|
|
|
| The programs presented in this brochure comprise Student Services in the Tewksbury
Public Schools. Student Services programs include the following:
Drop-Out Prevention programs and services, Guidance and School Adjustment
Counseling programs and services,
Health Education programs and services, Health and School Nursing services,
English As A Second Language services, and Special Education programs
and services. All Student Services programs are coordinated with one another and with all other academic and support services available to students in the Tewksbury Public Schools. Student Services programs are provided to students in Pre-School through Grade 12. Special Education programs and services are also available to eligible students from age 3 through age 21. Title I programs and services are currently provided to eligible students in Title I eligible elementary schools. The Health Education, Special Education, and Title I programs in Tewksbury implement curriculums which are based on current research and the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Student Services personnel providing services within these programs address the learning standards mandated by the Massachusetts Department of Education and by the Tewksbury Public Schools with all students. The Guidance, School Adjustment Counseling, Health and School Nursing, and Drop-Out Prevention services are made available by Student Services personnel to Tewksbury students to ensure student and school safety, good student attendance, good health practices, and good personal and academic decision-making for the present and for the future. On behalf of all Tewksbury Public Schools' students, the Director of Student Services and Student Services personnel actively collaborate with Tewksbury community members and organizations, parents, federal and state agencies, colleges and universities, and businesses. |
Student attendance and in-school behavior is monitored daily by Principals, Assistant Principals, Head Teachers, the Attendance Officer and the Youth Service Officer. The Youth Service Officer is often present at school sites and collaborates regularly with school and district level Administrators in preventing school disruption, inappropriate student behavior, and school absenteeism.
At the request of Tewksbury Administrators, the Student Attendance Officer examines long term absenteeism not based on a known reason and student residency.
Home visitation followed by conferencing with Administrators, Guidance and School Adjustment Counselors, and/or personnel from other Human Service Agencies is implemented on behalf of the student to ensure continued participation in school programs. In addition and when appropriate, a referral is made for a Special Education evaluation with the consent of the parent, guardian, or student who is 18 or older and who is his/her own guardian.
Students who are unable to attend school for Physician or Psychiatrist certified
reasons receive home and/or hospital tutoring to ensure maintenance of achievement
levels and promotion standards. Alternative programming may also be designed
for those students with educational and behavioral needs that warrant such
intervention.
English as a Second Language (ESL) services are educational programs designed to provide English language development opportunities in Kindergarten through Grade 12 to students with Limited English Proficiency.
Culturally and linguistically diverse students who have identified limited English proficiency and who meet eligibility criteria participate in tutorial or in-class inclusive English language based instructional programs. The primary emphasis in these programs is student development of facility and fluency with the English Language for use personally and in all school settings.
ESL program eligible students engage in multicultural learning activities
with their classmates and peers to further enhance English communication
and other
academic skills. Current staffing consists of one professional educator who
is Massachusetts certified and who has wide experience in addressing the
English thinking, speaking, reading, and writing skills of participating
students.
Guidance Counselor services for Tewksbury students in Grades 7 through 12 include (1) personal counseling, (2) educational, academic, and college/career counseling, (3) exploration of program options, (4) appraisal of student abilities, achievements, and interests, (5) collaboration with other Tewksbury service providers, (6) monitoring of student progress and attendance, and (7) referral to Special Education and other agencies.
Student Services Guidance related presentations and events for students, parents, and the community include various day and evening informational programs and an annual College/Career Fair. These programs provide information related to course selection, the college admissions process, the financial aid process, and the college/career alternatives, opportunities, and options available for students so that students and their parents are better able to engage in more informed decision-making and planning.
Students in Grade 5 through Grade 8 participate daily in an Advisor/Advisee program. The Advisor/Advisee Program emphasizes the concepts included in the Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Education Framework and links students with teacher mentors for the purpose of enhancing student self-esteem decision-making, and behavior. The Guidance component of Student Services also includes the facilitation of district-wide and state mandated testing programs and the organization and implementation of tests administered for The College Board. The PSAT/NMSQT is available to Tewksbury students in Grades 10 and 11 at school department expense. The PSAT/NMSQT provides students with practice and preparation for the SAT and affords opportunity to Grade 11 students to participate in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Advanced Placement Tests are available for eligible students enrolled in Honors classes at the High School. Dependent upon test results achieved, students taking Advanced Placement Tests may earn college credit prior to admittance to college.
Students may also elect to participate in the Scholastic Assessment Test
Program (SAT I and II) and the American College Test (ACT) for college
admissions purposes.
