York Town News
Residents invited to special events during York Schools Summer Institute
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - While school will officially end for the academic year this Friday, June 23, it's hardly over for many local teachers or for the York School Department's administrators.Among the many summer duties that a range of local teachers undertake to assist with such efforts as literacy programs and to gain professional development experience, the York School Department will be holding its sixth annual Summer Institute from Monday, June 26, through Thursday, June 29, at York High School.
"Bringing summer professional development opportunities directly to the York staff permits ease of access and allows teachers to enjoy time for sustained learning in a relaxed and collegial environment," explained Curriculum Coordinator Dr. Maryann Minard.
And while more than 130 educators from around the nation and across the globe will attend the institute itself, local residents are invited to be a part of two special events offered during the institute.
On Wednesday, June 28, from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m., Center for Prevention of Hate Violence Executive Director Stephen L. Wessler will speak on the issues of bullying, harassment and bias - in school as well as on the playgrounds and on the buses.
Wessler is also the author of "The Respectful School," and his presentation will feature a look at ways to turn the school environment away from bullying and fear in the direction of respect and safety.
Then, on Thursday, June 29, from 8:30 to 10 a.m., internationally acclaimed author and presenter Dr. Robert Evans will delve into changes among children and their parents - and the dilemma such changes can pose for schools and educators.
"The need for establishing core values, norms for behavior and parental and student support systems that are community-based will be promoted in this keynote address," Minard noted, explaining Evans' most recent book, "Family Matters: How Schools Can Cope with the Crisis in Childrearing," describes the trend that students everywhere are now harder to "reach and teach."
Minard stressed that educators, parents and community members alike are welcome and encouraged to attend these two public keynote addresses at York High School.
According to the School Department's announcement of the upcoming event, the topics reflect the expanded efforts to create and promote a culture of respect through revised K-12 health curriculum and a commitment to offering a series of parenting workshops for parents of K-12 students beginning in the fall of 2006.
"These topics are of vital importance to our schools and to our community. Student conduct and behavior are matters that extend beyond the schoolhouse gate and are impacted greatly by family, societal norms and modern culture," Minard said. "We need to seek ways to partner with families and community members to establish and enforce consistent standards and expectations for the benefit of our children and our larger world. The messages that Steve Wessler and Robert Evans will share with us are important and we hope many members of our community will plan on joining us on Wednesday and Thursday morning to listen, learn and reflect on what implications there are for the community of York."
In addition to the keynote addresses on Wednesday and Thursday, the educators participating in this year's Summer Institute will take part in any of eight available summer courses ranging in subject matter from mathematics to anti-bullying.
"Teachers and educational technicians who volunteer their time to the attend the Summer Institute earn either graduate course credit or Continuing Education Units that can applied toward professional recertification," Minard said. "Courses are taught by York teachers, University of Southern Maine instructors and contracted instructors."
And this year's participants from as far away as Cairo, Egypt, and as close as York's own schools, Minard said.
Minard and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Henry Scipione pointed out that the decision in past years to share the Summer Institute with educators from far beyond York's borders has proved to be the right move.
"By broadening the participation, we are able to offer a greater range of courses, and make it cost effective and engaging for teachers," Scipione said. "York teachers thrive on the interaction with fellow educators from other school systems who share their interest in a particular subject."
And, Minard pointed out, the keynote presentations provide an opportunity to take that interaction to another level, allowing teachers and community members to identify how they can work together to promote the York Schools' mission to "educate, inspire and challenge all learners to be ethical citizens who will make a difference in a changing and complex world."
For more on the Summer Institute or other events of the York School Department, visit www.yorkschools.org.
