Currents in Education
York School Committee hears about anti-bullying and plans for the future
By Jennifer L. Saunders
Village Elementary School second-grade students Cameron Fenderson, Ben Schriefer, Emma DiMuzio, Maddie LaVigne, Adrian Bracciotti, Tayla Banta and David Lauren performed an anti-bullying skit for the School Committee at its meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 1, under the direction of VES School Counselor Meg Worthing. The purpose of the performance was to show what they have been learning through CARE Education at Village, a program that takes a two-pronged approach against bullying. The children learn strategies for dealing with bullies and about the respect, empathy and kindness that prevent bullying in the first place. With the help of Geoffrey the Giraffe, pictured above, the children used the skit to illustrate how to use courage and kindness to stop a bully and help those hurt by a bully's actions.
Photo by Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - It was a School Committee meeting that featured a little bit of everything on Wednesday, Nov. 1, beginning with a special performance by second-grade students from Village Elementary School and including such key topics as the York High School Arts Wing.
Village Principal Ruth Dealy introduced the skit, which was performed by Cameron Fenderson, Ben Schriefer, Emma DiMuzio, Maddie LaVigne, Adrian Bracciotti, Tayla Banta and David Lauren, for the School Committee, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Henry Scipione and all those watching the meeting on York's public access channel.
The students, Dealy explained, have been learning about strategies to stop bullying when they see it occurring, and to prevent it from happening in the first place.
"In keeping with what we know about how young children learn best, our School Counselor Meg Worthing has developed a hands-on program," Dealy said, describing CARE Education at Village, where children use role-playing like the skit performed last week to learn how to react to situations where they might be called upon to help a peer in need.
The goal, Dealy said, is to make the experience meaningful to each child.
CARE Education, Worthing explained, uses a two-pronged approach where the children learn strategies for dealing with bullies and also about the respect, empathy and kindness that prevent bullying from occurring in the first place.
In their performance, the children had the help of a cherished stuffed animal, Geoffrey the Giraffe, in the role of a new student taking the bus for the first time.
The School Committee members applauded not only the performance itself, but the interest these young students showed in putting an end to bullying at all ages.
Following the performance, it was on to the regular business of the night, including a response from the town of Ogunquit to York's recent offer to accept that town's approximately 50 school-age students on a tuition-only basis. At this time, Ogunquit has not decided how it will proceed, as negotiations are continuing with Wells, which is currently linked with Ogunquit through the Wells-Ogunquit Cooperative School District. Ogunquit has until September to finalize a plan with York, should the town so choose.
Ogunquit officials are slated to meet tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 8, in ongoing discussions.
The School Committee also discussed a long list of upcoming meetings and events. Among them, the School Committee is scheduled to meet with the architect on the York High School Arts Wing project to discuss ways to address the needs and cost concerns, and potentially bring forward a new proposal to the voters at a future date.
Discussing that meeting, School Committee Vice Chairwoman Marilyn Zotos asked for a comparison between the cost of new residential construction in York and the requested amount for the renovation and expansion, which did not win voter approval back in May. The proposal averaged out to $200 per square foot.
"I think people will be surprised," Zotos said, to see how that sum measures up compared to what she anticipates will be the cost of residential development per square foot.
The architect is scheduled to meet with the School Committee next Wednesday, Nov. 15.
Other coming events include the York High School Sports Awards, set for tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 6:30 p.m., the World Language National Honor Society Induction at 7 p.m. on Nov. 13, and the Grandparent/Mentor Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 15 to thank community volunteers.
In other business, the School Committee reviewed the closing procedures for inclement weather and discussed funding implications due to last spring's closure of the local Sweetser Group Home, which resulted in the loss of a special education funding grant.
"We'll be reassessing that, obviously, when we do the budget," said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Henry Scipione of the costs of funding required special education technicians no longer covered by the grant. "We didn't have any indication that was going to happen."
For more on what's coming up for the York School Department, visit www.yorkschools.org.
