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Covington, La - Joseph Buccaran, principal at Slidell High School is the only high school principal in the parish to reject the policy that allows seniors to be exempt from final exams if they score "advanced" or "proficient" in their exit exams. Principal Joseph Buccaran stated that students needed every exam because it helped them with college tests. He prefers other rewards for scoring well on the exit exams such as free tickets to football, dances and the senior play. This recognizes them among their peers.
December 2002

Tardy Sweeps

San Leandro, CA - At the high school there is a new policy "Tardy Sweeps". When the announcement is made, teachers lock up their classrooms and staff members sweep up students in the hallways who are given a one-hour detention. As expected the students don't like the policy but administrators and teachers all applaud the policy. The system works as follows: The bell rings ending a class and students have 4-7 minutes to reach the next classroom. When the next bell rings teachers are instructed by loudspeaker to lock their classroom doors. Students left in the hallways have to go to the lobby to get a yellow detention slip to enter their classroom. Assistant principal Furtado said that the school had developed a culture that didn't take bells seriously; that has changed. Not one parent has complained.
December 2002

Dress Code - Committee Solution

Olympia, WA - The high school's dress code does not specify what can and cannot be worn, it states that student dress should not be disruptive to the school's educational environment and that student's should opt for business-style clothing. The policy itself has created a lot of debate so a committee has been formed to come up with a more definitive dress code. Principal Teri Poff says that what many students find to be fashionable is not always appropriate at school. The committee has not yet come up with a solution.
December 2002

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Odds & Ends-----

High School Broken Up Into 6 Learning Communities

Mountlake Terrace, WA - The high school at Mountain Lake terrace will next year be broken into six learning communities all with a different curriculum base. The funding will come from a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The students at Mountain lake High School will get to choose from the following: The Discovery School, Innovation School, School of Global Inquiry, School for the Performing Arts, Terrace Arts and Academics School and the Achievement, Opportunity & Service Community.
December 2002

Holiday Gift Baskets Teach Life Lessons

Bakersfield, CA - Students at the Virginia Avenue Elementary School put together food baskets for the needy during the holiday season and distributed them. Thirty-six baskets filled with food and a turkey was distributed. Principal Don Tillman was quoted as saying that many of the families were very appreciative and that the idea is for our students to participate in the holiday spirit and the joy of giving.
December 2002

Increased Police Presence

Cedar Rapids, IA - The principal of Washington High School, Ralph Plagman, increased police presence at the school during after school hours. A fight broke out at the school. During the after hours that prompted the action.
December 2002

Principals Getting Bonus

New York, NY - Joe Klein, the New York City Chancellor of Education is proposing that principals with strong records be granted bonuses of up to $75,000 if they agree to work in the city's worst schools for three years.
December 2002

School May Lose Mascot - Students Get a Voice

Natick, MA - The High School has as its mascot an Indian and its teams are known as the "redmen". There has been some discussion about removing the mascot from the yearbook cover. A student sent a letter to local businessmen saying that the principal Barry Parker is going to change the mascot. The principal responded that he would not be the sole decision maker and that a series of meetings with students will be held. He also said students should decided if they want the mascot on the cover of their yearbook.
December 2002

Looking to Parents for Budget Suggestions

Monroe, WI - The Monroe High School has been asked to cut $120,000 from next year's budget. The High School Partners in education sent out letters to the parents for suggestions as well as posting in the district office and the public library. The principal, Craig Jefson said that he welcomes the support and that many of the suggestions were insightful and useful. He further said that it was necessary for the school to be creative in meeting the financial challenges.
January 2003

