Wayne Highlands School Scene 2016

SCHOOL A Special

PRICELESS

Supplement to the Sullivan County Democrat

SCENE SECTION H • SEPTEMBER, 2016 • CALLICOON, NY

A Look at Activities in the Wayne Highlands School District Sponsored by

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HONESDALE SCHOOL SCENE

SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT

SEPTEMBER, 2016

A burst of energy and good will kicks off school year for staff STORY AND PHOTO

BY KATHY DALEY

M

ore than 300 strong, they shouted, danced in the aisles and broke into song, warbling the classic Sister Sledge anthem “We are family! I got all my sisters with me!�

What were these euphoric goings on in the Honesdale High School auditorium the week before school opened?

The lively occasion was a welcomeback-to-school convocation for school district employees, that, taking place in most districts nationwide the week before school opens, can typically A) put staff to sleep, or B) turn them on.

Wayne Highlands chose B. “You have no idea how easy you made it for us to come back to school,� one teacher afterwards told Superintendent of Schools Greg Frigoletto. “You inspired us.�

Avoided at this key event – “this is

like the first impression that can have a powerful impact,� said Frigoletto – were talking bosses standing at podiums.

Instead, staff got to view a huge screen on which school district officials “took to the road� in a 30minute homemade video. Warm, funny and earnest, the film captured the essence of the family spirit at Wayne Highlands at the same time as it jump-started good feelings about returning to classrooms after summertime.

The jaunt around the district featured Frigoletto at the wheel of a long school van into which, gradually, administrators climbed and spoke. Three cameras inside the cab captured the crowd as it slowly filled the bus driven by a relaxed superintendent in sunglasses and a casual, open-throated shirt, a far cry from his typical suit and tie during the school year. Assistant Superintendent Tim Morgan mounted the van

steps in summer shorts.

Director of Technology Scott D. Miller took outside footage, including one scene that had members of the Special Education Department blissfully sunning themselves out of doors as they sat and waited for the van.

As they stepped into the bus, each administrator conversed easily with Frigoletto and Morgan about their schools, goals for this year, the sense of excitement as a new year begins, and the impact and importance of the schools' front-liners: the teachers. Emphasized, too, was the commitment and camaraderie of the wider staff, from bus monitors, custodians and cafeteria workers to guidance counselors and teacher assistants.

Frigoletto reminisced about some highlights as the year opened. For example, the District learned in June that its student scores on state standardized tests and on the SATs had

outperformed 33 other school districts in northeastern Pennsylvania, placing the District in the top four in the region. “There was no script, just people speaking about what they know well,� Frigoletto said later.

Background music included tunes like “Fight For Your Right� by the Beastie Boys and Adele's “Hello.�

Finally, when on-screen music turned to “We Are Family,� the audience itself broke into song and dance. “The place was rocking,� recounted teacher assistant Denise Sepesi later on. “Just about everyone was dancing and laughing and getting a kick out of it. It got us loosened up and put everybody in a good mood to get into the swing of things.�

Perfect, said Tim Morgan: “We wanted them to be excited about the school year, to take the fun and excitement of summer and continue it all year.�

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HONESDALE SCHOOL SCENE

SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT

SEPTEMBER, 2016

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In footage from a beginning-of-school-year film, Superintendent of Schools Greg Frigoletto and Assistant Superintendent Tim Morgan take to the 'open road' around the Honesdale campus.

Credits: All photographs and stories for this special School Scene are by Sullivan County Democrat Photographer/Reporter Kathy Daley.

The Democrat would also like to thank the Wayne Highlands School District for all its cooperation in this project.

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HONESDALE SCHOOL SCENE

SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT

SEPTEMBER, 2016

Family of educators gives rise to new Middle School principal STORY AND PHOTO

BY KATHY DALEY

M

ake no mistake about it – an education gene decidedly runs in the family bloodline, declares new Wayne Highlands Middle School Principal Peter Jordan.

“My mother was an elementary school teacher for 30 years,” he said.

“My dad was a teacher and principal for 23 years, including my own principal when I was in school. My uncle and other family members are all educators.”

Jordan remembers his parents coming home every evening with a sense that they were having a positive impact on students.

“My dad was my best friend and mentor,” he added. “I wanted to be a leader.”

