Search This Blog

Friday, October 31, 2014

LORI LAYS DOWN THE LAW


One of the biggest issues facing LPS is the overall lack of parental involvement. Parents in this city need to step up and take responsibility for their own children's progress in school and be held accountable when they fail to do so! Classical has over 1600 students. Students, teachers and staff use a fantastic online program to post assignments, grades, attendance, upcoming events and to communicate with each other. However, about 70% of parents do not bother to use this program. The good news is almost 100% of students do use it.
36% of incoming freshman, 13% of sophomores, 32% of juniors and 24% of seniors got an F on their Social Studies summer reading assignments. On the ELA summer reading assignment, 49% of incoming freshman, 26% of sophomore, 24% of juniors and 16% of seniors got a D or F. These assignments were counted as test grades.
Newsflash parents.....it is YOUR responsibility to make sure your kid is doing his/her schoolwork and homework and that he/she is doing well in school.

REPLACY STACY

Looks like,  JANES KENNISON, will be filling the suddenly vacant PROGRAM SUPERVISOR position at CONNERY SCHOOL.. Best of luck to him, he will need a little since the school is just out of KEVEL 4 status.

Isn't it both a little amazing and curious how FAST important one positioncan be filled yet some take months?

ONCE THE DOORS OPEN

I had to laugh last night when the LSC went into executive session to discuss the bargaing position for the Adminstrator's Union,the principals, and the Business Manager's contracts. Not that the city had any money to begin with but after the mayor's recent pillferage and the LSC plundering resulting in expanded benefit package.

Now that the city bank account is bare where is the money gonna come from for more raises of any kind? I would have liked to be a fly on that wall. It's really going o be fun when they find out there is no money.

Well at least not for some people

Thursday, October 30, 2014

BROKEN BUS - IRONY IN MOTION (OR NOT)

Pic of Healy bus Lynn broke down and being towed lol

The wheels on the bus
do not go, do not go....


           

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

YOU KHAN GET HELP ON-LINE TOO!

Online resources can never be as good as a great mentor. However, we hope that we can help students get a solid start and to provide teachers, parents and counselors with a useful tool to help the students in their lives.
Check out College Admissions resources!
If you're a student considering college or know someone who would like these resources, I hope you'll take a look at and share our new College Admissions resources.
Regards,
Sal
PO Box 1630, Mountain View, CA 94042 | Our Privacy Policy

        

IN SERVICE OF SECRETS

Lynn preps for VP arrival


DON'T NECESSARILY BELIEVE ALL THE RUMOURS YOU HEAR!
                              After all I probably started them!
I can neither confirm nor deny that the REAL reason VICE-PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN is coming to LYNN is to try and persuade me to run again for school committee.

With at least one current member seeking other political offices in the city, the path to victory would most certainly be easier. It doesn't maTTer:

I AM NOT RUNNING!

How quickly you forget, the results of the last election showed that I have a mandate, Someone needs to WATCH over things to keep people honest. That way if I keep them HONEST, I don't have to be.

MY "HONESTY" QUOTA IS FILLED FOR THE DAY!


         

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

COLUCCI COMES OUT or RICH ON THE REBOUND

Making yet another appearance at another HIGHLANDS COALITION meeting WARD FOUR COUNCILMAN RICH COLUCCI HAS BEEN REINVIGORATED IN HIS POSITION. over the PAST FEW YEARS I HAVE NOTICED A big IMPROVEMENT in his commitment to his constituents.Recent competiion even though it has been threatening appears to have been good for him, I mean good for WARD 4 residents.

Last night he got to hear first hand stories about several HICO members felt about wwhat some believe to be the downward spiral of their beloved community scool. A school that in the pas has been nationally recognized several times.

RICH has also been out front on the fight to reinstate GORDON COLLEGE. He cares for ALL the citizens of the city, even the ones that can't vote yet. He surely knows that EVERYBODY MUST PASS THE MCAS......even the LBGT students.

As I have heard RICH recount in recent debates.......YOU CAN'T LEGISLATE MORALITY!


         

OBSTRUCTION ON THE WAY TO DESTRUCTION

Even though my back was killing me that was not the worst pain I was in last night. It was from sitting in the FORD SCHOOL gymnasium at a HIGHLANDS COALITION meeting and learning about the disableing of a community.

The first sign of the demise was when I witnessed the first of two groups of adults seeking the night school. Sadly they were told they were no longer being offered at this location. They were directed to where they are supposed to be handling it. Realistically the program would be quickly overwhelmed if it had just the old FORD STUDENTS let alone the rest of the city.

