Town of Norwell annual report 1960-1969, Part 42

Author:
Publication date: 1960
Publisher: The Board
Number of Pages: 2480

USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Norwell > Town of Norwell annual report 1960-1969 > Part 42

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S. 138 per gal.

Albert Culver, Rockland .129 per gal.

Awarded to Albert Culver. Rockland

MILK BIDS

H. P. Hood Company S.0585 per 1/2 pt. carton

Whiting Milk Co. .0593 per 1/2 pt. carton

Awarded to H. P. Hood Co.

OFFICE CONSTRUCTION-JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL LeRoy Mckay, Norwell $1,791.32 W. E. Shaw 2.715.00

Awarded to: LeRoy Mckay

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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM-GRACE COLE SCHOOL Sewell Electric Co., Norwell $390.00

Only bidder. Awarded to: Sewell Electric Co.

In June of this year Mrs. Ella Osborn retired as Principal of the Norwell Elementary School after fifty years of teaching and adminis- trative duties. We all extend to her our thanks for her excellent service and wish her every happiness in her retirement.

Two elementary teachers, Mrs. Miriam Lincoln, with 17-1/2 years of teaching in our system, and Mrs. Hazel Johnson, with 15 years of teaching in our system, retired in June. We likewise extend our thanks to them for their devoted service and a hope for a happy re- tirement. Another teacher, Mrs. Laura McKenney, with 14 years of service in our system, moved to New Hampshire. We will miss her also, and wish her the very best in her new surroundings.

The most discouraging news to come before the committee this year was the formal answer from the State Board of Education, deny- ing the dissolution of Union = 13 Superintendency, consisting of Nor- well, Hanover, and Hanson. The state feels that Norwell and Hanover are large enough towns to warrant a superintendent of their own, but that Hanson is not of defensible educational size. Hanson and Whit- man are together in a regional high school. If the union were dis- solved Hanson would be hiring a superintendent for only grades 1-8. The state does not want elementary superintendents, and it is their policy not to approve the forming of such units. The State has sug- gested as a plan of action to have Hanson and Whitman regionalize from grades 1-12. Neither Hanson nor Whitman wish to do this. We have had several meetings with legal advisors. Deputy Commissioner William Young, Mr. William Wallace, Legal Counsel for the State Board of Education, and have even made a personal appeal before the State Board of Education in Boston. We are still denied the dis- solution to date.

The three towns must, therefore, abide by the laws presently ex- isting. In July the towns elected Mr. Ralph Sturke to be the new Union # 13 Superintendent. Actually the three towns will be operating under the direction of three associate superintendents, with Mr. Frederick A. Small administering the schools in Norwell, and Mr. Albert E. Kier- nan administering the schools in Hanson. Mr. Sturke will have the dual responsibility of supervising the schools of Hanover and general responsibility in relation to the Department of Education.

The Union Committee has not given up hope and in November of this year they filed a special act in the Legislature to allow dissolution. We have solicited the help of our legislative representatives and we sincerely hope that this problem of dissolution can be solved through

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these channels in the next few months.

At this time we would like to pay tribute to Mr. Clifton Bradley who retired as our Union Superintendent on September 15, 1962. He has done a faithful and efficient task, and we hope that he may have a long and happy retirement.

With Mr. Small's increased duties as associate superintendent of our schools, the committee voted to have Miss Elizabeth Farrar be- come Acting Principal of the Junior High School, as of September 1962. On January 1, 1963 she will become the full Principal of the Norwell Junior High School.

A new change has been incorporated in our elementary schools this year. Mr. William Hays is the principal of both the Grace Cole School and the Norwell Elementary School and is coordinating the curriculum of the two schools. Mrs. Grace Alvey is supervising the special help and remedial reading problems of both schools. These two are doing a superb job and are to be commended on their fine work. Mr. Hays has formulated an in-service training program for the elementary school teachers, meeting one day a month. There is a definite goal to this program to help the experienced teacher as well as the new teacher, to develop many new teaching skills.

