes and a file has been set up in the Principal's Office in order to make this information readily available to all students.
Since the time was made available in September there have been over one hundred initial and follow-up interviews held on personal, educational and vocational subjects up to the date of this report. Because of limited quarters it has been necessary to hold these inter- views in all parts of the building but with the completion of the six-room addition it is expected that this situation will be alleviated.
In addition to the existing testing programs two new instruments for this purpose have been added this year, a Problem Inventory and an Interest Inventory. These measures help the teacher to understand those things which the pupil is greatly interested in but which often- times are not made obvious to a teacher in the classroom. For example, a discovered interest in music can stir a child who has been previously disinterested in reading, to strive to learn in order to read a biography of some composer.
120
SCHOOL REPORT
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The Middleton Teachers' Association, composed of the faculty of the Howe-Manning School, prepared and staged an "Open House" for the fourth year in a row in observance of National Education Week this past November. In addition, the Teachers' Association, in an effort to bring the schools closer to the community, wrapped and packaged gifts for needy children at Christmas time. Approximately 65 children, representing some 20 families, received presents of clothing and toys for Christmas as a result of this work. Money for, this work was received from the Parent-Teacher Association, the American Legion, the Board of Trade, the Grange and from several interested anonymous parties.
Through the cooperation of the Danvers YMCA Saturday morning physical education classes have been held this past year for boys in Grades Three through Eight. Mr. Arthur Mignault of the school faculty has been in charge. High School classes have also been held on Monday evenings under the same auspices.
.Our basketball teams under the direction of Miss Shirley Foley and Mr. Arthur Mignault have accredited themselves well and have had the enjoyment of a goodly number of games in nearby cities and towns wherein they have learned the lessons of sportsmanship which this media can present as can no other.
This year has seen the formation of the Fannie C. Hinkley Future Teachers of America Club named after a teacher who has been of service to the children of this Town for 42 years. The Club is the first on the North Shore and has for its object the encouragement and instruction of those students who feel that they are in any way interested in teaching.
The band, under the direction of Mr. Eugene Winter of our teaching staff, appeared for the first time in the Memorial Day Parade this year and it is hoped that this practice will continue. It also appeared in a veterans exercise in the Fall of the year. Each time the band has been warmly received.
MAINTENANCE
During the Summer, in continuation of the long range program, tile was laid in three of the old classrooms on the first floor, as well as in the clinic, in the hall leading to the clinic and in the teachers' room. Also during the Summer some of the boiler piping was replaced when it was discovered to be worn and more than 100 desks were sanded and refinished.
121
SCHOOL REPORT
Shelving has been built by Mr. Hayward for use in the janitor's room for the storage of supplies.
The outside wall of the gymnasium has been waterproofed in order to keep the rain from seeping into that portion of the building.
NEW EQUIPMENT
Twelve more small size chairs have been bought for use around reading tables and six Universal desks were bought in order to partially offset our increasing enrollment.
In continuation of the long range policy, 50 new auditorium chairs were purchased to replace the older type wooden chairs which, through constant use and through packing and storing each time they are used, have been broken.
CONCLUSION
In accordance with the school's philosophy we are happy to note that the school facilities continue to be used for Town Meetings and Special Town Meetings as well as by the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies, YMCA, Grange and various church organizations. It is most earnestly hoped that these people will continue to make use of the facilities which their taxes support and that others interested will make inquiry as to the rules and regulations.
We at Howe-Manning School realize the tremendous important and immeasurably valuable personage each and every child entrusted to our care is and it is for this reason that we try to find means of improving ourselves through study and learning more about the child through tests and observation. For through these avenues we are enabled to do our task the more perfectly and bring the children nearer to vocational fitness, regard for one another, worthy use of leisure time and a love of God and country.
My thanks and appreciation are extended to the entire staff, the School Committee, and the citizens of the Town of Middleton for their support and cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE E. PORT, JR.
Principal
122
SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
To the Superintendent of Schools of the Town of Middleton:
Vision-Hearing Testing. Every child in the Howe-Manning School has had his vision and hearing checked for the school year of 1955-1956 as is required by law. Each child who failed the first test was retested before the parent was notified of the failure. This program is being planned to begin directly after the Christmas vacation in January 1957.
