Seekonk School Committee Honors Its Retirees

Several retirees were lauded for their accomplishments and years of service to the Seekonk School District Tuesday night at the Seekonk School Committee meeting.

Among the attending retirees were Judith Guiliano, Cie McAloon, Lucia Hsu, Pamela Meuiner and Denise O’Rourke. Carolyn Manlove is also an honored retiree, but she was unable to attend the meeting.

Superintendent of Schools Madeline Meyer said there are important factors that make an outstanding teacher. “All I have to do is read off these traits that were identified by the principals in their evaluations to the new incoming teachers and they will have the essence of what is a masterful teacher.”

All of the teachers were praised for having remarkable positive relationships with parents and students, and for exemplifying the ideal of motivating students to succeed.

Students certified as anti-bullying mentors

Brittany Foley and Jeff Sarahs from Community Counseling of Bristol County showcased their student mentors. This organization is working on behalf of an anti-bullying campaign that is active within the district.

“One of the first things we did through this program was to look at what makes a bully, a bully. It explains a lot when you understand the background. It’s easier to counteract the bullying that takes place in school,” said Alexa Gallishaw, one of the students mediators.

After seven hours of training, participating students are now qualified to be mediators and advisors to younger students in their transition from middle school to high school.

Seekonk complies with Title IX

Seekonk High School athletic director Ray Grant offered updates regarding Title IX and compliance.

Back in 1972, the federal Title IX statute was first formed to prevent discrimination on the basis of sex for any education or activity that is receiving federal funds. This act was extended to include athletics in 1975 and has since ensured a proper balance between male and female sports.

Seekonk is within the acceptable 5 percent variance between male and female sports participation, presently at an average of 3.07 percent.

Middle school languages, at no cost

Superintendent Meyer and her administrative committee have developed a no-cost strategy to bring world languages back into the middle school.

The goal, for now, is to immerse students through social studies classes in foreign cultural exposure, prompting an interest in languages they may elect to take in high school – Spanish, French or Portuguese. There is a possibility of adding an Asian language to the curriculum, but the present funding level does not support additional teachers.

The next meeting, a town meeting, will be held on June 20 at 7 pm in the Seekonk High School library.