Norwell High School is just starting its second year of operation. This building which embraces many modern features has proved to be one of the best in this area. Under the direction of Mr. Jackman and his staff the high school is beginning an evaluation of Norwell High School through the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. This evaluation will show our strong points as well as our weak ones, and will certainly give us every opportunity for praise, for improvement and for accrediting purposes. We wish to thank Mr. Jackman and his staff for the long after-school hours they have put into this effort, and for the vitality and interest shown in this important step for our high school.

The Permanent Building and Maintenance Committee has finished getting the high school athletic grounds completed this spring. Because of the late date and the late seeding of the grounds, it was necessary for us to postpone the beginning of a football program until the fall of 1963.

Athletic fields for all our schools, and especially at the high school, will continue to be a problem, both in the matter of space and main- tenance. It is false economy to put money into the development of fields if they are not to be maintained properly. The committee is an- xious to hear the report of a study being made by the town to deter- mine if the town land areas and fields of this kind should be

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maintained under one department. If it is not, it will be necessary for the committee each year to put into the budget more appropriations for the proper maintenance of these fields and grounds.

This committee, in close cooperation with the Planning Board and the Permanent Building and Maintenance Committee, is in the process of finding a site for our next elementary school. This school will be located in the Grove St. - Prospect St. area. Our school projection fig- ures show that the pupil population is heavily concentrated in this area. Preliminary educational specifications will be forwarded to the Permanent Building and Maintenance Committee for their observation and study. It is the hope of the committee that favorable action can be taken on this school at the annual town meeting in March, so that the school can be completed by September 1964, or our space prob- lem at the elementary level will be critical.

Legislation was passed this year to raise the minimum salary of teachers, as of January 1963, to $4,500, and it was necessary for us to raise our minimum salary schedule. At this time it was decided to make an across the board raise of $100 to all teachers in the sys- tem, effective January 1, 1963. The Teachers Club proposed a sched- ule to the committee, effective September 1, 1963. After careful consideration, it was voted :

1. A $100 increase across the board for every qualified teacher, thus raising the minimum salary for the bachelor's degree to $4,600.

2. The fifth increment to be $400, automatically increasing the maximum to $6,800 on the bachelor's level.

3. All teachers to go onto the step they belong immediately by eliminating the limitation.

4. A third sub-schedule for the Master's plus thirty semester hours.

5. Increase in steps in Masters and Masters plus thirty sub- schedules to twelve steps.

Teacher's salaries throughout the state have increased in general, and our new salary schedule must be realistic if we are to compete with surrounding towns.

Starting in January we will incorporate some Adult Academic Courses for Norwell citizens. This will be a self-supporting program with a small registration fee. Literature, language, and commercial courses will be offered. This is the first time our town has offered courses of this kind and it is hoped that many will take advantage of this opportunity.

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Our committee has seen great improvement in our schools over the last year. We feel it is the direct result of the close contact and effi- cient manner in which Mr. Small, our associate superintendent, has asserted himself in taking over the job formerly done by Mr. Brad- ley. The orderly change from one man to another has been handled with the minimum of confusion, and we are grateful for Mr. Small's ability in handling this difficult assignment.

In closing we would like to say wewish Mrs. Nellie Sparrell, our former school committee member for so many years, the very best of health and happiness. She has been a help and a guide to so many of us in our task of performing our school committee responsibilities.

W'e also wish to thank Dr. William G. Vinal, a former member of our committee who retired in March, for his past services to this com- mittee.

W'e thank all who have contributed to the interest and support of a successful year.

Respectfully submitted,

GEORGE H. WHITCHER, JR., ( hairman FLETCHER S. BOIG, Vice Chairman BETTY M. COOK, Clerk JOHN B. ARNOLD ROBERT N. MAGLATHLIN

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Report of the School Committee

Norwell School Department

Norwell School Committee

George H. Whitcher, Jr., Chairman, 1963

Fletcher S. Boig, Vice Chairman, 1963

Betty M. Cook, Clerk, 1965

John G. Arnold, 1964

Robert N. Maglathlin, 1965 Associate Superintendent of Schools

Frederick A. Small Office : Junior High School Building, Norwell

Principals

Robert H. Jackman

Elizabeth M. Farrar William W. Hays William W. Hays

Senior High School Junior High School Grace Farrar Cole School Norwell Elementary School

