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PRINCIPAL'S NEWSLETTER
Message to Parents dated December 18, 2007 from Principal Gene Demsey
Dear Parents,
The winter of 2007-2008 has had a very active and interesting beginning. We haven’t reached the Christmas break and we already have cancelled school one day, dismissed early on another and opted for a late start on a third. With any luck, the weather will settle down and allow us to do our job.
When foul weather approaches, students and their parents should monitor one of the many ways in which school cancellations, delayed openings or early release information is made available to you.
- Television channels 4, 5, 7 and Fox 25 will all carry school cancellation and delayed opening information starting at 5:20 AM. Each of these TV stations also have on-line listings posted on their web-sites for those of you who prefer to check the computer for you information. Some of these TV stations will offer a text message alert service that you may choose to subscribe to that will call your phone when the posting is made.
- WBZ Radio (1030 AM) will read a list of cancellations and delayed openings. Information about Essex Agricultural and Technical High School should be broadcast soon after they receive it at 5:20 AM.
- You can call the school early in the morning of a day when there might be weather related changes to hear a pre-recorded message about cancellations or delayed openings.
- Information regarding weather related early release of students will be posted or broadcast on the same services as the decision is made to release.
- If there is a message of an urgent nature which must be delivered such as a weather-related early release, we will employ the use of an automated voice mail service. Please be sure that the phone number that we have listed for you in this voice mail service is the one on which you wish to receive the message.
Just a reminder to all, the Holiday vacation begins Saturday December 22 after a full day of school on Friday Dec 21. Students return from vacation on Wednesday January 2, 2008, which will be Day 4 of the schedule.
This year academic mid-term exams will take place on Thursday and Friday January 17 and 18, 2008. These days run on a ½ day schedule with students released at 11:06 AM. Each student will be scheduled for 2 academic exams each day. No lunch will be served on these Exam days.
Agricultural class exams will take place during the last cycle of the schedule before the end of term 2 and will be given during the regular Agriculture class. Students will be provided with a schedule shortly.
One other item of note regarding attendance. Ideally, we would like to see all of the students every day, but in the event that your child is ill and cannot attend, please call the Student Call-Out line to report his/her absence at 978-774-0050 ext 333. In order for the absence to be an excused absence, please send your child to school the next day with a signed note and/or Doctor’s note.
Dear Parents,
The 2007-2008 school year has had a wonderful start. There have been several changes since last year and I would like to take this opportunity to briefly update you on those changes.
To start with we have added a great group of students who are our class of 2011. We look forward to working with them over the next four years. We also welcome back our Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors and anticipate a great year with them.
Due to several retirements during the summer of 2007 there are many new faces on the administrative team and in the teaching staff. Our school has a new Superintendent/Director. His name is Mr. Roger Bourgeois and comes to us from Shawsheen Vocational Technical High School in Billerica with several years of administrative experience with vocational schools. Mr. Bourgeois has brought fresh ideas and enthusiasm with him and we look forward to moving Essex in a positive direction.
Other Administrative positions that have changed have been filled with excellent “in-house” candidates which include Mr. Peter Dolan, who has left the Health and Fitness class room to assume the position of Assistant Principal. Mr. Ron Vercellone has replaced the ever popular Mr. Raucci in the Admissions Office and has accepted a position with an expanded role which will include Recruiting, Attendance and Community Relations. The high school administrative team is rounded out with Mrs. Janet Norris in her second year as Director of Special Education and Mrs. Joy White, our Curriculum Coordinator. All members of this team are available by calling the school and dialing Ext. 220.
The first Parents Night of the year is coming up on Thursday, November 15, 2007. This day is a full day of classes for students with Parent Night meetings from 6-9 PM. Please come and meet your child’s teachers and discuss their performance and progress. During the first hour of Parent’s Night (6-7 PM) our Guidance Department will be holding a Financial Aid meeting for those parents of Seniors wishing to learn more about financing their child’s college education. More information will be available as the date approaches.
Gene Demsey
High School Principal
SCHOOL REPORT CARD
For detailed information on our school, please consult the
MA. Department of Education's web site that lists pertinent statistical
information at:
http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/home.asp?mode=so&so=2389-6&ot=5&o=2388&view=all