Jordan, who grew up in Scranton, graduated from the University of Scranton with a Bachelor's Degree in math and secondary education. He

New Wayne Highlands Middle School Principal Peter Jordan supervises the education of some 500 students in grades 6 through 8, and a staff of about 50 teachers and support staff. “They are first class at what they do,” he noted.

taught high school math in a Philadelphia suburb and at the same time, earned his Master’s in education leadership from U-Scranton.

For four years, he served as principal of Forest City Regional High School, which is about a half-hour from Honesdale, and he enjoyed every moment. But when a position with Wayne Highlands came up, Jordan jumped on it.

“Wayne Highlands School District has a reputation as an outstanding district, academically excellent with a really professional community,” he said. “Here I can be close to students, while, at the same time, have the broader perspective of impacting an entire school culture.”

Some things in education have changed a great deal since he was a child in Scranton.

“Society is changing radically, and as educators, we are always asking ourselves, what are we doing about it. Technology is constantly changing, how do we reach students with

disabilities, how do we reach kids,” he said. “Then there are the socioeconomic challenges. We're in an age where you're expected to do more with less.

“Wayne Highlands,” he notes, “is willing to do more to get what's best for students. And the community very much values and supports education. They know that education is the future of the community.”

His first step, then is to is build positive, trusting relationships with “stakeholders” of the district: students, teachers, parents, the administrative team and the wider community.

As for the commandment that the student comes first, “I want to maintain and strengthen that,” he said. “I feel really confident and really happy. I'm excited for what the future holds.”

His whole family is excited, including his most intimate circle: wife Kathleen and baby daughter Annie, barely three months old.

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HONESDALE SCHOOL SCENE

SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT

SEPTEMBER, 2016

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New teachers welcomed at Honesdale High

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY BOB JENNINGS Standing in the new Honesdale High School library, from left to right are: District Superintendent Gregory Frigoletto, Brittany Cardona, Wayne Highlands Education Association member Kim Skinner, Elliot Zackoski, Ryan Yagelski, Ernest Griffis, Brandon Diefenbach, Vanessa Spadafora, Tegan Holl, Christina Siepiela, Erin Canedy, Amanda Hager, and District Assistant Superintendent, Timothy Morgan.

Enjoy a great school year…

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On Wednesday, August 17, the Wayne Highlands School District conducted its annual New Teacher Day as part of the District’s Induction Program.

Mr. Timothy Morgan, District Assistant Superintendent, stated that the New Teacher Orientation is a vital part of the Teacher Induction Program. New teachers are paired with experienced mentor teachers who volunteer from their grade level or content area. The district provides professional support through mentoring for teachers in their first and second years. Mr. Morgan noted that the main purpose of the day is to explain the educational philosophies, policies and methods the new teachers will need in providing an exemplary educational program. Also participating in the orientation were Mr. Gregory Frigoletto, District Superintendent; Ms. Kimberly Skinner, Wayne Highlands Education Association; Mrs. Amanda Kerna, Director of Special Education, and Mr. Scott Miller, District Technology Supervisor.

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HONESDALE SCHOOL SCENE

SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT

‘Educational icons’ are mentors

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SEPTEMBER, 2016

onesdale High School welcomed a new school leader this year, but newly-minted Principal Chris Pietraszewski already knows by name about 600 of the 800 students at the school – and their families as well.

That's because in 2008 Pietraszewski arrived at Wayne Highlands to serve as principal of the kindergarten through eighth grade Preston Area School. Then, three years later, the K-8 Damascus Area School was added to his duties. Finally in 2013, he accepted the post of Wayne Highlands Middle School principal.

In addition to being totally at home with the kids who have now grown up and flood the high school hallways, “I feel humbled and honored to be high school principal following in the footsteps of educational icons Dan O'Neill and Tom Jenkins,” Pietraszewski said.

“They say Honesdale High School was the house that Dan O'Neill built, and that Tom Jenkins made it into a home,” he added.

The two late high school principals both went on to serve as school superintendents.

Pietraszewski served in the district during Jenkins' last three years as superintendent.

“Tom had a very even-keeled demeanor, never got upset. He thought rationally and was the calm in the midst of storm. Dan was assertive – he would make a plan and then persevere to achieve that goal.”

As Jenkins was Pietraszewski's mentor, so O'Neill served a key role in Pietraszewski's career as well.

O'Neill was his teacher when he earned his Master’s Degree at Wilkes University in nearby Wilkes-Barre, he noted.

“Both men had the ability to make people feel important, valuable and respected,” said Pietraszewski. “I want to emulate that.”

