MAPLESHADE SCHOOL
2004
As we prepare to celebrate our
fiftieth year, the staff and faculty of Mapleshade School
take satisfaction in offering our 300 students a well-rounded curriculum. Our
academic focus for the year has shifted to mathematics. The MCAS testing has
shown evidence that our efforts over the past few years in Language Arts have
paid strong dividends. Our students
score proficient in tests of reading, writing and language. It is now time to direct these same efforts
toward mathematics. While high stakes testing drives much of today’s academic
curriculum, we pride ourselves in remaining attentive to the social, emotional
and physical needs of the children in grades 3-5.
The “I Spy” program was launched
this past year. It involved a school-wide sticker campaign in conjunction with
several Character Counts assemblies. Stickers were awarded to students who were
“caught” doing good deeds. In addition,
the entire student body watched their classmates perform student-authored skits
that depicted the East Longmeadow Character Traits. This program served to
underscore and reinforce the importance of the District Character Traits for
everyone in the Mapleshade community.
The skits also illustrated that although we have
differences, we can all work, play and learn together.
Mapleshade parents are among our
most valued resources. They actively participate in our school community in a
multitude of ways including involvement as volunteers, as fundraisers, as PTO
members and as program participants. They take time from their busy schedules
to support and applaud their children at our programs throughout the year. We
have welcomed our families at Open House, Family Fun Night, Bingo for Books,
DARE graduation, Arbor Day, Field Day, Jog-A-Long, Family Pizza Night,
concerts, enrichment programs and on and on.
Parent participation in Mapleshade school life is a factor that strongly
influences student success.
Our annual September Open House was
changed from the traditional “meet and greet” format to an informational
design. The idea behind this change was based upon our belief that the more
knowledgeable parents are about their child’s school day and the expectations
of the teachers, the stronger partners in their child’s education they become.
Parents followed their child’s daily schedule and heard from teachers about
each program of study. As a result of
the new format, staff reported fewer inquiries regarding programs and teacher
expectations relative to grading, projects, homework, etc. The new Open house format was for parents
only. To compensate for this change we
made a commitment to create new opportunities to bring the children and their
parents back to school together.
In addition to Mapleshade staff,
there are many adult volunteers which assist in the development of our programs
and enriching the lives of our students. We are indeed fortunate to have an
active and supportive Parent-Teacher Organization. Our P.T.O. continues to sponsor field trips,
enrichment programs, teacher and classroom gifts, as well as a wonderful
teacher appreciation program. In
addition, the special people from Maybury Materials Handling continue to read
to our students through the Read Across America Program, help in our computer
lab and have very generously published hundreds of Mapleshade Memory Books for
our upcoming 50th Anniversary celebration. A.M. Lithography, Lego,
Big Y and Fazio’s Pizza helped our school as well. We are thankful for these
community-minded helpers and all they do for our school.
