Port Jefferson School District (PJSD)
The Port Report
Connecting with the Port Jefferson School District Community Volume 2, Number 4 August 2009 A ‘WELCOME BACK’ MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT Stacey Stoddart-Zink September is upon us and with it comes the excitement and anticipation of a new school year. Over the summer months, staff worked vigorously preparing our school buildings for a successful opening. The Board of Education has also worked hard over the summer months to pursue avenues that address our defined goals. To that end, the following board committees have been established and commissioned for the 2009-2010 school year:
The Board Education Committee is charged to work with the Administration to provide oversight of the Curriculum Revision Five-year Cycle. The Committee will adopt and publish a five-year calendar of curriculum review and approval, beginning with 2009-10. The Board Finance Committee will work with the Superintendent to plan, develop and communicate the annual district budget to be referred to voters. The Committee will meet as necessary during the school year to address any financial exigencies that may occur. In addition, the Finance Committee will act as the District’s Audit Committee as prescribed by law. The Board Facilities Committee will work with the administration to provide oversight of school facilities and will work with the District Architect to plan for facility development. Included within the facility oversight responsibility is the duty to set direction for the continued development and application of the District technology network. The Committee will exercise oversight of the Transportation Department. In the 2009-10 school year, the Committee is specifically charged to plan and bring to the voters a revised transportation route system to improve efficiency and service. The Board Communications Committee will direct the development of a strategic plan for communications in accord with the district’s communications audit. The Committee will work with the Superintendent and the Finance Committee to plan for creating a district communications office and employment of a Communications Director for the 2010-11school year. The Committee will exercise primary responsibility for design of the district web site in consultation with the Facilities Committee in its role of technology network oversight.
Please remember to check our web-site often www.portjeff.k12.ny.us and view our monthly e-newsletter; it will serve as a valuable source in communicating upto-date information to our school district community. Your cooperation and involvement continues to make our educational system in Port Jefferson a positive, growing experience for our children. You are encouraged to attend school activities, PTA and PTSA meetings, Back-to-School Nights, and Board of Education meetings, as we work together to give our children all that they deserve.
SUPERINTENDENT’S CONFERENCE DAY September 2009 Keynote - “Teaching and Learning in the Era of the Brain” September 2nd marks the return to school for staff. Education consultant/trainer, school improvement facilitator, and former principal, David Ghoogasian, is slated to keynote the day. His topic will be “Teaching and Learning in the Era of the Brain” . Issues he will raise include the classroom applications of brain research, learning/teaching styles, multiple intelligence theory, differentiated instruction, classroom management, and emotional intelligence. Follow-up work sessions will help teachers gain a better understanding of how the brain learns and strategies on how to use this information in a classroom learning environment. Recognition of Service A special highlight of Superintendent’s Conference Day is recognizing staff members who recently completed 25 years of service in the Port Jefferson School District. Reaching this milestone are Pete Burawa, Rod Cawley and Maria Llorens. They join the following veteran educators, recognized at past Superintendent’s Conference Days, who are still teaching in our district today: David Warmuth Kathleen Riley Debra Mazza Margaret Moore Arlene Russell Linda Dallara Susan Bayles Fox Lucille Maiella Laurie McMillen Nancy Matura Jack Bonura Donna Levine Claire Parrella Curran 38.5 years 35 years 34 years 33 years 32 years 32 years 32 years 29 years 29 years 28 years 26 years 26 years 26 years
We applaud you for your many and continued years of dedicated service.
A NEW FACE ON CAMPUS A warm welcome to Theodore (Ted) Mockrish - Elementary School Principal Mr. Mockrish, originally from Long Island, comes to Port Jefferson, with his wife Ria, from The American School of Kuwait where he served since 2004 as Elementary School Principal, Director of Studies, Elementary IT Coordinator and Grade Level Teacher. He received his Bachelors of Fine Arts, Drawing and Sculpture from S.U.N.Y. Purchase School for Visual Arts, a Masters of Science of Education in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Bank Street College of Education, and a Masters of Education-Educational Leadership from Lehigh University. The scope of Mr. Mockrish’s accomplishments include improving integration of technology, school-wide adoption, sequencing and alignment of new curriculum in all subject areas, as well as designing a schoolwide use of curriculum mapping and unit planning. Additionally, he has coplanned and presented a series of professional development programs for curriculum mapping, unit planning, writing portfolios and math differentiation. FEATURE ARTICLE / SUPERINTENDENT’S VIDEO MESSAGE “What is the biggest issue facing your district in the 2009-2010 school year?” That is the question Newsday reporter, Michael Ebert, invited Superintendent Max Riley to address in a unique back-to-school column which will be featured in the September 6 issue of Newsday’s School Notebook page. You can also hear Dr. Riley speak about this topic in his 2009 Back-to School video message located on the home page of the district web site.
SCHOOL CALENDAR Be sure to peruse our school calendar for important events. A link to the on-line version of the 2009-2010 school calendar is located on the web-site home page.
Use the following link to ask questions, offer suggestions, and seek clarification on information. Your e-mail will go to the Superintendent’s office, and you will receive a response within two business days. Link: ASK PJSD For more information on the PJSD visit our web site www.portjeff.k12.ny.us