Sunday, September 30, 2012
Week of Respect returns for second year.
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Sunday, September 30, 2012
Chatham Middle School takes respect very seriously. Students and faculty at the middle school begin their second annual Week of Respect Monday. The week fills the school's obligations under the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, which Gov. Chris Christie signed into law over a year ago. Events this year are coordinated by Assistant Principal Robert Gardella. The Week of Respect officially started Friday in homeroom, when the school aired a video as part of the morning homeroom introducing the Week of Respect. After school, a banner with the words "I Stand Against Bullying" was hung in the cafeteria. Throughout this week, Gardella said, students will be invited to sign their initials on Post-Its and to stick the Post-It on the banner. Students …
Friday, September 28, 2012
Teachers say their efforts to get ready for the 13.1-mile run is nothing compared to those who suffer from these diseases.
On Thursday, Chatham Patch told you about 14 teachers and administrators in the School District of the Chathams currently in training for a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Thirteen of those running work at Chatham Middle School. Superintendent Dr. Michael LaSusa also signed up to run. The marathon takes place in Philadelphia on Sunday, Nov. 18. That's six weeks away, but when you're preparing to run 13.1 or 26.2 miles, six weeks does not feel like a lot of time. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has a program called Team in Training (TNT), which helps runners train for the event. TNT offers coaches, group runs, soft workouts such as yoga and other programs with others training for the Philadelphia marathon. …
Thursday, September 27, 2012
13 middle school teachers will run in Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Philadelphia marathon in November.
As September, or Blood Cancer Awareness Month, draws to a close, several staff members in the School District of the Chathams are deep in training—and fundraising—for a full and half marathon for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. A core group of staff members from Chatham Middle School came together in June to begin training and fundraising for the marathon, which takes place in Philadelphia on Sunday, Nov. 18. Since then their numbers have swelled to 13 teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators who decided to run after they, their families', their friends' and their colleagues' lives were touched by lymphoma and leukemia. Touched by their efforts, Superintendent Dr. Michael LaSusa, who can often be seen running around Chatham …
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Superintendent Michael LaSusa said the district is examining what programs best serve middle schoolers.
The School District of the Chathams may reevaluate how students are grouped by ability at the middle school level. When Chatham parents expressed concerns that the School District of the Chathams could remove honors or Advanced Placement classes from Chatham High School, Superintendent Dr. Michael LaSusa said the only plan is to standardize levels across each subject. The district's intention is to have three course levels to choose from in each subject and in each year at the high school level: "The middle school is a different story," LaSusa said at the Monday, Sept. 10 Board of Education meeting. "Right now we have a mish-mash of approaches at the middle school." Lafayette Avenue School teachers recommend students for different levels …
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Drop-off patterns and staff members directing traffic helped make the first day of school easier for motorists.
When Chatham High School introduced their new traffic policy in 2011, which did not allow cars dropping off passengers to enter the front parking lot, motorists took some getting used to it. When school began Thursday morning, traffic flowed much easier outside Chatham High. "That's why we're here, to get these cars through quickly," Assistant Principal Lori Gironda said as she and Douglas Walker, the new co-assistant principal, directed cars through the drop-off zone. A school district staff member guarded the entrance to the parking lot and allowed only cars with permits to enter. A new, later start time for Lafayette Avenue School also helped alleviate traffic conditions. As a result, cars were able to travel south along Lafayette …
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Jill Gihorski and Robert Accardi have been working closely together throughout summer and plan to continue doing so through the fall.
In some schools, two principals might be one too many. At Chatham Middle School (CMS), however, outgoing principal Robert Accardi and incoming principal Jill Gihorski happily coexist in the principal's office. "It's made it a lot better for me," Accardi said. "When I was contemplating leaving, not knowing who was going to take my place, it was a little bothersome. So this is great news for us, and wonderful news for the school." Gihorski's first official day as principal is Jan. 2, 2013, but throughout the summer and fall she plans to spend as much time as possible at CMS, getting to know the faculty and students and seeing Accardi work up close and personal—literally. "I just pull my chair right next to his," Gihorski joked when asked if …
Twenty classrooms get air conditioning in time for the 2012-13 school year.
As Chatham Middle School (CMS) students head back into the classrooms, there will be one immediate change they are sure to notice. Over the summer, 20 classrooms were outfitted with air conditioning for the first time, thanks to a $12,000 donation from the CMS Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). These were the last classrooms in the school not to have air conditioning. "That is an enormous upgrade, because there were the haves and have-nots," Principal Robert Accardi said. "It's been my personal crusade. The PTO's been terrific in making that possible. ... It's really going to help provide an optimal learning environment for students." The PTO also donated funds for a new awning at the entrance to CMS, which has been installed. The district…
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Everything your child needs to start the 2012-13 school year off right.
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Wednesday, August 1, 2012
What does your child need for their first day at Chatham Middle School? Just look at the list below: General Supplies: Spanish: French: German: Band: Math: Physical Education Materials: Keep At Home: No book sox or contact paper for school-issued books. Individual teachers require specific notebooks. General Supplies/Overall: Math: English Social Studies: Science: Spanish: French: German: Band Equipment: Physical Education Materials: Keep At Home: No book sox or contact paper for school-issued books. Individual teachers require specific notebooks. General Supplies: Spanish and German: German: Science: Math: Civics: English: Physical Education Materials: • White or Gray Shirt No book sox or contact paper for school-issued books. …
Friday, June 22, 2012
Research into the life of bees led three local scouts to beautify their school and support bee population.
When one local Girl Scout from Chatham Middle School learned how the declining bee population threatened more than the honey supply, she decided to do something about it. "I was on the Haagen-Dazs website, and they were talking about how one-third of our food goes through the bee cycle," Rashida Haye said. Haagen-Dazs is currently sponsoring a Bee Campaign, an effort whose aim is to reverse the population decline of the honey bees. From the website, Haye learned that bees pollinate over 100 crops in the US and are responsible for 80 percent of plant pollination, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and of course, flowers. The cause for the decline in honey bees is unknown, but according to the Haagen-Dazs website, more than one in …
Monday, June 18, 2012
World Language supervisor chosen from among 70 candidates, assistant superintendent said.
The Board of Education approved Jill Gihorski as the new principal of Chatham Middle School Monday by a vote of 8-0, with Board Member John Nonnenmacher the only absent member. Assistant Superintendent Michael LaSusa said Gihorski was chosen from "about 70 candidates" for the role. The selection process included interviews with LaSusa and Personnel Director Deb Becker; an interview by a committee from Chatham Middle School which included one student, two teachers, two supervisors, the outgoing and incoming PTO presidents of the middle school and two district principals, including Chatham High School Principal Darren Groh; and an interview by the Personnel Committee. Before the vote, several members of the school board, including Jill Weber…
LoveChatham
11:32 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
What an amazing group of people! more ›