Physical Examination. All the children in the 1st, 4th and 8th grades and all those participating in active sports will be given a complete physical examination by Dr. Lois Rogers. We have almost completed this program but a few remain to be done. Parents have been notified of all defects found.
Physical Examinations (Findings) :
Number examined by school physical 95
Number examined by family physician 14
Pre-school registration physical 57
Number of physicals recorded (total) 166
Total Defects Recorded:
Nutritional 9
Eye and ear (Not vision and hearing) 5
Nose and throat 0
Cardiac 3
Other defects 6
Total number of children with defects 24
Total number of children with more than one 4
Weighing and Measuring:
Total number weighed and measured 437
Immunizations and Boosters:
Number of children receiving boosters 125
Number of children initial three 21
Total number receiving boosters or three 146
Total number recorded on health record 146
Patch Test Program:
Number of consent slips sent to parents 175
Number of Patch tested 104
Number of children at make-up clinic 56
Number of children re-patched 12
Total number of children patch tested 160
123
SCHOOL REPORT
General Schedule For 1957 January - June
January Vision Testing
SALK VACCINE (3rd Injection)
February Hearing Testing
March Immunization - Boosters
April Pre-school Spring registrations
May-June
Completion of Records and Statistical Summaries
Polio Clinic:
First innoculation March 1956 347
Second innoculation April 1956 108
Make-up clinic school pupils 27
Pre-school children 40
Accidents :
Number of accidents of a serious nature
19
Fractures 1
Lacerations
3
Sprains 4
Imbedded foreign bodies
1
Dog Bites
2
Auto Accidents
2
Miscellaneous mishaps 6
Number of children to doctors office for emergency Rx 3
Doctor called to school
1
Number of Home Visits 20
Number of children taken home ill in 1955 171
Number of children taken home ill in 1956 49
Number of exclusions in 1955 10
Number of exclusions in 1956 19
Number of children seen in clinic room daily 10
My stay here has been a brief but pleasant one. I wish to thank Mr. Dower, Mr. Port and all the teachers for their cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
ANN M. MCCARTHY, R.N.
School Nurse
124
SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF THE HANDWRITING SUPEVISOR
To the Superintendent of Schools of the Town of Middleton:
I am pleased to submit the following report on the handwriting program in the Middleton School for the school year 1955-56.
96% of the papers scored were Excellent or Good. It is reasonable to conclude, therefore, that 96% of the papers were eminently satisfactory. Only 4% of the papers were rated Fair or Unsatis- factory.
During the past school year we graded and diagnosed approxi- mately 10,000 samples of handwriting. A formal test was administered at four teaching-week intervals and a report was furnished each teacher in writing giving a careful diagnosis of the handwriting of - each pupil in the room.
We supplied the following instructional and motivational materials to your pupils and teachers: teacher outlines and folders, pupil folders, motivation graphs, individual certificates to pupils who qualified, diagnostic charts, handedness tests, envelopes, seals, etc.
Our primary objective is to teach your students to read and write both cursive handwriting and hand lettering in order that they may have these two tools as efficient aids in school, business, and social correspondence.
Respectfully submitted,
W. L. RINEHART
Director
125
SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF THE DENTAL CLINIC
To the Superintendent of Schools of the Town of Middleton:
During the past year, more children received treatment in the Dental Clinic than in any previous year since the Clinic was started. A total of 104 patients were treated and of this number 73 have had all dental defects cared for while the others are still under treatment.
In addition to the increased number of patients coming to the School Clinic, there is also evidence that many others are receiving treatment by the family dentist. This is partly due to the dental examination which is given to the entire student body at least once a year. The parents are then notified of the condition of their children's teeth and they are advised to go to their family dentist or to have the work done in the School Clinic.
In the most recent examination which was conducted in September, it was very interesting to see a definite improvement in the condition of the teeth of the children coming into the first grade. In view of the fact that fluoridation of the water has been in effect for some time, I believe that this has been a major factor in the improvement which has been observed. Most of those whose teeth were in poor condition are obtaining their water from wells and are there- fore not receiving the benefit of the fluoridated public water supply.
