FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK AT EMMETT OBRIEN TECHNICAL
HIGH SCHOOL
October
25, 2007
Dear SPIRIT Students, Faculty and Parents,
I am very pleased that I made the decision to work with the
Department of Justice. The SPIRIT Program was so very well
received. Every person involved in the process benefited
from the SPIRIT problem solving process. We are currently
working in teams to resolve school issues that did surface. The
concerns that exist at O’Brien exist in every American
high school: communication and sending consistent messages, smoking
on campus, building respectful peer relationships, improved school
facilities, student activities, intergroup relationships, and
implementing school SPIRIT to the fullest extent. We are
the first school in Connecticut to work with the Department of
Justice Community Relations Service. We will continue to. Students
need to be part of the problem solving process in order to grow
and learn.
I have gathered information and I have produced a comprehensive
Multicultural Action Plan for the school. You may review
my plan on the school website. I, along with other school
team members have made some changes to school activities. The
Principal’s Student Panel had suggestions to broaden activities
and these plans were carried out. The Rally and Barbeque was
a smashing success. School spirit and SPIRIT days will
continue. Motivational Productions presented to underclassmen
on October 3rd. On October 12th we learned the Salsa
during lunch! Thanks to our faculty, staff, students and parent
volunteers.
There are many club activities that are held during the school
day when advisors are able to meet with students as well as after
school activities for those students who show an interest in
joining. I remind parents that our staff is on site daily
until at least 2:45 PM. We are willing to work with students
to boost academic and social skills. Many students take
part in our sport program offerings. We do have an Art
Club, Music Club, Ski Club, and Diversity Club, Skills USA, Student
Council, Yearbook, Key Club, Chess Club, Photography Club, and
Journalism -School Newspaper. I hope that parents strongly
consider their child’s membership in an after school activity
even though we are not able to provide transportation home. Parents
would need to make arrangements for pick-up.
The lack of late bus transportation does not appear to dampen
the sports program. We have many students involved in athletics
after school. Parents, I believe this is where we need
to place our priorities. If your son or daughter is a
budding artist and is not interested in the after school sports
program please consider his or her participation in our Art or
Music Clubs. You may uncover a new passion in your
son or daughter after they have found an activity that they can
excel at; after all, not all of us are athletically inclined. For
those who are, I applaud you for taking time to represent your
school. With this in mind, I must mention our newly formed
football co-op teams with Derby High School! Go Condors!
Go Derby Football!
I along with faculty members have added a number of field experiences
or field trips to our curricula. Some of our venues are:
The Museo del Barrio, South Street Seaport Museum and The Metropolitan
Museum of Art, Southern Connecticut State University’s
Multicultural Center, Freedom Trail, Battleship Cove, and Long
Wharf Theater.
Faculty member have agreed to further their professional development
by participating as teams in the following conferences and educator
workshops: The New England Conference on Multicultural Education,
The Governors Prevention Partnership including training reviewing
peer mediation and mentoring, and Beyond the Blueprint: Literacy
in Grades 4 – 12 & Across the Content Constructing
A Comprehensive Culture of Literacy.
We plan on SPIRIT training more students and faculty during
the first week of December. I would like to thank every
student, teacher, and parent that was able to participate in
our first experience. Through your dedication we have already
made our school a better place to be. Our desire to make
our school a more vibrant place far outweighs our differences!
Let your SPIRIT soar.
Sincerely,
Lisa Hylwa |