Tewksbury serves as a test site for the SAT program in December of each year.
Scholarship Outreach for the Community Scholarship Program for graduating seniors
attending Tewksbury Public Schools is conducted annually on behalf Tewksbury
students by Student Services. A community wide Scholarship Awards Program is
held annually on the Thursday evening before graduation day to recognize both
donors and recipients.
The Health Services program is designed to enhance students' health knowledge, attitudes, and practices and to provide assistance to students with medical needs, medication needs, and other health-related needs.
Registered and State Certified Nurses in the employ of the Tewksbury Public Schools implement School Health Services at each school site. An Associate School Nurse who is also a Registered Nurse assists the School Nurses.
School Nurses minister to the day-to-day health and medication needs of students. In addition, School Nurses monitor state and federal health regulations and immunization requirements. School Nurses also implement Department of Public Health regulations and mandates concerning medication administration and communicable diseases.
A school funded Consulting Physician provides guidance in implementing Department of Public Health regulations and mandates related to the administration of prescription and non-prescription medication to the Tewksbury Public Schools and to the School Nurses.
School Health Clinics are implemented as needed by School Nurses in collaboration and in conjunction with Tewksbury's Board of Health and Tewksbury Public School's Consulting Physician. School Nurses also conduct vision and hearing screenings, implement scoliosis screening with Physical Education Specialists, and, in selected instances, assist the School Physician in implementing school physical examinations.
Participation in Chapter 766 Pre-School and Kindergarten Screenings, Special Education evaluations, and the development of Health Plans related to student health and physical well-being are additional responsibilities fulfilled by Tewksbury's School Nurses.
Health Education programs and services in the Tewksbury Public Schools are designed to provide the foundation for academic success and for life-long good health practices.
Health Education within the Tewksbury Public Schools is governed by the locally developed comprehensive Pre-School through Grade 12 curriculum which has been aligned with and meets the standards set forth in the Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Education Curriculum Framework. This locally developed, system-wide, coordinated comprehensive Pre-School through Grade 12 Health Education curriculum is designed to meet the needs of all Tewksbury students and emphasizes the development of the social, emotional, and physical well-being of all students.
System-wide, the Health Education Curriculum includes decision-making, growth and development, nutrition, disease prevention, stress management, exercise and physical fitness, HIV/AIDS education, human sexuality, personal hygiene, student and school safety, violence prevention, alcohol abuse prevention, substance abuse prevention, tobacco/smokeless tobacco use prevention, and social/emotional health. All students receive instruction in every area and instruction at each grade level builds upon the instruction that was implemented at previous grade levels. Classroom instruction in Health Education at the Pre-School through Grade 4 level is provided within the context of the Regular Education program by certified Health Educators, Classroom Teachers, School Nurses, and Physical Education Specialists. In Grades 5 through 12, Health Educators teach regularly scheduled Health Education classes. In those grades, Classroom Teachers also implement interdisciplinary Health Education based learning experiences in the classroom, assign research activities on specific Health topics, and address Health Education related topics during Advisor/Advisee sessions. Throughout the district and at each school where staffing permits, Guidance Counselors, School Adjustment Counselors, School Psychologists, the Behavior Management Facilitator, the Peer Leadership Advisor, and selected Firefighters are also involved in implementing and/or supporting a variety of supplemental Health Education programs.
Substance abuse prevention, fire and personal safety, smoking cessation and
prevention, and decision-making enhancement for students is augmented by
presentations, programs,
and events implemented by the Tewksbury Public Schools in collaboration with
the Tewksbury Police and Fire Departments, Project Alliance, Rape Crisis Services
of Lowell, other Human Service Agencies, and a variety of professional organizations
and presenters.
The Tewksbury Public Schools implements a comprehensive Special Education program comprising the full continuum of Special Education Programs and Services on behalf of every student who meets eligibility criteria as a child in need of special education.
Administration and staff include the Director of Student Services who is
also the Administrator of Special Education, the Systemwide Team Chairperson,
the
Early Childhood Education Facilitator, Early Childhood Specialists, Moderate
Special Needs Specialists, Speech and Language Pathologists, School Adjustment
Counselors, School Psychologists, a Registered Occupational Therapist, a Registered
Physical Therapist, a Teacher of the Visually Handicapped, a Certified Occupational
Therapy Assistant, ABA and Behavior Specialists, Educational Support Instructional
Aides and, when appropriate, Student Specific Aides.
Massachusetts Chapter 766 decision-making is conducted by school based multidisciplinary
Evaluation Teams known, in Tewksbury, as In-School Evaluation Teams.