The Clinic is in operation every Wednesday and Friday morning with the School Nurse assisting one morning a week. Parents are invited to come to the Clinic to discuss the dental needs of their children. The children themselves have, in general, been very coopera- tive and it has been a pleasure to be' of some assistance to them.
Respectfully submitted,
STEPHEN J. D'URSO, D.M.D.
School Dentist
126
SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF READING SUPERVISOR
To the Superintendent of Schools of the Town of Middleton:
Reading capacity and achievement tests have now been admin- istered to all the pupils in the third, fourth and fifth grades and to; some in the sixth grade. In addition, a more advanced reading test was administered to one seventh and the two eighth grades by their language arts teacher. The results indicate a range of differences in achievement of four grades in most classes; five in some. (This situation is not, of course, peculiar to Middleton.)
The children of these grades and others have been grouped, therefore, according to their achievement and needs. In this way the program of instruction for each group provides encouragement to those who read below their grade level, since it gives an opportunity to every child to succeed in his daily reading lesson. The occasional child who does not fit into any group is given special materials to meet his needs and individual attention by his teacher.
Extensive use of the co-basal reading series that was first introduced two years ago and added to last year has helped in the inauguration of several small-group reading classes at the junior high school level. Also, the purchase of the new edition of the basal series for the intermediate grades, which is now printed in two levels for each grade to continue the format of the primary grades, is making, it easier for the teachers to operate this ideal situation with the older elementary children.
A complete set of phonics workbooks has been provided for grades one through six this year. These books supplant and intensify the teaching done by the readers for the recognition and analysis of words. Systematic study of this type over a period of years should give more pupils greater independence in reading any material.
Instruction is provided for approximately fifty third, fourth and fifth grade pupils with deep-rooted difficulties in a remedial reading program. Three small groups of Junior High School pupils take their reading lessons in a clinic situation each week, also, so that they may be given more attention than is possible in a classroom.
Some of the pupils who received extra help in reading last year have been returned to their own classes for all their reading lessons. Others, from the middle and upper grades who scored low in their
127
SCHOOL REPORT
respective reading tests this Fall have been added to the remedial groups.
After consulting with eighteen parents last Spring, their children were given graded materials for vacation reading. It was hoped that a little practice in reading during the summer months would be an aid to these pupils in keeping the skills they had gained over the school year. About half the group read little, or nothing, from these, books. Of those who reported that they had read most of the books they had taken home, three made definite improvements and four more maintained their reading levels of last June.
In December Miss Ruth Tyler began holding a Story Hour at the Flint Public Library for the pupils of our primary grades. One of these six classes will go to the Library each Tuesday, to hear stories that should help to give many of the children information about places, people and situations that they do not have the oppor- tunity to gain through actual experiences. It is hoped, moreover, that these children will want to read some of the great variety of books in their Library and, eventually, learn to make use of its other resources. In any event, we are most grateful to Miss Tyler for her most generous cooperation in this project.
It is only through the systematic teaching of reading at the child's own level and his continued practice of the skills he has learned that he can become as proficient in this subject as his ability will allow.
Respectfully submitted,
DORIS F. ASHLEY
Reading Supervisor
128
SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF MUSIC SUPERVISOR
To the Superintendent of Schools of the Town of Middleton:
I submit, with pleasure, this report of the music program in the public school of Middleton.
In the lower grades we teach many rote songs, stressing sweet tones and clear diction. Some children require extra attention in these lower grades to learn to sing in tune. After the children have mastered many rote songs, note reading is introduced, usually towards the end of the first grade. In the fourth grade we begin to learn rounds, as a start towards part singing. Some fourth grades are able to sing two-part songs by the' end of their school year. Three-part singing is started in grade six and four-part singing in grade eight.
Music appreciation is taught in the classrooms. The children also participate in rhythmic work and dramatization of songs.
The instrumental program continues to progress, with many more students taking advantage of the lessons taught at the school.
