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Vol. XXIX · Issue II
Newton South High School’s Student Newspaper · Newton, MA · Established 1984 · September 7, 2012
photo by Jordan Cohen-Kaplan
Language lab receives new iMac computers Jenny Friedland & Ravi Panse Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor
Newly-purchased iMacs have replaced all 30 computers for student use in the language lab. These iMacs were bought with surplus funds remaining after the district spent less money on teachers’ health insurance than was initially allocated. According to South employees, the language lab is different from other computer labs at South, and therefore faced unique challenges before and throughout its update. Technology department member Jason Agress said that the language lab differs from other computer labs in two key ways: the lab was brand-new approximately 10 years ago, at a time when others were not, and also makes use of Sony Soloist software for student interaction. These differences delayed the lab update. “Because [the language lab] was different and because it was so specialized, it was never really upgraded hardware-wise,” Agress said. “It was very expensive, … so at first it was great, and then it just got slower and slower and slower.” The original language lab computers were old and often had technical problems, according to World Language department head Suzanne DeRobert. The language lab had PCs which ran Windows XP before the upgrade; the new iMacs have also been set up to run Windows XP, which is necessary for students using Sony Soloist software in their language classes. The purchase of new computers has improved the language lab beyond its original functionality, according to DeRobert. iMacs, for example, have cameras that will allow American Sign Language (ASL) classes to use the language lab similarly to how other language classes do. “Mr. [Peter] Hershon, [the ASL teacher], … is very excited about how, just like oral language students record their voice, sign language students can now come in here and record their signing,” DeRobert said. Spanish teacher Helena Alfonzo said that a functional language lab serves a key purpose in language students’ education. “[In the language lab], instead of having a mainstream pace, where everybody listens to a recording twice and that’s it, you can listen to recordings once if you only need to [listen] once or you can listen to [them] three, four, five times if you need more time,” she said.
photo illustration by Joe Joseph and Kylie Walters
Administrators will use a standardized teacher evaluation process with frequent, short classroom drop-ins this year Julie Olesky Sr. News Editor
In order to receive federal money designated for education, Newton Public Schools officials have implemented a new teacher and administrator evaluation system. This year, administrators and department heads will evaluate teachers based on new criteria. In contrast to the former system, the new system involves administrators and department heads making more frequent classroom drop-ins for shorter amounts of time during the school year. Standardized rubrics include 43 different elements that teachers will be evaluated on, and student performance will also be a factor in the evaluation protocol. The new evaluation system emphasizes teachers evaluating themselves and their own progress. “You begin the whole process by looking at where you are, what you think you really want to be improving on, what your goals are for your
students and what your goals are for your own professional growth,” World Language department head Suzanne DeRobert said. “There’s an opportunity to discuss that with the evaluator and then to work on that process collaboratively throughout the year. I think it opens a lot of avenues for conversation.”
Junior Mark Hochberg said that though administrators will get to know teachers better, evaluations have a downside. “A teacher acts differently when there’s a person in the room observing them,” he said. Junior Anna Alsop agreed that there are negative aspects to teacher evaluations, particularly in the new format. She said short drop-ins will not give evaluators enough time. “The administrator would have to see at least half the class,” she said. Hochberg said he thinks the frequency of classroom visits can mitigate issues - Mark Hochberg, Class of 2014 related to time constraints. “If evaluators come more often, only then will it be easier to According to DeRobert, evaluate in those five minutes.” the new evaluations will allow for Mary Brandel, mother of collaboration between teachers, ad- sophomore Liam Brandel, said ministrators and their supervisors, that the new evaluation system particularly as classroom drop-ins could “result in a more structured increase. “It’s a lot of frequent visits, and effective way of evaluating the and it’s all around the premise that teachers’ actual performance.” there’s always conversation going on,” she said. EVALUATIONS, 4
A teacher acts differently when there’s a person in the room watching them.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
“TFIOS” Reaction Students react to this year’s One School, One Book choice
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Fall Activities
The Roar looks at different options for exploring nature this fall
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12
Summer Jobs
The Roar talks to seniors who worked summer jobs in Newton Centre
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16
NEWS 2 EDIT 6 OPINIONS 8 ARTS REVIEW 10 CENTERFOLD 12 FEATURES 14 SPORTS 18 COMMUNITY 20 FUN PAGE 22