Snowy Greetings to One and All:

What a snowy season we are experiencing and more is on its way. The drifts are like a miniature version of the Alps but we are keeping everyone warm and safe as we move forward through this winter season! Spring cannot come fast enough for many of us!

Although it is snowy and blustery outside, inside Hazen Union, next year is just around the corner and the Guidance Department has been visiting classes and explaining the registration process and new course opportunities to the students. We are offering two new classes, Poetry and Shakespeare, under the auspices of the English department, for next year. Advanced Placement classes and Honors classes, within the disciplines of English and Social Studies, will continue to be offered to ensure that students have additional challenge and rigor in their course of study at Hazen Union.

The Personal Exploratory Program (PEP) will continue in the middle school and will be expanded to include new learning opportunities for both seventh and eighth graders. We believe that the students will benefit from a structured and deliberate approach to learning “how to learn.” This new class is called Strategies for Focused Study. In addition, a new program will be offered that addresses the blending of reading appreciation into the social, physical, and academic areas.

Our eighth grade students need to be prepared for the transition into high school. Consequently, a study skills class, taught in combination with the physical education and computer aided design classes, will offer all eighth grade students the opportunity to become better organized.

Our NECAP scores for the 7^th and 8^th graders are available on the website. As with any cohort type of assessment, the scores will vary from year to year. We are proud to announce that we are continuing to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Although our scores are down somewhat, from last year, we are hopeful that we will achieve or exceed the state standard in all areas for next year. The state scores remain somewhat flat, with writing on the downward trend, reading is moving slightly upward, while the math scores have maintained the same level over the past three years. The NECAP scores for the 11^th graders should arrive in March. This year, we will administer another NECAP test to our students and that will be in Science, during the latter part of May. We are in the midst of data, assessment, and accountability and we will continue to strive to exceed the expectations because we know it can and will happen!

This year, the library has taken on a new look with the introduction of the Writing/Research lab within the atrium walls and Mrs. Henchel, our new librarian, has been busy “weeding the collection” and adding new and exciting books for our students to enjoy. She most recently received a new collection of non-fiction.

This spring, Hazen Union will be busy as Mrs. Willey is preparing for the biennial trip abroad; Mr. and Mrs. Light are making plans to take the music students to New York City to introduce them to the many cultural opportunities found in the Big Apple. At home, plans are coming together for the Prom, on Saturday, May 17.

Enjoy our winter wonderland!

Sincerely,

Elaine F. Laine, Ph.D.