Dear Colleagues,

With the end of this school year on our doorstep, I am sure that as you begin to reflect on the past year, you may be thinking as I am about how rapidly the year has flown by. I would like to take this opportunity to say “good luck” to all the professional staff, support staff and administrators who will be leaving Hanover and to say “thank you” for your efforts and hard work on behalf of our students. To our retirees…HS - Bob Margarit; MS - Sandy Cira, Ruth Douillette, Anne Wass; Cedar - Mary Shalgian, Mary Stagno … “good-by” and “great new beginnings!” Thank you for your years of service to our students!

Enjoy a well – deserved retirement!I would also like to take this time to say thank you to the administrators who will not be with us next year…to Harvey Brooks, thank you for coming out of retirement and leading the high school; to Ellen Peterson, good luck in your new position as curriculum director in Norwell; to John Willis, congratulations on your new position as elementary principal in Scituate; to Emily Baird, good luck in your new position as assistant principal in Norwell; and to Pete Regan, best wishes on your position in Foxborough as the elementary principal in the school you attended.

To all professional and support staff, although I understand that this year may have been overshadowed, in some part, with the upcoming uncertainty and change because of the FY09 budget and with administrators moving on to new positions, please do not lose sight of what all of you have accomplished this year with your students! I cannot say enough times…thank you…thank you for continuing to be the consummate professionals with your students and in not letting anything take you off course. We may not always agree on decisions that adults make; however, as long as those adults are not driven by what is best for them, but rather by what is best for students, I believe that decisions will be made for the right reasons.
Below are listed some FYIs that you should be aware of as we close out the school year and begin planning for next year. Finally, take time this summer to relax and renew with family and friends. Thank you for a great year! I am excited about the prospects that next year brings. See you September 2nd!

For Your Information…

Curriculum and Professional Development

• Since the School Committee approved a reorganization which eliminates the central office position of Curriculum Director, any district questions regarding curriculum and professional development (i.e., regarding certification, PDPs, district mentoring, curriculum design teams,) should be directed to my office, specifically first to MJ Pagano who can assist you or find out the answer for you. All personnel issues (i.e., regarding pay, absences) should continue to go to the Business Manager.

Professional Development

• If you are still interested in becoming a Mentor and/or a Building Coordinator, please send your application to MJ Pagano at Salmond before you leave for the summer.
• The District’s Professional Development Handbook is ready and available either online or in hard copy in each school’s front office. (This Handbook has many of the DOE regulations and forms that you may want to refer to, especially over the summer as some of you prepare to get ready to recertify
• New Teacher Orientation- August 26 (district) and 27 (building) 8:30 A.M. – 2:30 P.M.
• Collins Writing Courses- Week of August 11 – 15th at MS; Slots still available; Call or email MJ Pagano if you are interested.

Other

• Cedar School Principal Search Committee…process and timeline is posted on our website
• Searches for the new Assistant Principals for Curriculum at Center/Sylvester and the Middle Schools will be underway shortly. The Cedar School Assistant Principal search will be put on until after the principal search process
• The first day for staff is September 2nd at 8:00 A.M. at the HS cafeteria and the first day for students is September 3rd
• September 15 is the full PD day with Cohasset PS featuring Dr. William Daggett; more details to come at a later date