All the arguments about he negative aspects of immigration ring pretty hollow when you deny access to the tools needed for improvement. Some may argue that WE THE PEOPLE can not afford to be caretaker for the masses. They would be right and that is what we will become if we continue to deny opportunities foe education. Some would say that it is not our responsibility to teach adults whether they be parents or other family members. Here again, hose people would be right. However when you examine the impact that family life has on the success of the student, victory seems a little more sour than sweet.

The deterioration was much worse than that. In a time of expanding payrolls  and shrinking learning opportunities, valuable partnership[s are being cast aside in an almost religious indoctrination. Time-on learning is being justified instead of the view that there is a time to learn. Funny that time-on learning doctrine resulted I believe in lower MCAS scores at HARRINGTON than FORD. When you didn't get the results you want, no problem just keep changing measurements until you find one that says what you want.


       

PICKERING PLANS

Upcoming events:
10/29 Treadwell's Ice Cream Sundaes For Sale -- $3.50 
10/29 Chills & Thrills Dance, 5:30-8:00pm -- $5. Pickering students only. Tickets on sale Tuesday and Wednesday before and after school and at the door.
10/31 Annual Fitness Walk. Pledge sheets need to be in by Thursday.

Monday, October 27, 2014

THURSDAY SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING

Here is the upcoming agenda for the next LSC meeting!
LYNNSCHOOLS.ORG

SING IT SOCRATES

   Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for.

― Socrates 


         

PARADIS LOST?

At Tech, no trouble in Paradis

I am sorry but I think I deserve credit or blame for the ITEM's suddenn\n  creatively cheesy titles. A little keeping up with the WATCH, perhaps? No matter, it's all good.


I have made it NO SECRET about my predijuice toward TECH and it starte before my son became a student. U believe there is nationally a movement to take more serious a more practical aspects of education. Also I believe the teaching strateies are better suited educate many of the students of today and tomorrow.

For whatever reason be it MTV, vaccines, or the degredation of society because of the deterioation of family life, kids learn differently today. Attempts to stay ahead of the curve on learning has resulted in a shift away from what is actually being learned. The philosophy of learning has become more about philosophy and less about learning. A VOCATIONAL EDUCATION can be a step back to a simpler time.

Don't get me wrong there are still the trappings of HIGH STAKES STANDARDIZED TESTING, after all we have become a digital society quantifying everything in its own definition. MS. PARADIS has struggle mightily to incorporate the importance of the academic component. She has had to because they are keeping score. Don't forget numbers are needby the masses to signify progress and justify salaries.

In my continuing effort to maintain full disclosure, I, too, am on the SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL but no one contacted me about this story. In fact, the SIC has not contacted me this year and I think I missed one of our 3 or 4 meetings this year. Probably that e mail blockage thing again. I ouldn't be surprised if they sent home a notice with TRIPPY and I just didn't get it. I mean he is a typical teenager. He has a hard time keeping track of his bus pass.

Funny though, I have heard from several sources the reason MR. RIDLEY left TECH and MS. PARADIS was brought in was because of low MCAS scores and he was pressured to step down only to rise like a phoenix to take the helm temporarily at MARSHALL whose own principal left under a cloud of suspicion and rumours (Not all started by me).

       

Sunday, October 26, 2014


Hey Mustangs!
We received a request to share this message about Andrea, who is a former Mustang.
**************************************************************************
...See More
Missing From: MEDFORD, MA. Missing Date: 10/14/2014. Andrea may be in the company of an adult male. Her ears are pierced.
MISSINGKIDS.COM

HOW TO HANDLE HICO

Tomorrow night at 7 pm, the HIGHLANDS COALITION will be having their second monthly meeting under that team of transition at FORD. Add to that a moderately successful HARVEST FAIR, there appears to be a good relationship developing.

But....

we are supposed to be getting a new principal in the next couple of months so there is no guarantee of that continuing going forward. I do have some concerns about even the appearance of this current one. It would seem to me there has been less interest in TRANSITIONING than DEMOLISHING.

YOU WILL BE ASSIMILATED!

I really can't wait to get a first hand look at how things are going. I just think it's funny how someone who has such a long history with that school has been frozen out. How many years had I been on the SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL, former volunteer librarian until they got a real one (whose position has been eliminated again and I got no call even though I had expressed interest) and I am also responsible for starting the school newspaper which I am not sure exists any longer. I have a suspicion things aren't TRANSITIONING as well as some might want you to believe.

