Newtonite
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Newton North High School, 360 Lowell Ave., Newtonville, Mass. 02460
◆ Friday, Sept. 18, 2009 • Volume 88, Issue 9
Marini named superintendent for ’09-’10 year MARENA COLE MATT KALISH James Marini, former principal of this school, is now interim superintendent for this school year. Last year, former superintendent Jeffrey Young accepted a position as superintendent of schools in Cambridge. Marini spoke to Newton Public Schools faculty at the Shira Bleicher opening day V. James meeting Sept. Marini 2 at South. “I cannot tell you how pleased I am to be with you today,” Marini said. “Last year, I had no idea I would be here. “Every school year brings the possibility of hope, optimism,and excitement for a new school year. “I want to provide the leadership for you to do what it is you need to do.” School Committee chair Marc Laredo ‘77 said seven applications were submitted for the job, but a subcommittee deemed none of the applicants qualified. “We reached out to former principal Jim Marini,” Laredo said. “Because he was retired, we had to go through a process to get permission from the state.” Laredo said the Committee voted unanimously to elect Marini interim superintendent until July 1, 2010. Marini graduated from Newton High School in 1963. He attended Newton Junior College until 1966, when he entered Boston State College. He majored in mathematics and earned a bachelor’s of science in 1970. He began teaching math that BY
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year at F. A. Day Junior High. In 1974, while still at Day, he received a master’s in education from Antioch University. Marini was assistant principal at Day from 1978 to 1985, when he became associate principal at Concord Middle School. In 1987 he became principal at Concord, where he stayed until he became principal here in 1990. In 1999, Marini left to become assistant superintendent for high schools and operations. In 2002, he became superintendent of schools in Winchester, until he retired in 2007. Laredo said the School Committee has formed a Search Committee, which is in the process of conducting a nationwide search for a new superintendent, to be hired by March or April. The 21-member committee is chaired by Claire Sokoloff, the School Committee vice-chair, and Reenie Murphy, a School Committee member. English teacher Inez Dover said Marini’s ability to work with people will benefit him as superintendent. “He had a knack for being around,” Dover said of his time as principal. “He was always on Main Street, and he always knew what everybody was doing. “One of his best skills was being able to communicate with all kinds of people. He is so personable. “He was able to bring out the best in people. He knew everyone’s skills and how to make them shine, and use their capabilities.” History and social sciences teacher Ty Vignone said Marini’s best features include “being upfront, honest and shooting from the hip. He loves his staff and his students,” he said.
Shira Bleicher
In the International Café: Italian exchange students Maria Chiara Cepparrone and Chiara Luzzi talk at breakfast Monday. Twenty-two students from Liceo Antonio Gramsci in Florence arrived last Friday and will be staying until next Friday. The students are visiting host families and sightseeing in Boston. Activities have included walking the Freedom Trail and visiting the Museum of Fine Arts. The exchange dates from 1982.
Tutoring seeks more members Two teachers pilot peer tutoring program this year MARENA COLE his year, students can receive academic help through a new peer tutoring program. The program has two sides, Academic Tutorial for students to be tutored, and PTP, or the Peer Tutoring Program, for tutors. Math teacher Karly Braden and science teacher Melissa Rice will run the program, which is piloting this year. “We are in need of juniors and seniors to tutor,” Braden said. Approximately 45 students were signed up to tutor, she said. According to principal Jennifer Price, the program has exciting possibilities. “We looked at a model at Framingham High School before BY
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we started the program, and it’s a very exciting model,” Price said. “It has a lot of potential, not only for grade improvement, but for giving kids good role models.” According to Braden, the program will provide a one-on-one environment for students in need of academic support. “It will benefit both the student getting tutored and the student tutoring by creating a cooperative and compassionate environment,” Braden said. The program will pair freshmen and sophomores in need of academic assistance with juniors and seniors, who will tutor in specific subject areas, Braden said. To tutor, juniors and seniors must first fill out an application
and have a teacher fill out a form verifying their ability in a specific subject, she said. Then, the student must have an interview and complete several training sessions. Tutors will need to commit to at least two blocks per week for one semester, Braden said. Braden said the program is not accepting any more students to be tutored until next year. “We hope to have an open referral process, where students can either refer themselves, or be referred by counselors or teachers,” she said. Applications for tutors are available in the peer tutoring office in 230, or in the peer tutoring center in 239. Applications are due next Friday.
Building to be emptied by July MARENA COLE n preparation for the move to the new building, this school must be emptied by July 15, according to Heidi Black, the administrator of high school construction and strategic planning. Black spoke to faculty Sept. 5 about plans to move into the new high school building. “Right now, the project is on schedule, if not ahead of schedule,” Black said. “My expectation is that this building will be empty by July 15. Black said anything left behind in this building will become property of the demolition contractor. “If anything is left in the school, you’ll never see it again,” BY
Shira Bleicher
In construction: According to administrator of high school construction and strategic planning Heidi Black, the new building is on schedule to open for classes September, 2010.
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she said. “We will provide boxes, tape and shredders for everyone to use. “It’s a good time to purge and get rid of anything you don’t need.” Black said many supplies and furniture will be moved from the old building into the new building. Over the summer, furniture consultants surveyed and put stickers on furniture to categorize what will and will not be moving into the new building, she said. According to Black, furniture that is either deemed to be in terrible condition or does not meet a fire safety code cannot be moved into the new building. Some upholstered and some hard plastic furniture does not
See Talk of the Tiger — page 13
meet this code and therefore will not be moved into the new building, Black said. “We’re going to try to use as much as possible from the old building, but we know there are needs for new furniture,” she said. “Department heads will work to see what new equipment is needed. For example, we’re going to have a new fitness center, so we know we’ll need some new cardio equipment.” Crews will move classroom furniture into each classroom, she said. “Any furniture that can be moved by the movers will be,” she said. “We will be asking faculty to move their own fragile and personal furniture,” she said.