Dear Parents
We welcome in the Year 2012 after an incredibly mild month of December. This has certainly been a unique period for weather -- we'll see how long it lasts.
January brings us the final stages of the First Semester and the beginning of a new semester at the end of the month. Students face a busy few weeks with 11 class days leading to the Final Exams on January 19th and 20th. Students should be getting all their work up to date as all grades close on January 20, 2012. For seniors, colleges will receive your semester grades as soon as we process them. We plan on issuing Report Cards on February 1, 2012.
The exam schedule is as follows:
- Thursday, January 19, 2012
7:30 - 8:00 -- Quiet prep in exam room
8:00 - 9:30 -- Exam Period 1
9:30 - 10:00 - Break
10:00 - 10:20 - Quiet prep in exam room
10:20 - 11:50 - Exam Period 2
11:50 -- Dismissal
- Friday, January 20, 2012
7:30 - 8:00 -- Quiet prep in exam room
8:00 - 9:30 -- Exam Period 4
9:30 - 10:00 - Break
10:00 - 10:20 - Quiet prep in exam room
10:20 - 11:50 - Exam Period 3
11:50 -- Dismissal
*** Please note: There are NO dismissals on the exam days as the entire school is dismissed at 11:50am. Please note that the bus schedule will be as on a normal day with the afternoon run at 2:06pm. The library, cafeteria and classrooms will be open for students after the 11:50am dismissals.
The Second Semester will begin on Tuesday, January 24, 2012. Monday the 23rd will be a District Professional Development Day with NO classes. Requests for second semester schedule adjustments will be limited to January 24th and 25th. There is very limited room for adjustments as most classes are full at this time.
A quick look at Naviance (our guidance software package) indicates that 71% of the Class of 2012 have sent out college applications with a great deal of activity expected over the next few weeks. The Guidance Office windows are beginning to fill with the Tiger Paws as students get notified of acceptances. We will keep you updated each month.
Budget season is upon us. As has been the case for several years, we face a challenging budget with many difficult decisions ahead of us. The projected deficit with staff in all buildings as they currently exist would be just over $1 million dollars. The details and impact of the settlement on the sale of Little Neck will play out over the next few weeks. We are not currently aware of the impact on budget planning. The budgets will be presented to the School Committee on February 1, 2012 and February 2, 2012. The Middle School and High School presentations are set for February 2nd. Having cut a Mathematics, English, Foreign Language and Child Development teacher over the past two years, further cuts severely impact class size thus the planning decisions made in January have potentially critical impacts on the high school. We expect some guidance and direction from the January 5th School Committee Meeting. We will keep high school parents updated as the budget process unfolds.
Curriculum Night for Semester Two will be held on Tuesday night, January 31, 2012 beginning at 7:00 pm. As is customary, each teacher will provide a brief overview of their courses and expectations.
We encourage students to prepare well in advance for a successful final exam experience. Happy New Year to all.
Sincerely,
Barry R. Cahill
Yearbook Information:
Senior Portraits: Please send in your senior portraits as soon as possible. 44 Students have yet to submit them! The deadline (November 22) is long past! Portraits may be black and white or color, jpeg format, 300dpi or better, and should be e-mailed to tsidmore@ipswichschools.org. The approximate size portraits will appear in the yearbook is 2" x 3". Questions concerning yearbook may be directed to Tim Sidmore at 978-356-3137 x 140.
Parent Messages/Ads: Parents interested in purchasing a space in the yearbook to congratulate your senior may do so through the Jostens web site. You may enter this link into your browser, or click it to upload your scanned baby pictures or typography. Payment via all major credit cards accepted. Click or copy/paste the following link to visit the
Jostens web site:
http://www.jostens.com/apps/shop/yrbk_ra_flash.asp?CID=145988&PFID=2011100106002574055
Thanks for supporting Yearbook!
Tim Sidmore
Ipswich High School
134 High Street
Ipswich, MA 01938
978-356-3137 x140
tsidmore@ipswichschools.org
Photography & Writing Workshop -- Thursdays, 1:30-3:30pm -- January 5 - March 1 (no class Feb. 23) @ Ipswich High School. Instructors -- Terri Unger and Kelly Schwenkmeyer. Cost -- $300.