Director of Guidance Administrative Assistant Hugh W. Chandler Director of Physical Education Felix J. Dixon

Elementary Specialist Grace B. Alvey School Physician

Raymond G. Vinal, M.D. School Dentist Blake Lombard, D. M.D. Charlotte Gilmore, Hygienist School Nurses Catherine A. Roe Mildred V. Wilcox Cafeteria Supervisor Hazel Robbins

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Secretarial

Barbara Cox Edith Devine Earl Raymond Janice Litchfield Phyllis Beauregard

Office of Associate Superintendent Senior High School Junior High School Norwell Elementary School Grace Farrar Cole School

Custodial

Ruth Pike, Matron

Senior High School

Robert Pike

Senior High School

Edmund Lapham

Senior High School

Elphege Daneau

Raymond Merrill

Walter Brown

Senior High School Junior High School Junior High School Norwell Elementary School

Emil Rosenberg

Thomas McNiff

George Alexander

Norwell Elementary School Grace Farrar Cole School

School Committee Regulations

A child to enter Grade 1 must have been 5 years old before the previous January 1.

No child under 7 years of age will be admitted to school for the first time after October 1 of any year.

A child entering school for the first time is required to present to the teacher a birth certificate and vaccination, or exemption from vaccination certificate. Exemptions must be renewed every six months.

Signal For No Sessions of School

Signal 7:00 A.M. on the Fire Whistle ( One long whistle ).

"No School" signals will be broadcast from WBZ, WBET, WHDH and WEEI between 6:00 and 8:00 A. M.

Schools will close in extremely bad weather, buteach parent must decide, depending on the conditions of distance, amount of waiting for the bus, protective clothing, etc., whether or not to send children in stormy weather when schools are in session.

Work Certificates

Work certificates are necessary only for persons under 18 years of age and are issued at the office of the Associate Superintendent of Schools and at the Senior High School. When possible, the school office should be used. A birth certificate or other legal proof of age

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is required to be shown.

Work certificates for children 14-16 years of age for employment out of school hours are secured at the schools only or, during the summer, from the office of the Associate Superintendent of Schools.

School Calendar 1962-63

September 4, 5 Teacher meetings - Pupil registration

September 6

All Schools Open

October 12 ( Friday )

Columbus Day

October 26

Teachers' Convention

November 11 ( Sunday ), 12 Veterans' Day

November 21 ( Noon ), 22, 23 Thanksgiving Recess

December 21 (Noon to

Christmas Recess

January 2, 1963 )

Schools Reopen

February 18-22

Winter Recess

April 12

Good Friday

April 15-19

Spring Recess

May 30

Memorial Day

June 21

All Schools Close

REPORT OF THE ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

To the Norwell School Committee :

Herewith is submitted my first annual report as Associate Super- intendent of Schools for the Town of Norwell.

The public schools of the Town continue to offer an excellent program of education to its young citizens. This fact of excellence is a result of the efforts of many people; the teachers who in daily contact with classes motivate and implement the learning process, administrators who plan and schedule and supervise the teaching- learning activities, staff specialists who increase the scope of educa- tional offerings, and the citizens who make the total program possi- ble with their moral and financial support.

Elementary education is engaged in a continuing program of up-dating and improving curricular offerings at that level. Examin- ation, evaluation, and revision of courses of study have been, and continue to be, projects in which teachers and administrators are constantly engaged. "After-school" sessions late in the afternoon are devoted to in-service activities directed in purpose toward the

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improvement of instruction. Demonstration lessons are taught by various teachers in a simulated classroom environment, following which all teachers in attendance share in a review of the experience and mutually benefit from a free exchange of philosophies, ideas, methods, and techniques. Mr. William Hays, Principal of both the Cole and Norwell Elementary Schools, has continued and expanded the sound and progressive administrative practices initiated by Mrs. Perry Osborn who retired from the Elementary Principalship at the conclusion of the past school year.