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Volume 1 - Number 2 January 17, 2003
		Programs Goal- Getting Teachers to Talk to Teachers Teacher Supplies Provided by Outsiders School Adopts Accelerated 3 Year Program Mentoring Program Helps in Community Learning Center Big Success Parental Involvement in Literacy is Essential Program to Inspire Volunteers Among Students Dog Hired to Sniff for Drugs and Alcohol Baldridge Initiative Brings Success School Board Fed by Seventh Grade Class *Learning for Students and* Parents P.E.T. Program Addresses Teacher Shortage Classroom Time Extended After School Robotic Competition After School Programs Focus On Reading After School Program for Students Who Need Help Leadership All Visitor's To Principal's Office Not Troublemakers Top Principals at Unique Schools Principal Removes Vending Machines Responding to Tragedy After Death Threat Principal At Door Every Morning Principals and Superintendent to Man the Buses for Support Principal Gives Students More Attention Policies Principal Rejects Exam Exemption Policy Tardy Sweeps Dress Code - Committee Solution Odds & Ends High School Broken Up Into 6 Learning Communities Holiday Gift Baskets Teach Life Lessons Increased Police Presence Principals Getting Bonus School May Lose Mascot - Students Get a Voice Looking to Parents for Budget Suggestions**
		Editorial Policy: It is the policy of The Principal's Idea Notebook to present ideas from principlas around the country that are innovative, creative and worthy of being adapted at other schools. It is the free flow of ideas that make our education system the best in the world and most of these ideas come from School Principals. Henry M. Quinlan Publisher Programs ----- Goal- Getting Teachers to Talk to Teachers Springdale, AR - Principal Darrell Watts has developed a professional development plan that has as its goal to get teachers to come out of their classrooms to talk with teachers from other departments. By creating discussion groups he hopes that teachers will learn other teaching strategies that will help them improve their own teaching strategies. Noting that teachers work in isolation he determined that this could be effective in having teachers on their own seek out other teachers for help. December 2002 Teacher Supplies Provided by Outsiders Stamford, CT - According to principal Kathleen Pfister of the K.Y. Murphy Elementary School the school purchased fewer books for classroom libraries in order to insure funds for other supplies. Pat Carpenter, an aunt of a first year teacher, was astonished when she saw how much her niece was spending out her own pocket for supplies and reading materials for her class. The aunt asked her co-workers at the law firm, Day, Berry & Howard to help. The employees of the firm responded with almost $6,000 that is to be given to the PTA to purchase storybooks and other supplies for the second grade. December 2002 School Adopts Accelerated 3 Year Program Charlotte, NC - In order to be competitive with school choice Garinger High School adopted an accelerated 3-year program in order to attract students. The principal, Jo Ella Ferrell, says, "we want the school to be on the cutting edge. We are not a school to full capacity and we want them to be standing at the door for an exciting curriculum". The school expects to attract motivated students who want to graduate in three years. December 2002 Mentoring Program Helps in Community Monticello, IN - Bev Baum, principal of the Monon Elementary School fosters community involvement as a way to school improvement. One aspect of the program is enlisting community members as mentors for the school children. In a community with a shaky economy; single parents and parents working overtime all parents do not have the time to devote to their children's education so the mentoring program is a valuable supplement to parental involvement. One of the mentor programs has adult volunteers act as lunch buddies for the students. Once a month, to increase adult contact for the students, the volunteers have lunch with a child at the school. December 2002 Learning Center A Big Success Northampton, MA - The Florence Learning Center was set up in a bid to keep students in the city school district. The program serves students with learning or behavioral problems that need more support than is available in the traditional high school. The administrator for the program, Lesley Wilson is also the assistant principal at the high school. The Center serves 10 students and its success is marked by he fact that two students next year will attend the high school. There is a lot of parental and district support for the program that has a staff ratio of one to one. January 2003 Parental Involvement in Literacy is Essential Hawaii - Solomon Kaulukukui of the Hawaii Department of education and a former principal says that parental involvement is essential for the success of a school literacy program. When a principal he sponsored a family literacy program and reached out to parents to join the program even sometimes visiting parents in their home to sign them up. His experience said the best recruiters for the program were graduates of the program. January 2003 Program to Inspire Volunteers Among Students North Adams, MA - Marjorie Senecal principal of the Savoy Elementary School relates that kindergarten and first grade students are involved in a program that creates birthday cards for senior citizens once a month for all of the seniors in the city who had a birthday in that month. Once a quarter they also sponsor a party for the seniors who had a birthday in that quarter. One of the goals is to inspire other students to be volunteers, a segment of the PBS show "Zoom" will focus on the school program. January 2003 Canine Team Used to Sniff Out Drugs and Alcohol Claremont, CA. - A private firm has been hired to periodically bring a dog into the high school in search of contraband such as alcohol, drugs or weapons. The dog is a trained to sniff out these substances. In the past year the number of incidents involving these substances doubled and this year it appears to be the same according to principal Carrie Allen. The dogs are not only seen to be discovers of contraband but also to deter students from bringing the substances into the school. In one of the schools that the company services the amount of substances brought into the school dropped by 42% in one year. December 2002 Baldridge Initiative Brings Success Crestline, OH - The "Baldridge Initiative" now being used in grades kindergarten through grade 4 is in its first full year and it is showing positive results. According to Jim Duplaga, principal and curriculum director, fundamental to the data-driven initiative is the idea that everyone in the school building from the custodians to the students has a responsibility for the success of the students. He says that it is a school improvement process and part of that process includes the setting and displaying of classroom goals, and involves self-evaluation and the charting of their own progress. The principal says that by October there was a change in attitude and work ethic. December 2002 School Board Fed by Seventh Grade Class Municie, IN - It is custom for the School Board to visit every school during lunchtime. At the request of principal, Judith Valos, the seventh grade family and consumer science class fed the board a Mexican buffet. The art students contributed to the affair by designing place mats, made posters and designed traditional tin ware embossing. December 2002 Learning for Students and Parents Manassas, VA - Every Tuesday morning parents enter the Baldwin Elementary School with the children/students. Inside the school the parents meet with their tutors to pursue their study of English. One third of the student body is Hispanic. Principal Jeff Abt that this program assists parents to use their new language skills to help their children. As many as 40 parents take advantage of the program. December 2002 P.E.T. Program Addresses Teacher Shortage Fayetteville, NC - Principal Rob Barnes has instituted the Practical Education Training program, a program that places high school students in middle and elementary schools as tutors for math and reading and as friends. The students are given two weeks of training before being sent to a school. Each high school student must do a portfolio outlining his or her experiences. They are also required to read articles on education and to keep a log about how they are helping students. December 2002 Classroom Time Extended Huntsville, AL - University Place Elementary School principal Helen Taylor decided that she needed more time to help her 450 students improve their test scores. She promoted the extended schedule for the Huntsville, Alabama school and found the grant money to pay the teachers for the extra time they spend in the classroom. The school day starts at 8 a.m. but now runs ½ hour later till 3 p.m. Teachers are spending the extra time teaching math and reading which are key components in the State's standardized tests. The teachers are paid for an extra two hours per week. While the program is voluntary 98% of the parents voted for the 4extended time. January 2003 After School Robotic Competition Apple Valley, MN - A high student at Eastview High School who had participated in a Lego League as a junior high student suggested to Assistant Principal Rob Franchino that the high school assemble a team to compete in designing and programming a robot that will demonstrate how useful robots can be outside of competition. The assistant principal contacted Extra Connections, which supports after school programs and they agreed to fund it. The assistant principal says that the more the school can engage students in co-curricular activities the better off everyone is. January 2003 Top After School Programs ----- Focus On Reading Station Rota, Spain - At a Naval elementary school, David Glasgow Farragut, the principal, Gary Edsall and others are refocusing the after school program on reading and comprehension even though the students tested above average. But the teachers considered these areas as weak points. In the past the after school program had volunteers helping students in many subjects but the program evolved into a study hall with students doing different studies. The program now involves a volunteer reading to a student and then quizzing the student on their reading comprehension. December - 2002 Extra Help For Those Who Need It Hanford, CA - A new after-school program aimed at helping pupils who have fallen behind in their academic achievement. It is an intervention program according to principal John Sousa that will provide students with additional instruction and support as well as personnel to tutor them and assist them in their homework. An experienced teacher will be recruited to staff the program. December 2002 Top Leadership----- All Visitor's To Principal's Office Not "Troublemakers" -- Danville, KY --"I want kids to know that you don't have to get into trouble to come to the principal's office," says Steve Waggoner, Principal of the Washington Elementary School of Danville, Kentucky. He does't want any student to enter his office, decorated with artwork from students, with fear. He wants them to feel that if they are troubled they can enter his office and maybe find a solution to their problems. December 2002 Top Principals at Unique Schools North Carolina --Two principals were chosen by their peers as the principals of the year in their respective school systems in North Carolina. Janet Means for the Asheboro City schools and Mary Smitherman for the Randolph County schools. Both are heads of unique schools. Janet Means is the principal of a school with 42% of its students being Hispanic. She has met this challenge by organizing parental meetings in Spanish and she herself is studying Spanish to be better able to communicate with the students and parents. Mary Smitherman, a middle school principal, has led her school to high distinction with more than 80 per cent of its students performing at or above grade level. December 2002 Principal Removes Vending Machines Gastonia, NC --Susan Chase, principal at the Belmont Middle School, has removed all soda and snack vending machines, stating that money can be made in other ways and that children's health is more important. December 2002 Responding to Tragedy Van Wert, OH --A tornado swept through Van Wert, Ohio and the leadership skills of the principals, Mike Biro at Crestview High School and Dean Giesige at Wayne Trace High School, helped the students get back to normal as quickly as possible. At Crestview High School the affected students told what happened and answered questions-that helped everyone. At Wayne Trace, students from the school were out helping clean up as soon as they could. The students raised money and helped farmers and families in need. December 2002 After Death Threat Principal At Door