Superintendent Welcomes Staff

For The 2010-2011 School Year

By Eliza Hallabeck

The Reed Intermediate School cafetorium was full of Newtown Public School District staff on Monday, August 30, as Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson gave a presentation to welcome each staff member for the start of the 2010-2011 school year.

“I’m delighted to see all of you back,” she said. “This is going to be wonderful, and I am excited.”

Dr Robinson also gave a presentation on the district’s Strategic Plan, and highlighted summer efforts by members of the Character Development Committee. New for each school this year is the model of a tree focusing on “Cultivating Character,” as a handout for the event explained.

Newtown’s Core Character Attributes, as outlined by the handout, are perseverance, citizenship, caring, trustworthiness, respect, and responsibility. Dr Robinson explained the purpose of the model is to both educate students in the traditional manner, and to form them into well-educated citizens.

According to the handout, “In 2010, the Character Development Task Force, through research and collaboration, identified and defined Newtown’s six core character attributes.”

The next step, as the handout reads, is to raise awareness in the community on the topic.

“It’s in the best interest of our kids,” said Dr Robinson. “It’s in the best interest of our community.”

Before wishing the staff members of wonderful year, Dr Robinson also spoke briefly about the planned early release days, schedule for the first Wednesday of each month starting in October, at each school in the district. Dr Robinson urged all to take advantage of the professional development time, and said writing will be the main area of focus during this year’s professional development days.