The Norwell Junior High School, in these important, transi- tional years, has placed emphasis upon the improvement of study habits, the correlation of English with other subject matter, and the introduction of a complete program in developmental reading. Miss Elizabeth Farrar, Principal, and a fine staff of teachers have en- gaged cooperatively and successfully in bridging the gap between elementary and senior high school routine. The pupil at this level is encouraged to take upon himself more individual responsibility and, with guidance, discover the ways and means to develop as a young adult in terms of his capacity and potential, shaping himself to standards and directing himself toward goals now more sharply and objectively defined.

The Senior High School educates its young people either to con- tinue in a post-secondary school learning experience or to enter directly into the world of work. The pupils who elect to enter the college or university phase of existence find that they are adequately prepared to compete successfully with their fellows from other secon- dary schools. Industry and business seek the Norwell graduate who chooses, upon graduation from high school, to direct his attention to the matter of earning a living. Competent faculty members with the capable administrative counsel of Principal Robert Jackman have collectively and cooperatively revised, extended, and enriched subject- matter areas the better to cope with the challenges of an exacting and demanding mid-twentieth century.

The School Department extends its services to the adults of the community by offering a continuing program in Evening Practical Arts. This year, for the first time, also, classes for adults are schedul- ed in certain academic areas, namely, Typing, Bookkeeping, Com- parative Literature, Conversational French, and ABC's of Invest- ing. Class sessions in this latter category will meet beginning in January, 1963.

The Guidance Department directs a system-wide testing program which is complete and comprehensive in nature. It is gratifying to note that test scores indicate Norwell pupils generally superior in terms of ability and achievement on the basis of national norms.

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The pupil population of Norwell becomes greater in total num- bers each year. Fortunately, to this point, the growth has not been explosive. The quality of gradualness in growth does not deny, however, the "expense of expansion ".

In 1952, ten years ago, the pupil population of the Town was 614 in numbers. The school budget for that year asked for $125,000 for the operation of the school system. In 1962 there were 1414 pupils enrolled in all schools and an operating budget of nearly $600,000 was necessary to defray the expense of education. By 1972, ten years hence, some 2200 pupils will be enrolled in grades one through twelve and, based on current per-pupil cost per annum, an annual budget for the support of public instruction at or in ex- cess of $1,000,000 is not an impossibility.

It does appear to your Associate Superintendent that real es- tate, in all communities now taxed beyond the realm of reason to support the various functions of town government, cannot much longer hold against the demands made upon it. It is hoped that the Legislature of the Commonwealth will, in a sincere and non- political effort, direct its attention to an examination and major revision of the entire tax structure.

It is noted that the State Financial Report for the Norwell School Department filed with the ( ommonwealth July 24, 1962, indicated a return to the Town of Norwell of $96,692.75 in state aid and re- imbursement. Additionally there are Public Law and special fund returns to the Town which, with the above money, total to an ag- gregate in excess of $125,000 paid within a year to the Town ul- timately to assist in meeting the total cost of town government in its various departments.

More pupils in our School System not only indicate an increase in the cost of operating the several existing school buildings, but also necessitate the construction of more buildings. The Town has recently approved the construction of one new elementary school building. It is recommended that at least two more parcels of land, one in the northeastern portion of the Town and one in the southern section, be purchased and held ready for school construction at some future time- this procedure to guard against rising costs in reference to land purchase and to insure proper school-site avail- ability.

Over one hundred adults are intimately and directly concerned with the welfare and daily function of the schools of Norwell. That each person performs his duties in competent and professional man- ner is more than apparent from the status of the School System as a whole. The combined efforts of staff and administration joined

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with the enthusiastic and constant support of the citizenry make for an educational environment conducive to the best results with the youth of Norwell.

Your Associate Superintendent is grateful to the many who have contributed in such large measure to the success of the year.

Respectfully submitted, FREDERICK A. SMALL, Associate Superintendent of Schools

REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Mr. Frederick A. Small Associate Superintendent of Schools Norwell, Massachusetts

Dear Mr. Small :

I hereby submit my annual report as principal of Norwell High School.

