January Newsletter
The monthly newsletter that celebrates our community.
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* * * STAFF SPOTLIGHT * * *
Martha Bushey
High School Literature/Language Arts Teacher
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What do you do at LPS?
I am a high school Literature and Language Arts teacher. I have been teaching at LPS since 2012.
Where were you before you came to LPS?
Before I came to LPS, my career in education encompassed several different facets. I was a high school English teacher, and directed a resource room in a public high school in Western Massachusetts. Additionally, I taught at the Linden Hill School in Northfield, Massachusetts, which was a school for middle school boys diagnosed with dyslexia. The school was founded over fifty years ago, and it was the first school in the United States specializing in educating middle school boys diagnosed with dyslexia. There, I was both a Literature and Language Arts teacher.
What is your favorite part of being an educator?
First, and foremost, having the privilege to work with such an amazing group of LPS students whose kindness, determination and courage allows them to reach their potential and goals is an extraordinary gift. Additionally, everyday I'm excited to be able to share all the wonders we can learn from books about ourselves, about the world's people, their cultures, struggles, and achievements.
Why did you get into education?
Read more...
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* * * PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT * * *
20 Years of Thinking Maps
Twenty years ago in 2002, Learning Prep School began using a new system of visual tools called Thinking Maps®. Developed by Dr. David Hyerle in 1988, he figured out that every person analyzes information in 8 different ways:
- Defining
- Describing
- Comparing/contrasting
- Classifying
- Breaking down into parts
- Sequencing
- Cause/effect
- Establishing relationships between things
From this understanding, he developed a set of visual tools for understanding and mastering these eight thinking processes in a way that is clearly defined and helps students to think on their own, and process information independently.
All students at Learning Prep School use Thinking Maps®, starting from their first day here. Since all staff are trained and use them on a regular basis, students develop an automaticity with them and are able to apply critical thinking skills to problem-solve and develop higher-level, abstract thinking. Because Thinking Maps® works in every grade, in every subject, in every elective, and at any level of academic activity, we have found that students are able to more quickly and effectively grasp and retain new concepts, given that they are used in every class by each teacher. Through their use, students can organize and see their own thinking and teachers can then use the completed maps to observe the students’ thinking processes.
Since we have been using them, we have found that Thinking Maps® have an enormous benefit to our community:
Read more...
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IMPORTANT DATES
Friday, January 14: Early Release, 11:00 AM
Monday, January 17: No School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Friday, January 28: HS Winter Trivia, 6:00 PM (details TBA)
Wednesday, February 2 & Thursday, February 3: MCAS Biology retest
Monday, February 14: All School Wear Red Day
Thursday, February 17: Parent Advisory Group (PAG) meeting, 8:00 AM
Monday, February 21 - Friday, February 25: February Vacation
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* * * LEADERSHIP BLOG * * *
Why is Social Emotional Learning so Important?
By: Amy Plante, Assistant Principal
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Students and adults world-wide have gone through an ever-changing world of expectations socially and emotionally the last two years. Our society has been asked to recreate how we educate, communicate and socialize. Individuals have been expected to include structure and consistency in their life yet must remain flexible to the continuous requests being placed on them. This challenge has created the necessity for individuals to build a “tool box” of ways to remain resilient.
The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) has identified five competencies of social/emotional learning:
- Self Awareness
- Self Management
- Social Awareness
- Relationship Skills
- Responsible Decision Making
We are all lifelong collaborative learners. Here at LPS we have a vision of assisting all of our adults and students in creating a healthy and inclusive school that supports all learners. We know how difficult the lack of social interactions has been on our students. We realize recognizing self awareness and fostering relationship skills has been extremely cumbersome to do over Zoom and social media. Some media interactions have created even more misunderstandings for students. Now that schools have gone back to “in person” we have an opportunity to practice these skills with our students in real life situations. Integrating these competencies into our daily instruction helps our students to build connections with each other, their community and ultimately understand themselves better.
At LPS our view on discipline is...
Read more...
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Announcements & Reminders | |
Updated Covid Protocols
The 2021-22Covid Protocols have been updated. You can find them on our website under Current Students/Covid-19 or attached here.
You can also see this updated flowchart from the Department of Education on what to do when identified as a close contact or testing positive for Covid.
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9th grade families
Attention parents and guardians! We are looking for a volunteer to be a Grade Parent for the 9th grade. If interested in learning more, please contact Amy Davis at adavis@learningprep.org.
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Get involved
The Parent Advisory Group (PAG) & the Partners In Education (PIE) are two parent organizations that families can participate. For more information about each group's goals and the meeting dates, click here.
The next meeting is:
PAG: Thursday, 2/17 9:00am
Zoom link for all meetings:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83490769413
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MCAS Dates
Please see the schedule below for MCAS dates the spring. More info to come.
February 2 & 3 - Biology retest
March 9 & 10 - ELA retest
March 15 & 16 - Math retest
March 22 & 23 - 10th grade ELA
April 5 & 6 - 5th/6th grade ELA
April 7 & 8 - 7th/8th grade ELA
April 26 & 27 - 5th/8th grade Science
May 10 & 11 - 5th/6th grade Math
May12 & 13 - 7th/8th grade Math
May17 & 18 - 10th grade Math
June 7 & 8 - Biology - 9th grade & retest
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High School Yearbook
It is time to pre-order your 2021-22 High School Yearbook! A full color book documenting this extraordinary school year! Order today on JostensYearbooks.com
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Grade Level Parents
Grade representatives for the 2021-22 school year:
12th: Debbie Berechman
11th: Stacey Suckerman
10th: Roslyn Michelson
9th: (available)
8th: Lori Day
5th-7th: Christina Chatalian
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2021-22 Calendar
You can download the 2021-22 School Year Calendar here.
(updated 7/12/21)
Also, check out learningprep.org/calendar for a full list of events.
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Family Directory
Is now available. Please check your email for a separate invitation from "Directory Spot" to access it.
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Lunch Menu
To review the lunch menu, click here.
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Parent Facebook Group
Join our private Facebook group just parents and guardians called:
LPS Panther Parents & Families Group.
Click this link to join!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/803852983897093
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Get your LPS Gear!
Here's a great way to show your LPS Panther Pride!
The School Store has been updated so check out the school store today!
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Know someone who would benefit from LPS?
If you know someone who may be looking for a place like LPS, tell them about our weekly, Virtual Information Sessions and to reach out to:
Korina Martin, Director of Admissions at kmartin@learningprep.org
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Main:
1507 Washington Street
West Newton, MA 02465
Phone: (617) 965-0764
Main Fax: (617) 527-1514
Nursing:
Nancy Ishkanian
nishkanian@learningprep.org
617-965-0764 ext. x 1014
Nurses Fax: (617) 244-1921
Transportation:
All transportation changes and early dismissals to:
HS: dhurley@learningprep.org
MS: ccaruso@learningprep.org
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Amy Davis, Principal
adavis@learningprep.org
617-965-0764 ext. x 1221
Amy Plante, Assistant Principal
aplante@learningprep.org
617-965-0764 ext. x 1322
Vanessa Craveiro, Chief Financial Officer
vcraveiro@learningprep.org
617-965-0764 ext. x 1317
Korina Martin, Director of Admissions
kmartin@learningprep.org
617-965-0764 ext. x 1202
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Kurt Moellering, Executive Director
kmoellering@learningprep.org
617-965-0764 ext. x 1201
Gretchen Petersen, Chief Operating Officer
gpetersen@learningprep.org
617-965-0764 ext. x 1208
Dee Lane, Director of Development & Alumni Relations
dlane@learningprep.org
617-965-0764 ext. x 1206
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