Every Morning Madison, ME --A high school boy posted death threats against his peers on an Internet message board. He was placed in a juvenile correction facility. The Superintendent of Schools and the high school principal, Colin Campbell, informed all of the students about what had happened and the parents of the students who were threatened. Each morning, the superintendent and the principal greeted the students as they came to school as a way of reassuring the students of their safety. December 2002 Principals and Superintendent to Man the Buses for Support Edmonds, WA -- The superintendent and principals from the Edmonds schools will man the buses to collect donations of school supplies and to increase the awareness of the crisis in state funding for schools. The buses will be parked at two locations. The "Deck the Buses" is a cooperative venture between a local TV channel and local companies and the schools. It came about as the TV channel publicized the amount of money teachers were spending from their own pockets for supplies. December 2002 Principal Gives Students More Attention Principal Dennis Lawson of the Westfield Elementary School and his assistant visit a classroom as many as four times a day and they make a priority of visiting all 24 classrooms at various times during the day. The principal doesn't preach the test but rather he preaches meeting the needs of each child and ensuring growth of that child during the year. He wants to encourage the enjoyment of learning not just "pass the test" learning. Teachers are teaching individually and even a second weekly session of physical education and media time was cut in place of more classroom time and more one-on-one reading. One result has been a school wide love affair with reading. December 2002 Top Policies----- Principal Rejects Exam Exemption Policy Covington, La - Joseph Buccaran, principal at Slidell High School is the only high school principal in the parish to reject the policy that allows seniors to be exempt from final exams if they score "advanced" or "proficient" in their exit exams. Principal Joseph Buccaran stated that students needed every exam because it helped them with college tests. He prefers other rewards for scoring well on the exit exams such as free tickets to football, dances and the senior play. This recognizes them among their peers. December 2002 Tardy Sweeps San Leandro, CA - At the high school there is a new policy "Tardy Sweeps". When the announcement is made, teachers lock up their classrooms and staff members sweep up students in the hallways who are given a one-hour detention. As expected the students don't like the policy but administrators and teachers all applaud the policy. The system works as follows: The bell rings ending a class and students have 4-7 minutes to reach the next classroom. When the next bell rings teachers are instructed by loudspeaker to lock their classroom doors. Students left in the hallways have to go to the lobby to get a yellow detention slip to enter their classroom. Assistant principal Furtado said that the school had developed a culture that didn't take bells seriously; that has changed. Not one parent has complained. December 2002 Dress Code - Committee Solution Olympia, WA - The high school's dress code does not specify what can and cannot be worn, it states that student dress should not be disruptive to the school's educational environment and that student's should opt for business-style clothing. The policy itself has created a lot of debate so a committee has been formed to come up with a more definitive dress code. Principal Teri Poff says that what many students find to be fashionable is not always appropriate at school. The committee has not yet come up with a solution. December 2002 Top Odds & Ends----- High School Broken Up Into 6 Learning Communities Mountlake Terrace, WA - The high school at Mountain Lake terrace will next year be broken into six learning communities all with a different curriculum base. The funding will come from a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The students at Mountain lake High School will get to choose from the following: The Discovery School, Innovation School, School of Global Inquiry, School for the Performing Arts, Terrace Arts and Academics School and the Achievement, Opportunity & Service Community. December 2002 Holiday Gift Baskets Teach Life Lessons Bakersfield, CA - Students at the Virginia Avenue Elementary School put together food baskets for the needy during the holiday season and distributed them. Thirty-six baskets filled with food and a turkey was distributed. Principal Don Tillman was quoted as saying that many of the families were very appreciative and that the idea is for our students to participate in the holiday spirit and the joy of giving. December 2002 Increased Police Presence Cedar Rapids, IA - The principal of Washington High School, Ralph Plagman, increased police presence at the school during after school hours. A fight broke out at the school. During the after hours that prompted the action. December 2002 Principals Getting Bonus New York, NY - Joe Klein, the New York City Chancellor of Education is proposing that principals with strong records be granted bonuses of up to $75,000 if they agree to work in the city's worst schools for three years. December 2002 School May Lose Mascot - Students Get a Voice Natick, MA - The High School has as its mascot an Indian and its teams are known as the "redmen". There has been some discussion about removing the mascot from the yearbook cover. A student sent a letter to local businessmen saying that the principal Barry Parker is going to change the mascot. The principal responded that he would not be the sole decision maker and that a series of meetings with students will be held. He also said students should decided if they want the mascot on the cover of their yearbook. December 2002 Looking to Parents for Budget Suggestions Monroe, WI - The Monroe High School has been asked to cut $120,000 from next year's budget. The High School Partners in education sent out letters to the parents for suggestions as well as posting in the district office and the public library. The principal, Craig Jefson said that he welcomes the support and that many of the suggestions were insightful and useful. He further said that it was necessary for the school to be creative in meeting the financial challenges. January 2003 Top
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