First, I wish to express to you, to the School Committee, to the staff of Norwell High School, to the students and, to the parents, my most sincere appreciation for the cooperation I have received since I have been principal of Norwell High School.

We have recently completed our first full year in the new high- school building. The building proved to be an easy one to "break in" during this "shake-down" year. We experienced very few diffi- culties from the building in terms of heating, etc., and consequently we were not forced to close school at any time because of any fail- ure on the part of the facilities. Throughout the year the architect has been granted permission to conduct building committees and school committees from other towns through our facilities. We have found the building to be an easy one in which to operate admin- istratively. The staff and students have shown by their attitude and care that they are most proud of our new facilities.

The Modern Foreign Language Laboratory was basically com- pleted this summer when fourteen additional student positions were added to the original fourteen provided with the building. There are now twenty-eight student positions in the laboratory. Fourteen of the positions are equipped with tape recorders and fourteen are equipped with analyzers. Next year ( 1963 ) we plan to add another program source, another tape recorder at the teacher's console. This

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additional program source will enable us to send four different pro- grams to various combinations of the twenty-eight student positions. The previously mentioned positions were added with money from the school budget, with 50 of the cost being returned to the school through the National Defense Education Act.

The Science Department has also added additional equipment during the year. An overhead projector was purchased through funds made available by the Permanent Building Committee. Equip- ment for experiments using the Physical Science Study Committee approach to physics was included in the school budget. Biology is being modernized more each year, with the purchase of microscopes and other equipment. There are twenty-four student positions in the biology laboratory and we now have a microscope available for every two students. 50"., of the cost of the equipment in the area is also being returned to the school through the National Defense Edu- cation Act.

I would say one of our greatest needs is the addition of more volumes to our high-school library. Since the new school opened we have had available $3,630.00 for the purchase of books and periodicals for the library. The Permanent Building Committee fur- nished $2,762.00, the school budget $380.00, the Junior High- Senior High P.T.A. $250.00, and the Enid Taylor Fund $238.00. This year we have budgeted $1,000.00 for the purchase of books and periodicals for the high-school library. We do not believe this request to be unrealistic as we need many more volumes than this amount will provide to bring our library up to acceptable standards. The students and faculty are using the resources of the library to a greater advantage each day. Our students are reading more books this year than they read last year. With this use of the library, the need for more volumes becomes increasingly apparent.

Several changes have been made in the Program of Studies of Norwell High School. The prerequisites for several of the more spe- cialized courses have been broadened. The graduation and promo- tion policies were revised to include :

1. A total of 85 credits for graduation beginning with the Class of 1964. ( Members of the Class of 1963 will need 80 credits )

2. Each student, starting with the Class of 1966, must take and complete satisfactorily eleven ( 11) required major sub- jects; 4 years of English, 3 years of Social Science ( Civics, U.S. History, and one other course in the field of Social Sci- ence ), 2 years of mathematics, and 2 years of science. These required subjects will insure each student a well-balanced liberal education.

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There have been revisions in some of the subject areas. This fall, German I students were introduced to the language using the oral-aural approach instead of the traditional textbook method. The "new" approach to mathematics was started in the top groups of Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. The Civics course now emphasizes the study of town, county, state, and federal govern- ment. The study of government in the ninth grade means that the curriculum of the Problems of Democracy course will have to be changed in three years.

As our enrollment in each subject area has increased we have been able to group the students on a more homogeneous basis. This method of grouping presents a section of similar academic development which enables the teacher to present material of mean- ing to all members. The effect is that students receive material best designed to challenge them, and the teacher may adjust the ma- terial to meet the ability level of each section. This grouping is only done for academic classes and does not carry over into the home- room or non-academic classes. Flexible scheduling permits placing a student in a fast moving section in a subject which is, for him, an obvious strength and yet he may remain in regular or slower sec- tions in other subjects according to his individual needs. Grouping is based on test scores, past achievement, and teacher recommenda- tions.

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Town of Norwell annual report 1960-1969, Part 42

Author: Publication date: 1960 Publisher: The Board Number of Pages: 2480

Author:
Publication date: 1960
Publisher: The Board
Number of Pages: 2480