The thing is people are afraid to ask questions less the crumbs they are getting fed from the table stop falling. Well I am not afraid and I am hungry.

WHY DID LEO LEAVE?

BEING A community school is more than about GEOGRAPHY!


       

Saturday, October 25, 2014

TIGERS SUFFER ANOTHER HEARTBREAK


TIGERS takes field for pregame warmups!

The scoreboard at the end of the game read 14-7 in favor of the RED DEVILS. Unfortunately twice interceptions played a key part in ending TIGER attacks, Some untimely penalties also prevented the TIGERS  from performing a football exorcism.

The loss will keep the TIGERS out of the DIV. 6 MIAA playoffs. If the TIGERS can win the rest of their games in the loser's bracket, I think they will make the VOC. PLAYOFFS. So there is still some hope for post season accolades.

Okay, I may be a little prejudice but the TIGERS 3-4 record doesn't necessarily reflect how good they are. When you factor in their 2nd half performance against POPE JOHN who was #1 in the state for their division at that time, last weeks 1st half against the UNDEFEATED MYSTIC VALLEY team, and last night's heart breaker, the TIGERS are a GOOD team, only a few steps from greatness.

SEWELL SHOWS YOU HOW TO SHOP


A+ School Rewards!
Now through March 19th Sewell Anderson will have the opportunity to earn cash through Stop & Shop A+ School Rewards Program! All you have to do is log on to www.stopandshop.com/aplus and select CUSTOMER REGISTRATION to register your Stop & Shop Card.
Not sure if your card is registered? Log on and check, please encourage your friends & family to do register Sewell Anderson too. Our school will receive a check at the end of the program and the money will be used for any of our education needs.
Thank you for your support, have a great weekend!
A+ school rewards
STOPANDSHOP.COM

TIGERS IN THE HUNT

Tonight theTECH TIGERS take on CHELSEA with a probable MIAA playoff spot for LVTI.. Even though they are 3 - 3 with the complicated formula for division rankings LVTI is right on the cusp of a playoff spot.

So hopefully the stands at MANNING FIELD will be fuller than usual as a LPS's team will be playing a meaningful game for state recognition.

Friday, October 24, 2014

SCIENCE ON THE ROCKS, HIGH ROCK THAT IS

I've been meaning to write this post for a while but between all my back problems and everyday drama I just never got around to it. There goes my CHRISTMAS bonus for being lazy. At DR. CRANE'S retirement party a month ago, I was approached by RICHARD HELD, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM FOR SCIENCE. He introduced himself, joking that he had been mentioned in the WATCH a few times and I guess in the way that I do what I do.

Honestly nothing significant comes to my mind about any of it other than in relation to KNOW ATOM and how not having anyone in his position had been the justification for expanding the program throughout the elementary schools. Now it is expensive there is no doubt about it but the results here and other places have been superior. Since LPS has hired him an we are still keeping KNOW ATOM (honestly I was concerned they were going to stop it cold turkey but he assured me otherwise.)that it would be hard to attribute responsibility for any improvements.

It is a costly program and going forward the budget will be busted if we try and keep both. RICHARD told me of the plan to introduce LPS'S own program starting in first grade. We agreed that the key to KNOW ATOMS success was its HANDS-ON experience AND THAT WOULD BE STRESSED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY LPS PROGRAM going forward.  For now though we are going to stick with KA until the money runs out. Somehow I get the feeling ATOMS days are numbered.

I was impressed by MR. HELD and that is not always an easy thing to do.. I took some comfort in his overall philosophy and the fact that most people in the administration run from me and he ran to me.    

       

VYING FOR YOUR VOTE, TALK AND TALES

ECCO's Candidates Forum for the 6th Congressional District on October 26, 2014 - ALL are welcome!

MARTYRS, ILLUSIONS, AND THE LAW

Education foundation changes with the times


You know what I find interesting is how the BUSINESS ED FOUNDATION has been doing positive things for a few years giving MONEY and other partnering on otther projects for a few years

YET......

ONLY RECENTLY BECAME AND official FIDUCIARY SPONSOR for LPS to apply for grants tat needed a 503 status to receive the money. So the BUSINESS ED FOUNDATION will serve as a conduit for such grants. Legally, I believe they can take an administration fee. Now I am not saying they will, only that they can.

What is confusing is that often I have heard lamentations about how the public schools can't take the outside money like CHARTER SCHOOLS can. But they do and they have.