Mr. Eugene Winter of the faculty teaches woodwinds, brasses, and drum and Mrs. Lucy Barnes of Salem teaches the violin.
The orchestra meets every Wednesday to practice various selected, pieces. There are also extra band rehearsals held by Mr. Winter for special appearances. The orchestra, played several pieces before the eighth grade graduation last year, and also played the eighth grade processional music.
May I take this opportunity to thank all in the school system for their fine cooperation and friendliness.
Respectfully submitted,
DORIS M. NYQUIST
Music Supervisor
129
SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF ART SUPERVISOR
To the Superintendent of Schools of the Town of Middleton:
The art program at the Howe-Manning School is planned in the light of numerous related aims. These aims include the development of an esthetic sense, the development of manual skills, the opportunity for healthy emotional expressions, cooperative work in group projects, an acquaintance with a wide variety of media for the development of a broad approach to art, and the development of fundamental drawing skills.
Related to an esthetic sense is an appreciation and understanding of color. Color is taught in relation to its warm and cool harmonies. This fundamental analysis is sufficient to serve as a guide, yet leaves much range for personal choice. The rythmic effects obtainable by potato printing and stencil type work, serve also to develop an esthetic sense even at the earliest grade levels. Design is taught in an abstract way as this makes the principles easier to grasp.
The development of manual skills is fostered by papier-mache projects, three-dimensional construction paper projects and clay projects. Paper drinking straws, sawdust, and plaster of paris are some of the materials that have been used in various ways. The uses of such materials plays the dual role of developing manual skills, and also giving insight into the fact that art is not limited to crayon and paint activities .
Group projects are arranged wherein three or four children work on one large papier-mache project. Groups have also worked on large murals. In cooperation with the Student Council it has been planned to have the cafeteria decorated at periodic intervals with work done by the students working cooperatively.
Drawing as such is not overlooked, and occasional work is done in pencil. In the upper grades drawing is taught from the geometric point of view.
Posters of a socially worthy nature continue to be done, and art projects are as often as possible correlated with school studies.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD BRUZZO
Art Supervisor
INDEX
Balance Sheet
-
-
-
-
- 42
Cemetery Endowment Report
49
Cemetery Report
-
-
-
-
-
-
33
Charities
- 25
Cummings Fund
-
-
- -
-
47
General Government -
9
Health and Sanitation
- 21
Highways
-
-
-
-
22
Library and Parks -
-
-
-
- 29
Municipal Indebtedness -
-
-
-
-
-
- 34
Payroll Analysis - -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- 17
Recapitulations -
-
-
- -
- 36
School Department - -
- 27
Town Officers -
3
Town Officers Salaries -
- 13
Town Treasurer's Account -
-
-
-
-
46
Unclassified Account - -
-
-
-
-
- 30
Veterans' Services
-
-
-
-
-
- 26
PART II
Assessors' Report
-
-
-
-
-
- 73
Building Inspector's Report
-
-
-
-
-
- 72
Board of Appeals
-
-
- 85.
Community Health Program -
94
Dog Officer's Report -
- 84
Electric Light Report -
- 86
-
-
-
-
-
-
- - -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- -
-
-
-
- 44
Public Service Enterprises -
- 31
Protection of Persons and Property -
INDEX (Continued)
Finance Committee Recommendations
-
-
- 95
Fire Department Report -
-
-
-
-
- 88
Flint Public Library Fund -
-
- -
- 57
Highway Department -
-
- 78
Jurors List -
- 71
Land Owned by the Town -
-
-
- 48
Librarian's Report -
- -
-
-
-
-
- 81
Planning Board Report
-
-
-
-
- 90
Public Welfare - - -
- 91
Police Department Report -
-
-
-
- - - 82
Regional District Planning Board - - - - -
- 92
Selectmen's Report
School Reports -
105
Tax Collector's Report -
75
Town Clerk's Report -
- 63
Tree Department Report -
- 80
Wire Inspector's Report
87
-
-
- - - 61
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Warrant For March, 1957 - Inside Front Cover
-
- - -
-
- - - 59
Moth Department Report -
FLINT
MUSCLETON
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