New programs to start new year at school

SHARON — Sharon Center School (SCS) began the 2011-12 school year with 192 students, a slight decline from a year ago. Principal Karen Manning said there is a smaller kindergarten class this year, though she expects enrollment to remain fairly level for the next 10 years.Numbers fluctuate each year and sometimes even change in the first month of school. The official student population is calculated at the beginning of October for all schools in the region.Some new programs are in the works for this year’s students, Manning said. One is the Response to Intervention program now required by the state and federal governments. This is a data-driven program with benchmark assessments of each student to identify those performing below expectations in language arts, mathematics and behavior.Students identified as operating below expectations are assigned to a three-tier program. The help assigned to such students can include an in-classroom aide, 20 minutes of specialized help three times a week or 30 minutes of help daily. Staff members meet regularly in teams to discuss students, and use psychometric testing where indicated to identify students who might benefit from special education programs.Manning said early intervention produces the quickest and best results in student development, both academically and behaviorally.The Response to Intervention program has four components: record keeping; staff participation; programming and time. Manning said she feels this program will have a positive impact for Sharon students.This school year is the second at Sharon Center for the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program (PBIS), which is similar to the Response to Intervention program except that it focuses on behavior instead of academics. For the new school year, new staff includes middle school science teacher Matthew Budge, a graduate of the University of Connecticut. This is his first year teaching. Tina Bunce, a graduate of Housatonic Valley Regional High School, is the new secretary in the school office. Joan Yahn, a Sharon resident, is a new cafeteria assistant.On Friday, Sept. 9, there was a middle-school Sept. 11 tribute assembly that introduced a new initiative, A Year of Service to Our Community. Each month, students will participate in a different community service program, Manning said. On the 11th day of each month a new service program will be introduced. This month, there will be a food drive to support local food pantries. “This is both a tribute to victims of Sept. 11 and a way to say ‘Thank you’ to our communities,” Manning said.At the assembly, teachers read poems written by eighth-graders on Sept. 9, 2011.For more information on SCS, and to learn about volunteer opportunities for community members, call 860-364-5153.

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