Canton Public Schools: March 24 School Committee Recap

Canton MA

06 April, 2022

8:59 PM

Description

Press release from Canton Public Schools: April 5, 2022 CANTON — Superintendent Derek Folan would like to share with the school community updates and information provided at the March 24 Canton School Committee meeting. A recording of the full meeting can be viewed here. Additional meeting materials, including all documents shared at the meeting and the full Superintendent's report is available here. In the summer of 2021, the Canton World Languages Department was awarded a "Proficiency-Based Outcomes for Languages Other Than English" grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The $14,320 grant has allowed the District to implement and collect data from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) assessments. Throughout the 2021-2022 school year, Galvin Middle School and Canton High School teachers of French, German, and Spanish have participated in ongoing data-based discussions to prepare students for high levels of world languages proficiency. On March 8, the District was awarded a second "Proficiency-Based Outcomes for Languages Other Than English" for $12,075 (Fiscal Year 2022 and FY23). In June of 2021, Canton High School students participated in the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy for the first time. All four students who took the Assessment of Performance toward proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) assessments earned Language Coalition Awards at the Intermediate Mid, Intermediate High, and Advanced Low proficiency levels. Now, in the second year of implementation, several students have already qualified for the Seal of Biliteracy. Canton High School is honoring students for their achievement and growth in language proficiency at the annual World Languages Recognition Night in May 2022. In December 2021, 47 Canton High School French, German, and Spanish students were inducted into the respective honor societies sponsored by the American Associations of Teachers of French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. After almost a two-year hiatus, the Global Language and Cultures program has returned to the Luce, Hansen and JFK schools. Since 2016, Canton has offered after-school programming to elementary-age students. In the past, ASL, French, German, Mandarin, and Spanish have been offered. This year the schools are offering Spanish at both the JFK and Luce Schools and French at the Hansen schools. Through the Galvin Middle School after-school program, the French Club has been offered to students in grades 6-8. Currently, programming is provided to grades 7-12 during the school day. This summer, the World Languages Department will begin year one of its multi-year curriculum review cycle. As part of this work, world languages teachers will review the written curriculum and will align it with the new 2021 Massachusetts World Languages Framework as well as with other school and district-based goals. World languages teachers will participate in professional learning activities to familiarize themselves with the new standards, which emphasize proficiency, equity, social-emotional learning, social justice, and lifelong learning. JFK Administration shared school highlights and honored the work of the school support groups. The presentation included information on the following: CAPT (Canton Association for Parents and Teachers) Organization Leadership and volunteers in the CAPT help make the school a better place by regularly collaborating with JFK administration and staff. The CAPT helps organize several events such as homecoming; organize fundraisers such as the Raise Craze and book fair; support teachers with materials; and volunteer in a variety of ways every day. A special thanks was given to JFK CAPT leaders Noreen Rowland and Priscilla Lourenco. Extracurricular Opportunities Mallet Madness: Third, fourth and fifth grade students have the opportunity to participate in Mallet Madness, an after school club where students experience melody, harmony, form, musicianship and improvisation on percussion instruments. Robotics Club: A club for students who are interested in robotics and all things STEAM related. Music lessons before school. World Language Club: After school Spanish instruction. Student Council: Fifth grade students participate in student government and work to make the school community a better place. Several partnerships with Canton High School. This press release was produced by Canton Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author's own.