littleton public schools

Russell Street Students Recognized for Earning Their STRIPEs at Year’s First All-School Meeting

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Littleton Public Schools
Dr. Kelly R. Clenchy, Superintendent
33 Shattuck Street,
Littleton, MA 01460

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019

Media Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Russell Street Students Recognized for Earning Their STRIPEs at Year’s First All-School Meeting

LITTLETON — Students who made a difference in the classrooms and hallways of the Russell Street School were honored yesterday at the first school-wide meeting of the year. 

Newly implemented this year, the meetings serve as an opportunity to recognize students who have earned their STRIPEs by demonstrating a commitment to the school’s value system.

STRIPEs — Safety, Take Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Perseverance and Empathy — is a new program developed over the summer by a group of 20 teachers, who sought a way to emphasize the importance of those values and behaviors and acknowledge students for living up to them in their day-to-day lives. 

On Monday, a student from each class who had earned a STRIPE — which are displayed on the school bulletin board —  since the start of the school year was selected at random for recognition in front of the entire student community. 

“I think the kids are really proud of it, and we were really excited to see that kids in all three grades are buying into this and striving to earn STRIPEs for different positive behaviors,” Interim Principal Cheryl Temple said. “The more teachers have given them out and singled out students for their contributions, the more kids understand exactly what they’ve done well and why it matters, not just in school but in the context of their lives.” 

An unexpected outcome, according to Temple, has been the level of pride students have shown when coming to the office and asking for the double-sided tape they use to stick their stripes to the bulletin board. Doing so, she said, gives students a chance to tell the story of what they did to earn their STRIPEs, and develop a stronger understanding of why those behaviors and values are meaningful.

At the meeting, each Russell Street teacher had a chance to recognize their students for their work living up to the STRIPE system in different ways, like listening attentively during morning meetings, working together to keep their classrooms clean or respecting the differences that make everyone unique. 

Then, they called the name of one student who had earned a STRIPE to come forward and be congratulated by the entire school with two claps and a thunderous stomp on the bleacher and gym floor. 

With the early success of the program, administrators are looking forward to expanding it further with new layers, including empowering students to take ownership of the school’s physical spaces by cleaning up after themselves at lunch or reporting when areas of the school need attention from custodians. 

In addition, teachers will soon have an opportunity to earn STRIPEs of their own after students have overwhelmingly indicated they would like the chance to recognize teachers in the same way they’re being honored. 

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Littleton Middle School Alum Earns National Recognition for Science Fair Project

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Littleton Public Schools
Dr. Kelly R. Clenchy, Superintendent
33 Shattuck Street,
Littleton, MA 01460

For Immediate Release

Friday, Sept. 6, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Littleton Middle School Alum Earns National Recognition for Science Fair Project

 

LITTLETON — Superintendent Kelly Clenchy is pleased to announce that a former Littleton Middle School student received national recognition this week for his eighth grade science fair project. 

Brandon LaVoie, who previously attended Littleton Middle School and now attends Nashoba Valley Tech, built a hovercraft as an eighth grade student last year. He tested the effect of ground temperature on the lift and speed of the machine, and proceeded to compete nationally after receiving a second place award at the Massachusetts Middle School State Science and Engineering Fair in May.

Lavoie was selected yesterday by the Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science and the Public as one of 300 Broadcom MASTERS. The Broadcom MASTERS program is a national competition that recognizes middle school students for exceptional Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) projects.

“Brandon used his knowledge of several STEM concepts and subject areas to make his project a reality,” Superintendent Clenchy said. “We’re incredibly proud of his work ethic and the project he put forth last year. I encourage all of our students to challenge themselves and utilize their STEM knowledge to the best of their abilities, as Brandon has, throughout their academic careers.”

Students are eligible to be nominated for the Broadcom MASTERS program only after placing among the top 10 percent of their peers at state and regional science fairs affiliated with the Society for Science and the Public. Each project entered into the competition is assessed by a panel of scientists, engineers and educators, and approximately 2,350 students applied to this year’s Broadcom MASTERS program.

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Littleton’s Russell Street Elementary School Fifth Grade Band and Chorus Host Spring Concert

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Littleton Public Schools
Dr. Kelly R. Clenchy, Superintendent
33 Shattuck Street,
Littleton, MA 01460

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Littleton’s Russell Street Elementary School Fifth Grade Band and Chorus Host Spring Concert

LITTLETON –Superintendent Kelly Clenchy is pleased to share that the fifth grade band and chorus performed a variety of songs at the annual Spring Concert last week.

On Thursday, June 6, family, friends, teachers, administrators and fellow students gathered in the Littleton High School auditorium to listen to the Russell Street Elementary School fifth grade band and chorus.

The concert was the culmination of the students’ studies in band and chorus this year. In the case of the band students, they began the school year by learning how to read music and properly handle their instruments before putting it all together last Thursday. 

The band was led by its director, Hilary Bridge, and performed seven songs including “Crown of Majesty” by Robert Sheldon and “Section Battle Rag” by Brian Balmages. An eighth song was performed by percussion players alone. 

Chorus Director TJ Gansenberg conducted his students as they performed three songs, including a Caribbean/South American folk song titled “Shake the Papaya Down,” an African American Spiritual titled “Somebody’s Knockin’ at Your Door” arranged by Scott Atwood and “The Dum Dum Song,” adapted from the Minnesota Boychoir.

“These students have learned so much about music this year, and were thrilled to have this opportunity to perform in front of their families and peers,” Superintendent Kelly Clenchy said. “Congratulations and bravo to these young musicians, and to their directors, Hilary and TJ.”

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Littleton Middle School Offers Students Portal to the Rest of the World

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Littleton Public Schools
Dr. Kelly R. Clenchy, Superintendent
33 Shattuck Street,
Littleton, MA 01460

For Immediate Release

Friday, May 31, 2019

Media Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Littleton Middle School Offers Students Portal to the Rest of the World

Littleton sixth grade students took part in the Portal to the World project that visited Littleton Middle School this week. (Courtesy Photo Lilly Ogden)

LITTLETON — Students and teachers at Littleton Middle School had a rare opportunity this week to step into faraway places without having to leave the building.

The inflatable Portal to the World enables students to step inside and connect via video with people from around the globe, and they used it yesterday to meet and talk to students and others from Herat, Afghanistan and Levos, Greece. Wednesday, teachers were the first to step in the portal and visit with educators from Nairobi and Stockholm inside portals of their own as part of a professional development day.

Teacher Lilly Ogden spearheaded the effort to bring the portal to Littleton as a way to provide her sixth grade students with a powerful learning experience that builds upon their yearlong study of world geography. Unlike a simple Skype or FaceTime experience, the Portal provides an immersive environment with advanced audio visual technology that allows participants to feel as if they’re sitting in the same room as someone thousands of miles away.

“The portal is a one-of-a-kind way for our students and community as a whole to expand their understanding of the world around them,” Ogden said. “By stepping into the portal, students will be able to close the gaps of distance and step outside of their comfort zones to forge meaningful connections.”

While visiting with people from Afghanistan, the students discussed their locations, daily lives and foods they like to eat. They also learned about fasting during Ramadan, which is ongoing. While talking with people from Greece, students learned about the community center where the Greek’s portal is housed, including the digital media education programs it offers to refugees who live on the island.

The Portal is provided by Shared_Studios, which developed it with an eye toward making the world a smaller, more connected place. The Portal’s arrival in Littleton was made possible through a grant from the Littleton Education Foundation and the Kimball Foundation, as well as through the support Steve Chinosi and CJ Morse of the Andover Public Schools and Shared_Studios.

 

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