September 4, 2007

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Despite the challenges of the summer construction project, I am pleased to report an extremely smooth and successful opening of school. While the success of our opening each year has always been due to the “behind-the-scenes” preparation done by our dedicated secretaries, custodians, faculty, and staff, this year that has especially been the case. Unless you were here all summer, you cannot imagine what the school looked like. (If you have lived through home renovations, you might have some sense but multiply that by the size of our school. I hope to have some pictures of summer construction posted on the website later this month.) Pine Hill faculty and staff worked around major and minor inconveniences, changed their summer plans to accommodate when we could or could not get access to the building, and as always, went above and beyond the call of duty to be ready for the children. A huge thanks goes to our school secretary, Nancy Barrett, who once again performed countless tasks throughout the summer to make sure that everything was ready. Nancy received valuable assistance from secretary Karen Gallant during August. Our head custodian, Stan Czypryna, who had been out on sick leave since November, returned this summer and skillfully coordinated the many internal building issues which needed attention during summer construction. Thanks to our building committee, Gayle Murphy, Rob Eckert, Mike Kocsik, Karen Baroody, and Perry Davis who have worked on every aspect of the project from beginning to (almost) the end. Because of their efforts, we now have a new boiler, new controls for the heating system, improved drainage to prevent leaks and moisture problems, new windows along the back side of the building, new carpeting in the media center, new flooring in some of the classrooms, and improved ventilation in the hallways. The school has never been in better shape!

We welcomed many new faculty members to Pine Hill last week. Rebecca Mealey is our new fourth grade teacher. Meredith Connery joined the kindergarten team. We now have a full time Occupational Therapist, Melissa Feldman. Our newest special education teacher is Lisa Meisterman who will be working mostly with fifth grade students. Nancy Borg is our new speech therapist. While all of our new faculty members come to us with impressive experience, we will also be providing a great deal of support to help them become familiar with our programs and procedures. In addition to the powerful support of their mentors, new faculty members receive training in the 36 hour Understanding Teaching course, which forms the basis of our supervision and evaluation procedures at Pine Hill. New classroom teachers have also received training in the Open Circle Social Competency Curriculum, John Collins Writing, and Sitton Spelling.

Although she is not new to Pine Hill School, I am thrilled to say that former speech therapist Nancy Tarulli is serving as Special Education Administrator this year. Nancy will be available to meet informally with parents/guardians at my first Principal’s Coffee on October 5 following school meeting.

Over the next few weeks, we will be hosting Grade Level Information Evenings. All sessions will begin in the auditorium promptly at 7:15 PM, followed by a visit to the classroom. The only exceptions will be for the multi-age classrooms. Ms. Sidman and Ms. Scobie will meet parents/guardians in their classrooms beginning at 7:15 PM. You will receive the exact dates of all the sessions later this week in the Notes of Interest. The Grade Level Information Sessions provide an opportunity for parents and guardians to meet the teachers and learn about all the new and on-going programs at each grade level. Grade level teachers will present an overview of the curriculum and share key outcomes expected of the students. Specialists associated with the grade level cluster will speak about their programs as well. Assistant Principal Veronica Kenney and I will highlight the major school-wide initiatives contained in the 07-08 School Improvement Plan. The plan is now posted on our website. When you read the plan, you will notice that we are strengthening school safety. As part of that process, any and all visitors to the building will be given a dated, color-coded visitor’s pass to wear while in the building. Faculty members will be reminding you to go to the office and obtain a sticker if you forget.

A variety of important announcements, dates, and procedures will be included in this month’s Notes of Interest. Please be sure to read the information carefully and keep it in a safe place for future reference. It is especially vital that parents be aware of our early-release schedule which will be in the Notes of Interest and also posted on the website. A reminder that a bus driver will only return kindergarten students to school if no one meets the bus. All other children will be dropped off at their stop. Parents/guardians should review with their children what to do if no one is home, for example, going to a neighbor’s house, or using a hidden key to get into the house.

Our wonderful CSA started the school year off on a positive and pleasant note for faculty and staff with a fantastic luncheon on August 29. Thanks to Britt Phillips, Erica Scatchard, Tish Gogan, Jennifer Searle, Kristina Gallant, and Corinne Whitaker for their work on this very special event.

I anticipate a highly productive and successful school year. Although I am beginning my final year at Pine Hill, I can assure you that I do not plan to be a lame duck, but rather a very active duck until the end of June. As always, please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or concerns. You may leave me a message at extension 155 or call during my call-in hours, which are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00-2:30 PM. You may also email me at nihilld@doversherborn.org.

Sincerely,

David R. Nihill

Principal