Principal Ned Dale

School hours:
8:00 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.

Helpful resource:

District Communication Guidelines

February 26, 2010

Cosgrove students were begging me for a snow day for today.  It is a pleasure to tell them that I don’t get to make that decision.  I would like to provide an update from a snow covered Cosgrove Middle School.  We are over half through the year and there is a great deal to learn and prepare for before the end of the year.  Some of our students have grown so much academically, developmentally, and socially.  Students were very engaged in the learning during the classes that I visited this week. 

As I walked through the building, I had the pleasure of joining an 8^th grade English class that was reading three different books that had the theme of adolescent adversity.  Our students were enjoying three of my favorite books: Memories of Summer, Al Capone Does My Shirts, and Stuck in Neutral in their novel unit.  Students were able to relate to the characters in each book who struggled with schizophrenia, autism, and cerebral palsy respectively.  Mrs. Jesmin was showing a part from the movie, Front of the Class that showed a student who was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome.  I was impressed at the high level of caring and compassion that students showed during their class.  On another note, a large group of boys told me how much they enjoyed swimming at the high school during the swim unit.  In FACS, 6^th grade students were in the middle of their decision making unit where they discussed and learned about the different resources that help them make decisions.  I am impressed at the wide range and quality learning experiences that are students experience at the middle school.

In addition to learning inside of the classroom, students have been learning outside of the classroom as well.   Our activity period has been a busy time for students in our Spanish club who painted ceiling tiles with the different themes and countries of Hispanic cultures.  There were approximately one hundred students singing, dancing, and practicing their lines for the play after school.  On Thursday morning, I stopped in to Jazz rehearsal where students were playing an entirely new set of music.  Some students were talking about the upcoming Odyssey of the Mind competition, as well as the Academic Challenge Bowl event.  Our student run book store, “The Ranger Shack” is always busy with different student needs.  In addition, we have seen a definite increase in students seeking extra help from their teachers during the activity period.   Please continue to set goals with your child and then follow up on their progress.  Although students at this age tell you not to help them, they need our help more than ever. 

As we look ahead, we will be sending home a letter with report cards about the end of the year testing that is rapidly approaching.  We will begin our “testing season” after April break with the NYS ELA exam.  Two weeks later, all students will be taking the NYS Math exams.  Our 8^th graders will continue to take additional assessments in science and social studies.  Lastly, our students will be taking final exams and New York State Regents exams for our 8^th grade students starting the third week in June.  It is critical that all students take these exams within the restricted time frame that is provided from the New York State Education Department.  Regents exams are only offered in June, August, and January.    We will be sending you the specific details within the next month. 

If I can ever be of assistance to you or your student, please contact me at 349-5302 or by email ndale@spencerportschools.org

Sincerely,

Ned Dale

Principal

• New York State Middle School Association website

• State Education Department 3-8

• New York State Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Publications

• Anti-Bullying Network

• No Bully