Grafton High School
Principal: Jim Pignataro
1. What are you looking forward to the most this school year? We have added an AP Statistics class as well as new programs to support all of our Advanced Placement courses. We also are excited about welcoming our new staff and our largest class (Class of 2020) with approximately 250 students in it.
2. What is new this year at the high school? Aside from the AP Statistics class and beginning with the Class of 2020, there is a two year world language requirement.
3. What personal stamp do you make with faculty, students and parents? I think our overall communication with everyone both through email and social media keeps our community up to date with what is going on at GHS. In addition, we have multiple face-to-face conversations with the GHS community.
4. How does the school prepare students to be lifelong learners and good citizens? I think through our excellent teachers with their instruction and engagement of students. We have multiple elective courses in which students can explore academic areas that they have interest in. We also conduct several service projects during the year in which faculty, staff and students give back to the community.
Estimated number of students enrolled: 902
Assistant principals: Karla K. Evers, Jonathan Kelly
Grafton Middle School
Principal Roseanne Kurposka
1. What are you looking forward to the most this school year? It is a pleasure to join the Grafton school community as the principal of Grafton Middle School. I am looking forward to meeting students, parents, guardians and community members in the coming weeks. I look forward to ensuring that all GMS students feel a sense of belonging in a safe, supportive and caring environment while we engage them in a rigorous learning experience.
2. What is new this year at the middle school? We added a Humanities (English and Social Studies) teacher and a Physical Education teacher, increased the number of physical education classes for all students and have new computers in our MAC lab and new PCs in our library computer lab.
3. What personal stamp do you make with faculty, students and parents? Our primary responsibility in education is to hold the overall well being of the child as the fundamental value in everything we do. I value the whole child (including their academic, social and emotional beings) and I strive to help children achieve their greatest potential as they navigate their middle school years. I look forward to partnering with school community members, parents, guardians and other Grafton community members to ensure that our students achieve success in a safe and supportive learning environment.
4. How does the school prepare students to be lifelong learners and good citizens? Overall student growth takes place in an environment of mutual respect, trust, and understanding. The adults at GMS serve as positive role models for our students, reflecting respectful relationships and positive attitudes. Throughout the school year we will facilitate students as they navigate their middle school experience by explicitly teaching our “Guide to Mutual Respect,” which may be found in our student handbook. We will strive to maintain an active partnership among the school, parents, guardians and the community.
Estimated number of students enrolled: 490
Assistant principal: Timothy Fauth
Millbury Street Elementary
Principal Joanne Stocklin
1. What are you looking forward to the most this school year? The same thing I look forward to every year — welcoming back the students and staff. The possibilities a new school year brings is exciting.
2. What is new this year at Millbury Street Elementary? The school has never been in better condition to welcome the students back. Thanks to the custodial staff the classrooms are sparkling clean. Both our computer labs have brand new PCs running on the Windows 10 platform. Grades two to five will be implementing a new math resource called Envisions. Three new large picnic tables are a great addition the playground thanks to the generosity of the South Grafton Parent Teacher Organization. We have added a beautiful new butterfly garden in the back area along with three new vegetable gardens. A special recognition to Girl Scout Alison Bayreuther who installed an amazing sensory garden in our small playground area as her Gold Award project. It’s phenomenal!
3. What personal stamp do you wish to make with faculty, students and parents? I hope that all community members know that I truly care about them and the success of the Millbury Street School. I want the school to be known as an exceptional place where children and adults are continuously learning and reaching their fullest potential.
4. How does the school prepare students to be lifelong learners and good citizens? At Millbury Street School we celebrate every moment of learning and believe that learning can also happen away from a desk and outside the classroom walls. Our students are actively engaged across the school whether reading to younger children, providing help in classrooms, assisting in the office, tending the gardens or planning community service projects. Learning takes many forms and allowing children to discover the personal satisfaction of helping others is a great way to prepare them to be responsible citizens.
Estimated number of students enrolled: 702 students
Assistant principals: Mary Coakley, Michael Tucker.
North Grafton Elementary School
Principal Julie Yankauskas-Flynn
1. What are you looking forward to the most this school year? I am looking forward to seeing the continued growth of our returning students as well as meeting and getting to know our new students and families. Our staff work hard to create an environment that supports the learning of all students, so I look forward to watching as students build their confidence, establish friendships and acquire new skills.
2. What is new this year at North Grafton Elementary school? Our teachers are excited to utilize new document cameras to engage and support student learning. We are also very excited to welcome new teacher Jennifer Chartrand to our community.
3. What personal stamp do you make with faculty, students and parents? It is important to me that students, staff and families feel like they are part of the NGES community and that they are aware of the incredible role they play in transforming the educational experience of their child and/or students. I am, and will continue to be amazed, at all that we can accomplish as a learning community.