Pietraszewski launched his own college career at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, where he studied pre-medicine. But

fate then stepped in.

“I had the opportunity to help teach a freshman biology lab, and I absolutely loved it,” he said. “I left Notre Dame realizing that I wanted to explore teaching.”

He went on to teach science for six years on a Navajo reservation in New Mexico. He then taught at a Jesuitrun high school for inner-city boys in Detroit.

These days, he's focused on Honesdale, where he lives with his wife Kathleen and where the couple's four children have attended Wayne Highlands schools.

He's forging relationships with high school staff, learning about their own families, their accomplishments and their goals.

“Continued success and improvement on the Keystone assessments and maintaining and improving our SAT performance” are also at the top of the list, along with working to get students college or career ready.

In the classrooms, the principal pointed out, teachers will continue to be encouraged to use “assessment strategies” to check for student learning. Those strategies provide teachers with valuable feedback on whether they need to adjust their teaching so that learning is moving forward for each student.

Techniques range from simple student hand signals to digital tools that provide explicit feedback. Another is the “exit ticket,” that is, written student responses to questions posed at the end of a learning activity or at the end of the class.

With all students now using district-provided iPads, Honesdale High will continue this year to ensure teachers are at the top of the game.

Knowing the educational approaches, not to mention the software, or apps, that they can utilize is key.

Specifically, social studies teachers and art teachers will receive special training, as well as peer sharing at departmental meetings, to help them navigate these powerful tools that bring learning to life.

SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT

SEPTEMBER, 2016

HONESDALE SCHOOL SCENE

7H

Students, teachers applaud music suite and ‘college-style’ library

Student Faith Lawson works on her flute in one of four practice rooms at Honesdale High School's spacious new music suite.

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with special soundproof panels draw teenage music-makers daily.

“Before, students would have to go to a locker room or a storage room to have a place to work on their music,” said Robson. “Three of the practice rooms have keyboards where students can also take a piano lesson or practice piano for their college auditions.”

“The renovation is like night and day, absolutely,” said Lawson. “It's better than a lot of colleges. It's given me more motivation to practice, to better myself. I don't want to play something that sounds bad in such a pristine space.”

The high school renovation project also involved a complete make-over of the front of the high school, inside and out. The school's main office was reconfigured and a special security vestibule constructed. Outdoors, a new courtyard with stone benches serves as a gathering place for events like last month's Freshman Orientation Cook-out for students and families.

“We're thrilled about this space,” said High School Principal Chris Pietraszewski. “It's more inviting,

more welcoming.”

Over at the school library, the euphoria is just as pronounced. “It's the jewel of the renovation,” the principal said.

High School Librarian Judith Kich points to two spacious computer labs, one upstairs in a mezzanine, and one downstairs. Twenty-four Smart TVs in each lab allow for two full classes at work at one time, which happened the other day, said Kich.

Student study rooms, about 12 by 12 feet square, each feature a table, six chairs, a whiteboard and a Smart TV to work on powerpoints and to host webinars, the seminars connected over the internet.

“In technology, we are so advanced,” Kich said.

Students love the four comfortable easy chairs and the two high cafestyle tables and chairs. “”We're probably the most comfortable place to be in the high school – and we almost look like a college library,” said Kich. “It's tax dollars well spent.”

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ast year's $6 million renovation at Honesdale High School is reaping significant rewards. For example, in one spacious new area of the school, sweet music is sounding.

“The renovations are definitely helping us to prepare our students well for college,” said Betty Ann Robson, music and band teacher.

During the planning stages for a new music suite, architects and administrators asked Robson and music and chorus teacher Martha Curtis for a wish list.

“We wanted a computer lab for music theory, and we got it,” said Robson. “We now have a lab with eight piano-computer combinations.”

Student Faith Lawson explains that an entrance music theory exam is standard procedure for acceptance at a college with a good music program.

“But most high schools don't offer music theory, and now we do,” said Lawson. She is a senior who is college-shopping and plans to major in music therapy. “It's amazing that so much attention is being put on music (here),” she said.

“When you go to college, you do have to play a little piano and take an entrance music theory exam,” agrees Robson. “We have quite a a few students in music who are going off to college, and now they are being well prepared for their auditions in January.”

Renovation of the aging 1950s-era music department into a professional music suite has also gutted and rebuilt the choral room, and constructed a new band room, both of which boast the latest technology in Smart TVs and white boards. In addition, four student practice rooms

HONESDALE SCHOOL SCENE

SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT

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