The summer seems long, then it starts to fly by. We spent the month of July recruiting and building a full staff and revising our staff organization and scheduling as needed to meet enrollment. I am excited to let you know each of our levels is staffed by a team which is comprised of a certified, experienced teacher partnering with another teacher (Shelley), teacher-in-training (Heather and Shawnna), or experienced teaching assistant (Kristin and Staci).
As we work out our master schedule, we are incorporating arts integration, music, and Spanish language/culture study across all levels. The Upper students who have been in Japanese for the last few years will continue with Keiko Hall.
The following homerooms will be where students begin their day, have lunch and recess, experience specialty learning, and take field trips. Being the project/inquiry based school that we are, there will be plenty of learning opportunities in learning centers and stations, work time interest groups (IE and Upper), theme days, and literacy buddies where students are learning and working with other levels, either up or down or across all grades. This takes a lot of collaborative planning and sharing of the instructional load so every child’s learning experience is informed and differentiated by his/her academic and social readiness, interests, curiosity, and imagination.
- Preschool: Shelley Forss, Kelli Soutar, Jenna Bankhead, Kristin O’Brien
- Early Elementary: Jacque Lind, Shawnna Worley
- Intermediate Elementary (approx. ages 7-10): Mary Beth Cunat, Heather Kulpa
- Upper School: Lindsay Passwaters-Cordero, Staci Tedrick
- Specials: Music/Band (Sue Puetz – twice a week), Spanish (Megan Granados – twice a week), Arts Integration (Megan Granados – twice a week), PE/Fitness (we will partner with Rockford University again this year, and plan to continue tennis with Coach Dan and regular fitness sessions as possible. We are also trying to find some opportunities to bring in dance!) Note: PRESCHOOL specials will happen in the Preschool classrooms and be of shorter duration and/or integrated with other activities.
- Compass: Megan Granados, MacKenzie Schiffman
Our Back to School Supply Drop on Thursday, August 24 2:00-6:00 pm will give parents and students a chance to see the classrooms and meet or re-connect with teachers and staff.
There will be lots of information coming via email in the next few weeks, and we are available to address questions by phone or email as you wish.
FYI We have handouts explaining what we mean by Early Childhood at Spectrum and why we opted out of the typical Middle School model. Please email me if you would like either of these.
Dr. Mary Beth Cunat
Principal – Spectrum Progressive School of Rockford