It's just a matter of creativity and visiion. Partnerships are there, it's a matter of SEEKING them out. For example, the CRADLES TO CRAYONS thing. LPS needs to quit playing the victim whereby they have provided the alledged JUSTIFICATION FOR charter schools.

WE BECOME SO BUSY WITH FIGHTING BATTLES, WE LOSE THE WAR!


         

Thursday, October 23, 2014

SHEDDING SOME LIGHT ON SOME DARK PROBLEMS

SINCE ELECTRIC BILLS ARE DUE TO GO UP SOME 37% SOON IT SEEMS THE lsc THINKS NO WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO REVISIT THE IDEA OF INSTALLING SOME SOLAR PANELS TO GENERATE SOME OF OUR OWN!

Head of INSPECTIONAL SERVICES, MIKE DONOVAN,  gave an interesting presentation to the BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS subcommittee at the last LSC. There re two options - we can either outright buy the panels or we can rent our roofs to a third party. There are some complcated calculations for desireved deriveratives regarding of the cost/benefit analytics.

The sad thing is that the roofs have to be less than 10 years olld to be strucurally sound enough to support these ventures. In LYNN that narrows down the possibilities to about FOUR. Of course one would think we should be all set to start out at the NEW MARSHALL but 92 MILLION DOLLARS later  for whatever reason there is no current plann to install them.

   

PICKERING PTO PLANS RAFFLE TO RAISE REVENUE

Kim Tasso Page9:29am Oct 22
Calendar Raffle donations are now being accepted. We plan to have students sell in January for a February calendar. Please let me know if you need a business letter for solicitation. kjpage@comcast.net. Any donation is greatly appreciated. Donations can be brought to the school office and I can certainly pick it up from you. The PTO has a designated mailbox and/or can be put into school vault. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP!!!! ALSO let me know if you know of a printer that can give us a fantastic price. Thx! :)

HELP OUT HONG

Reception on behalf of The Committee to (Re-)Elect Hong Net
Saturday, November 15 at 6:00pm
Franco/Amvets Lynn in Lynn, Massachusetts
 
Join
   
Maybe
   
Decline
 
Please join us for an evening of conversation, fine dinning and dancing. Featuring a live band and cash bar. Suggested donation $25

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Lysoa Inc.(Lynn Youth Street Outreach Advocacy)'s photo.

TOMORROW'S TIGERS TAKE ONE

The LYNN TECH JV football team beat MYSTIC VALLEY yesterday 22-20 at TECH. This bodes well for the future of TECH football since MV'S varsity is undefeated!

       

LOOKING FOR NEW VICTIMS

John Ford Will Run for Ward 7 Seat

October 16, 2014
By 
John Ford Will Run for Ward 7 Seat
Look at what all that has happened since the taxpayers were put on the hook for 92 MILLION DOLLARS to build the NEW MARSHALL SCHOOL. The sitting principal abruptly resigned to take a middle school teaching position in another district. LSC member RICK STARBARD, a staunch advocate, has said he will not seek re-election to the school committee but instead will throw his political hat into the ring to run for what looks to be a crowded race for COUNCILOR-AT-LARGE. Now we have JOHN FORD, a so-called CHAMPION OF CONSTRUCTION abandoning ship?

Maybe they all know something we don't. Well I have been saying....




     

ON THE LEVEL,OUT OF BALANCE

Something we ought to think about when we congratulate HARRINGTON for achieving that coveted LEVEL 1 status, one off their supporting partnerships was with GORDON COLLEGE. They would have stayed to when all of the money garnered from their previous LEVEL 4 designation dries up.


Not an option now!


READY TO RALLY

Get Out The Vote (GOTV) Lynn Rally with a Special Political Announcement by Brian LaPierre
Thursday, October 30 at 5:00pm
The PortHole Pub in Lynn, Massachusetts


     

ALL HAIL THE HYPOCRITES


High school students earn college credits through Marian Court



Before I begin in the interest of full disclosure, this summer I received a MARION COURT t-shirt at a NAVIGATORS game. Of course, this shirt limits the exposure of saggy parts of my body. How come they are being praised when I would bet their OFFICIAL stance on the LGBT thing is not that much different than GORDON'S?

Remember the head of CATHOLIC CHARITIES signed the same letterr as the President of GORDON!

     

PICKERING LADIES ARE THE BEST!

Pickering Lady Tigers Softball team won the Championship game vs. Peabody with a score of 9 to 0. Way to go Lady Tigers!!