Parents, Legal Guardians, Educational Surrogate Parents, Students, and School Personnel are integral members of each Special Education Team and engage in educational decision-making on behalf of students.
Pre-referral, screening, referral, and multidisciplinary evaluation services are available to Tewksbury residents ages 3 through 21. These varied and multifaceted services are designed to determine eligibility for special education and are implemented at each school site and system-wide by expert and credentialed professionals who include, but are not limited to, Special Education Personnel, School Principals, and Classroom Teachers.
For students attending the Tewksbury Public Schools who are hospitalized or at home under physician's orders, hospital and/or home tutoring is arranged by Principals and/or Special Education Administrators.
Student transition planning at ages 14 through 21, referral of students to other Human Service agencies, when appropriate or necessary, special education related transportation arrangements, and, if appropriate and as determined by the Team, 766 approved special education related extended day and extended year programming are also included in the spectrum of services available to special education eligible students in Tewksbury.
In accordance with the mandates and intent of the Americans with Disabilities
Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Reauthorization, Chapter
504 of the Rehabilitation Act, No Child Left Behind federal legislation, and
Massachusetts Chapter 766 law and regulations, Special Education programs and
services in the Tewksbury Public Schools focus on the full integration of every
student in all Tewksbury school programs and activities through inclusive education
in the least restrictive environment.
Title I is a federally funded program designed to provide supplemental services to Title I eligible students and requires program emphasis to be on high standards and expectations.
In Tewksbury, Title I services are available to Title I eligible students in Grade Kindergarten through Grade Four in three specifically identified Title I eligible school sites.
Title I school site identification is based on Title I federal guidelines. Student eligibility is determined by student need based on standardized test results, MCAS test results, and on supplemental teacher referral information.
Current staffing includes a Lead Teacher and two additional Title I Teachers. This year, none of the three of the Title I positions serve as full time Tile I Teachers.
All personnel providing Title I services are Massachusetts certified and
fully credentialed as Reading Specialists.
Grades K through 4 Students who meet Title I eligibility criteria receive
supplemental instruction in Reading from the Title I Teacher within the
school day. These
Title I services include the following three instructional models: (1)
Inclusive in-class services which are provided in collaboration with the
classroom
teacher, (2) “pull-out” supplemental tutorial services which take place
in small groups
in the Title I Teacher’s instructional area outside of the regular classroom,
and/or (3) consultation services to the classroom teacher concerning classroom
modifications for specific students or instructional programs in Reading
and the Language Arts.
Although the instructional strategies based on the Reading Recovery Program continue to be used with Title I eligible students and due to the need to meet the needs of more students, this one-to-one Grade One program is no longer a Title I program component.
Title I instructional services do not replace regular education services
but are provided in addition to the regular education program and are
coordinated with the regular education curriculum that is implemented
by the Classroom
Teacher.
Parents of children participating in Title I programs assist in Title
I decision-making and grants. They are also members of the Parent Advisory
Councils of the
three Title I eligible schools.
Participation in the Title I program by Title I eligible students is at the
discretion of the parents or legal guardians of those students.
Ms. Jan Fuller
Special Needs Coordinator -
Private, Preschool, Summer
Tewksbury Public Schools
Phone: (978) 640-7818
Ms. Cheryl Porcaro
Special Needs Coordinator -
K-12 Services
Tewksbury Public Schools
Phone: (978) 640-7818
Drop
Out Prevention Services:
English As A Second Language:
Guidance Programs & Services:
Health Services Programs:
Health Education Programs:
Ms. Mary Laffey (978) 640-7858
Ms. Kristi Flagg (978) 640-7880
|
Health Education Programs (continued):
Special Education Programs & Services:
Heath Brook School: Ms. Mariellen Nastasi (978) 640-7865 •High School: Mr. Ann McGregor Fay (978) 640-7856 •Middle School: Ms. Elaine Cheng Singclair (978) 640-7846 •North Street School: Ms. Joan Lynch (978) 640-7875 •Ryan School: Ms. Elaine Cheng Singclair (978) 640-7880 •Trahan School: Ms. Jean Perry (978) 640-7870
Title I Programs: •Heath Brook School: Ms. Chloe Callahan (978) 640-7865 •North Street School: Ms. Nancy Kalajian (978) 640-7875 •Trahan School: Ms. Gloria Graves Title I Lead Teacher (978) 640-7870 |
|
| © Webmaster
- Tewksbury Public Schools webmstr@tewksbury.k12.ma.us |
