Amy Griffin's Blog - My Big Campus

August 30, 2010 Aug 30

I am honored and humbled to have been selected as your new Superintendent. I look forward to leading the division as we teach our students to go beyond minimum standards and prepare students to become lifelong learners that can collaborate, problem solve, and critically think. We want our students in Cumberland County to be able to compete and be successful globally.

I would like to thank the School Board for selecting me and commend them for conducting the Superintendent Search on their own. They did an outstanding job that was comprehensive, time sensitive, and cost effective. Hiring the Superintendent is the most important job a School Board has and they took this responsibility seriously. I am a stronger person for participating in this process.

I would like to thank all the staff, students, parents, community members, mentors, and my family for their support and words of encouragement. I know all of you were crucial in the decision to select me as Superintendent.

I look forward to leading Cumberland County Public Schools for many years and will be moving to Cumberland this fall.

Since bus drivers were not able to attend the announcement, there will be cake served at 2:45 in the CCES cafeteria for all bus drivers.

Dates to Remember this week:
Interims go home today
Comprehensive Plan Committee Meeting (6) on Thursday, Sept. 2nd.

Monday, September 6th, is Labor Day and schools are closed. Have a safe and relaxing holiday weekend!

I have posted a short discussion for students and staff concerning what you are doing over the holiday weekend! I encourage staff and students to participate in the discussion through My Big Campus on the Superintendent's Group page.

The CCPSF Golf Tournament went well on Saturday. Thanks to all of you that played, worked, or contributed!

August 23, 2010 Aug 23

We are pleased to announce that CHS has been awarded the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant to provide after school and summer school enrichment and remedial programs for high school students. Cumberland Middle School also received the continuation grant for these funds.

The School Board approved a new policy at the August School Board Meeting to select a Student Liaison to the School Board. The process will begin on Wednesday of this week. The Student Liaison will be a senior selected by the Superintendent for final approval by the School Board. There will be an application and presentation process to select the student. The student liaison will serve in an advisory capacity to the Board and attend all School Board Meetings. The plan is to have the student sitting with the Board at the October meeting. More information coming soon!

There has been LOTS of feedback on the Summer Reading survey. The window will close on August 27th. We will use this information in planning and improving Summer Reading 2011.

Elementary Staff: We are looking for elementary staff willing to volunteer for Game Duty for middle and high school athletics. Please contact Mr. Brandt to sign up! Mr. Jones and I have signed up for three games and challenge you to do the same!

Things to Remember for this Week:

Today, 8/23: Monday Technology Workshops for staff begin from 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Fall Sports Meet the Coach Night is at 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 8/25: The Superintendent's Advisory Group will meet beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, 8/28: The Cumberland County Public Schools Foundation Golf Tournament at The Manor

August 16, 2010 Aug 16

I want to thank everyone for a great first week of school! As I walked through the three schools and visited with students, it was good to see students socializing and learning! I saw kindergartners learning about classroom rules and finger painting; first graders showing off their reading skills; and fourth graders presenting their saber tooth tiger summer reading projects. At the middle school, students quickly got into the routine of middle school life with lockers and 54 minute classes. High school students sported their new outfits and were deciding if they liked the new 7 period schedule. And believe it or not, by the end of the week the afternoon bus dismissal time was on schedule! I give credit to all CuCPS staff, parents, and our students for a great opening week!

Things to remember for this week:

Today: August School Board Meeting (Closed Session: 6:00 p.m. and Open Session: 7:00
p.m.)
Summer Reading 2010 Survey goes out to students, parents, and staff. Take the
survey on-line at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/WGG2MGS

Tomorrow: Staff Insurance Open Enrollment 1:15 pm: Custodians, Food, Service, Bus
Drivers, School Based Clerical
3:30 pm: Teachers, Paraprofessionals
CHS will host Senior Project Parent Night at 6:00 p.m.

Thursday: School Safety Advisory Committee Meets at 3:30 p.m.
Technology Advisory Committee Meets at 6:00 p.m.

Don't forget to visit our webpage to revisit these blogs, check out current "tweets" on Twitter, and be a part of the Superintendent's Group on My Big Campus!

The Cumberland County Public School Foundation's Annual Golf Tournament is Saturday, August 28th. Want to register a team? Registration Forms are available on our website. Although the deadline has passed, I am sure they will take additional teams.