4. How does the school prepare students to be lifelong learners and good citizens? Our goal at NGES is to establish a foundation for the lifelong learning of all students by developing their social, emotional and academic skills throughout the course of each school day.
Estimated number of students enrolled: 300
Assistant principal: none.
South Grafton Elementary School
Principal Doreen Parker
1. What are you looking forward to the most this school year? The calendar says it is August of 2016, but to those of us in education, it means the New Year is about to start. I am looking forward to meeting our new students and their families, learning their names, what they like to do, how they spent their summers and what are their hopes and dreams for the new school year. I also look forward to welcoming back our returning students and families and hearing about their adventures this summer. In addition, I have missed the teachers and staff members over the summer and look forward to seeing them again.
My hopes and dreams for this school year include creating a welcoming and fun learning community for our students, families and staff members. I hope to continue the traditions of SGES in creating students who love to learn, who care for others, who are great role models and who find joy in all that they do.
2. What is new this year at South Grafton Elementary? The new art panels in the foyer of the school. These were created and painted by a group of last year’s senior class as their art project. The panels are fun and were chosen as some of our students’ favorite books.
Inside the school we have new computers in our computer lab. We have replaced our aging Macs with new PCs. This will allow our students to learn Apple iPads and PC formats. In addition, we will soon have a new patio area on the side of the school thanks to our PTO. This patio area will have two picnic tables that will be used by students and staff members to create a type of outdoor classroom. We also have a small construction project that is quickly noticeable in the front of the school. A metal and concrete exit roof is being replaced as well as the preschool wall by the preschool exit. This project should be completed in September.
3. What personal stamp do you make with faculty, students and parents? As a school, we strive to instill in our students the excitement of learning something new. Our teachers and staff members do an excellent job of igniting that spark in students from the preschool level on. To see a student learning to read is a joy that is unlike any other. As a responsive classroom school, we also feel the social curriculum is as important as the academic curriculum. Using this approach, we welcome all students to school individually in classrooms each day with a greeting, activity and message. We have also invested in the use of social language to assist our students with becoming good friends and citizens, respecting differences, and having empathy for others. Lastly, the missing piece comes from the parents and families who support us in teaching their children. Combined, I truly believe, that SGES lives the mission statement of “preparing students to be lifelong learners and responsible citizens.”
4. How does the school prepare students to be lifelong learners and good citizens? As the principal of SGES, I want my students, families and staff to feel valued — as individuals, learners, teachers, parents, and as a community. I want SGES to feel like a place where everyone is comfortably challenged and people grow in many ways to be the best person they can be. I like to get to really know people and feel that once students go through SGES, they are our students forever. Nothing pleases me more than seeing students come back to visit: while still students in the area, as college students volunteering or learning more about the educational field, as student teaching interns, instructional assistants/BLAs or as teachers, parents or both.
Estimated number of students enrolled: 310, including preschool
Assistant principal: none.
North Street Elementary School
Principal Stephen Wiltshire
1. What are you looking forward to the most this school year? Last year I completed my first year at North Street. It was wonderful getting to know the community, staff, and most importantly, the students. As I enter my second year, I’m enthusiastic about welcoming everyone back and continuing the collaborative work that exists amongst our staff and families. North Street exemplifies a school community that works together to improve student learning. I feel very fortunate to be a members of the NSS team.
2. What is new this year at North Street Elementary school? Our team is excited to share a set of core values with the students and community in the fall. Last year our School Advisory Council, along with our staff, developed these values to increase our ability to support student’s social and emotional learning at school. Furthermore, they encourage citizenship traits that we hope all community members possess. Together the values complete the word STARS: Service, Teamwork, Achievement, Responsibility, and Self-Awareness. Similar to the North star, we hope our students will lead the way.
3. What personal stamp do you make with faculty, students and parents? As the principal I have the unique opportunity to interact with the entire school community. Although it is an enormous task I try very hard to get to know each staff member, family, and student. At each back-to-school night I encourage parents to contact me with questions or concerns. During the school day I encourage the staff and students to do the same. Ensuring that my door is always open will increase my ability to communicate with all stakeholders, inform my decisions, and provide support on an individual basis. In the end, it’s all about knowing each member of our school community.
4. How does the school prepare students to be lifelong learners and good citizens? As I shared above our new core values will strive to instill the qualities of a good citizens both in school and throughout the community. In addition, our student council completed some inspiring work last year. Each month they set a school pride day and collect items to be donated to various local charities. For example, they collected canned goods for the Grafton Food Bank, dimes for the Community Barn, and early reader books for preschoolers. This summer we targeted lifelong learning through our summer reading program: “Passport to Learning.” The program encouraged students to complete activities in addition to reading. Options included visiting state parks, museums, and watching educational videos.
Estimated number of students enrolled: 575
Assistant principal: Jen Mannion and Jodie Rapping.
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