Posted by Margaret on March 3, 2008
Update: Just learned the schedule for broadcasting the superintendent interviews on LET Channel 22. The first two (Schlictman and Scott) will be shown on Saturday, March 15, 7-10 am and 7-10 pm, the second two (Ortega and Jack) on Sunday, March 16, 7-10 am and 7-10 pm, and the final two (Darlington and Bonner) on Monday, March 17, 7-10 am and 7-10 pm.
The interviews for the supertintendent position start today, with two candidates being interviewed: Paul Schlictman (4:30-5:45 pm) and Dr. Chris Augusta Scott (6:15-7:30 pm). There will be two interviews tomorrow (Dr. Janie Ortega, 4:00 pm and Dr. Wendy Jack, 5:30 pm) and the final two on Wednesday (Dr. Katherine Darlington, 5:30 pm and Dr. Portia Bonner, 7:15 pm). The interviews will be held at the Little Theatre at Lowell High and are open to the public. They will be taped and broadcast after all are completed.
posted in Education, In the News |
Posted by Margaret on March 2, 2008
I’ve been reading some books about teenagers lately. Ready or Not, Here Life Comes, by Dr. Mel Levine had me wishing I had done a lot of things differently as a parent over the last decade. Certainly, one often wishes there were a child-rearing manual available, particularly during the teenage years, so I would recommend this book as being full of helpful hints and insights. I especially like his stance on the overmedication of kids (mostly boys) who all seem to be ADD or ADHD these days. However, his contention that parents, schools and our culture are not preparing children adequately to be adults must be taken with a grain of salt. After thinking it over and discussing with a friend who teaches Junior High in Hartford, Connecticut, it seems that this is not a new phenomenom. People, as a rule, just aren’t that good at being planful, self-aware and knowledgeable about their strengths and weaknesses. Those skills take years to hone and can be gained only through often painful experiences. That said, there is nothing wrong with trying to inculcate these abilities in our children. As Socrates said, ‘the unexamined life isn’t worth living.’ Then again, look what happened to him!
For more about Levine’s book, see my review.
posted in Books, Education |
Posted by Jackie on March 1, 2008
Thanks to technology, we now have the ability to watch more local government in action without leaving the comforts of our homes (a perfect activity for a snowy day). Take a look at the re-broadcast of the Feb. 27 Lowell High School subcommittee meeting on channel 22 at the following times: Saturdays 9 pm; Sundays 7 am; Tuesdays 1:30 pm; and Fridays 3 pm. If those times aren’t convenient, beginning at noon today, you can also access the meeting by streaming video from LTC’s website. LTC provides video access for all school committee and city council meetings as well as some subcommittee meetings. It may not be scintillating entertainment, but it is definitely “must see TV” to get unfiltered information about what’s happening in local government. For my take on the meeting, which I wrote hours after it concluded, check here. Also, click on LHS and ONE Lowell to see their attendance reports. Another great feature about streaming video: you can fast forward through parts that don’t interest you. The meeting covered the following agenda: Introduction of Administrative Interns, Student Attendance Initiatives, Read 180 Progress Report, LHS Library Progress Report, Latin Lyceum Update, Science Labs Update, LHS Graduation Requirements compared to Mass Core and College Expectations, Status of Programs at Molloy Alternative School, and Health & Physical Ed. Curriculum.
posted in Education |
Posted by Jackie on March 1, 2008
Do you realize how many talented children we have? For four nights in a row, I experienced firsthand an amazing number of gifted young people who call Lowell home. Their abilities in athletics, academics, and the arts were highlighted in a series of events this week that demonstrated we have more than our share of talented youth with skills as diverse as their population. Monday night’s award ceremony honored our many successful high school athletes. It was also the first of three nights of the preliminary round of the Knowledge Bowl, a Jeopardy-like game pitting middle schools against each other based on the academic prowess of their student teams. The Knowledge Bowl is an evening of fast-paced questions on topics such as current events, literary devices, and math problems that is as entertaining as it is academically rigorous. (The next level of the competition will be in two weeks.) And then, of course, Wednesday saw the boys’ basketball team advance in the state tournament—another in a long list of athletic wins for Lowell students. Thursday was the semi-finals of Lowell High School Idol, Headmaster Bill Samaras’ local spin on the popular television show. As one of three judges that night, I can tell you the 14 acts were impressive, as were the two students who co-hosted the show. It was difficult to choose only eight acts for the final competition on March 19, which will be broadcast live on channel 22, but my favorite was the Derek and Henson dance duo. Their amazing choreography told a story of transformation that was at times laugh-out loud funny as well as intensely moving—not to mention the incredible dance moves. For a list of the finalists and the sponsors (first place winner will receive $500) check: more »
posted in Education, Sports, Youth |