Welcome to the 2010-2011 School Year! Aug 09

CuCPS students:

Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year! Have a great first day of school! I will see you this week either at bus time, in your classroom, or at lunch! I look forward to talking with you, finding out what you did over the summer, and checking out your Summer Reading assignments!

August 9, 2010 Aug 09

CuCPS Faculty and Staff:

It is here...the first day of school! Based on last week's opening activities and successful Open House, we are going to have a great school year! A few things to be aware of this week:

Mr. Jones and I will be attending the Board of Supervisors Meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, August 10th, requesting that money made from the Auction last month go to funding our School Resource Officer. I will keep you posted on the outcome.

We will be doing a test of the Instant Alert system for staff only on Thursday, August 12th. If you do not receive the alert, please check your Instant Alert information.

The first Monday Technology Workshop is on Monday, August 23rd, not today as published in the Staff Development Manual.

What did you do over the summer? Join the discussion at the Superintendent's Group at http://www.mybigcampus.com/group_discussions/what-did-you-do-over-the-summer.

Have a great week!

August 2, 2010 Aug 02

Faculty and Staff:

Welcome Back! In the spirit of today's beach theme, "It's a shore thing" that this is going to be an exciting and successful school year! Our new teachers and their mentors met last week and we have a great group of new folks!

This week is full of meetings and staff development, please refer to your Staff Development Calendars to ensure you are in the right place at the right time. The Ruritan Luncheon is on Wednesday and the CEA will host lunch on Thursday. All employees may leave at noon on Friday to rest up for our students' first day of school next Monday, August 9th!

Items to Remember:
Complete the survey on the cleanliness of your classroom;

Teacher Websites should be posted and current before Open House from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday; and

Principals will be reviewing the Sick Leave Bank Policy with you, please complete and return the form to your principal.

You can now follow me through Twitter. The name of the account has changed from cucpsinstruct to CuCPS in case you had joined last week. If you don't want to join Twitter, you can follow my "tweets" through the link on our division webpage.

Have a great week networking with your peers, preparing for the school year, and meeting your students and their parents!

July 26, 2010 Jul 26

CuCPS Faculty and Staff:

It is hard to believe the 2010-2011 school year is just around the corner! New Teachers report this Thursday for our New Teacher Institute Training. We have 10 new teachers joining our team. On August 2nd, please make sure you welcome them to our model school division.

I hope everyone has had a relaxing and enjoyable summer. The administrative staff has been hard at work putting things in place to support you for the upcoming school year. We will begin with our Opening Day Beach Blast on August 2nd. Don't forget to wear your beach wear! Our theme is "It's a Shore Thing" because it is a "Shore Thing" that our staff and students will have a successful school year! We will have high expectations for our staff and students while providing support for our students and each other.

Another item we have been working on to support you as teachers is finding money to provide substitutes for the upcoming year. One thing that came out loud and clear at our end-of-the-year meetings regarding the impact of the budget was that teachers and administrators wanted the availability of substitutes. Working with the finance office, the School Board, and the Board of Supervisors, we were able to appropriate money for substitutes.

We are also trying to limit new initiatives and streamline processes to make your lives easier. As a division, our focus is always putting students first and we will concentrate on three main areas: Rigor, Communication, and Culture/Climate. This will be explained in more detail during our opening week.

Division Staff Development (Monday Instructional Workshops and Peer Observations) has been streamlined so we receive more staff development but attend less workshops. More information regarding this will be provided at school level faculty meetings on August 2nd.

To improve communication and provide an opportunity for input, a Superintendent's Advisory Committee has been formed that will meet every other month to seek input and provide answers to staff across the division. The committee consists of representatives from teachers, paraprofessionals, secretaries, bus drivers, food service workers, etc. Everyone will be kept informed of what happens in these meetings through the minutes. We will e-mail and post the minutes on our website.

Reading and Math Curriculum Review Committees will be established to evaluate our current programs and research other options if needed and cost effective. The Reading Committee will be established for this school year and begin the process in October. The Math Committee will be established during the 2011-2012 school year.

Relax and enjoy the rest of your summer vacation! I will see some of you this Thursday and Friday at the New Teacher Institute and Mentor Training...and the rest of you next Monday, the 2nd!