A new drummer can energize an old beat

This week, students at five schools had the opportunity to hear real stories of success, hope, and most importantly, the importance of staying in school and giving 100 percent every day.

Guest speakers were US Marshal John Gibbons and ESPN reporters Jay Harris and Sage Steele. Gibbons visited the High School of Commerce, SAFE High School and Putnam while Harris and Sage spoke with students at Kennedy and Renaissance.

Each presentation was a result of the individual desire of the speakers to address Springfield Public School students with a personal, important message that would help us advance towards our vision for educational excellence. They reached out to us. We are grateful that they took the time to come and visit with our children.

Every day, our students hear about the importance of making the most of their education. But sometimes, hearing the same message from the same messengers can become a little monotonous. That’s why school visits like the ones we had this week from our esteemed guests are so powerful.

Certainly, Gibbons, Harris and Sage join a long list of honorable guests who have shared their stories and inspirational messages with our students. We are grateful to all of them and hope to continue to have many more.

The Springfield Renaissance School among the nation’s best

Let’s hear it for The Springfield Renaissance School! The Magnet Schools of America (MSA) organization has honored the school as one of the top magnet schools in the United States. The MSA will bestow its highest merit award, “The School of Excellence Award” upon Principal Dr. Stephen Mahoney during a national conference taking place in Indianapolis next week. The School of Excellence Award is based on a school’s commitment to high academic standards, curriculum innovation, successful diversity efforts, and the consistent delivery of high quality education to students.

Please join me in congratulating the entire student body, staff and principal of The Springfield Renaissance School for this prestigious recognition.

Students, teachers represent what’s best about school

Without doubt, the absolute best part of my job is getting into schools to see our teachers and students in action. It motivates and inspires me to peek into a classroom and see hands in the air, backs straight, and eyes glued on the teacher. That’s exactly what I found when I walked into the third grade classroom of Mrs. Robin Fowlkes at Freedman Elementary School recently. It was clear to see that an atmosphere of mutual respect permeated the classroom, and indeed the school. Mrs. Fowlkes’ students were engaged and eagerly showed off their knowledge about the works of Charles Dickens. It was the same level of engagement, respect and energy in Ms. Laura Rita’s third grade math class. It was a proud moment for me, the teachers, the principal, and most importantly the students. As we approach the last leg of this school year, I want to encourage all of the teachers to keep up their levels of enthusiasm for your students. They are like sponges, taking it all in.

Breakfast fills belly and heart with joy

I love pancakes but this weekend my favorite breakfast fare tasted sweeter than usual when I stopped by Duggan Middle School for the school’s pancake breakfast. The special treat of the day was the maple syrup that I slathered on my short stack. It was syrup that Duggan students had made themselves – starting from the sap collection process – as part of a hands’ on science learning project. It was wonderful to see the sense of pride and accomplishment on the faces of students as hungry patrons slathered their maple syrup onto steaming hot pancakes. The budget season is in full swing here at Springfield Public Schools and every day I confront the harsh realities of the costs of education materials, salaries, keeping up with technology, and so many other critical components of education. But at Duggan School on Saturday, I was reminded that sometimes the best teaching and learning doesn’t cost big bucks but takes little more than creativity, commitment and getting your hands dirty.

Students show SKILLS

Every day, in every school there are many students who make Springfield Public Schools proud. They are hard working students who come to school every day and give it all they’ve got.

Recently, some 50 such students from Putnam Vocational-Technical High School attended the SkillsUSA district conference in North Adams, Massachusetts. But our students did much more than simply attend the event; they shined and represented our school district very well. Our students brought back home six gold medals, two silver medals and four bronze medals. SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled services. Putnam students earned the medals for their knowledge and skill in the areas of sheet metal, internet working, computer applications, preschool teaching, health care, culinary arts, technology and carpentry. The gold and silver winners will go on to represent our school district at the state level in April.

Congratulations to our Putnam winners. They are but an example of our many committed, talented and driven students.