Published December 19, 2019
By JILLIAN STRING
NORTH READING — Principal Glen McKay, along with Hood School faculty and students, hosted the School Committee on December 9 for the annual Hood School presentation.
“I would like to welcome you all here. I’m excited to share some of the wonderful activities that we have engaged in over the school year, plus some ongoing initiatives we have taken,” McKay said.
McKay noted that he was honored to host Superintendent Jon Bernard’s final School Committee meeting before his retirement on January 1.
The Hood School Student Council, led by teachers Sadie Sherman and Whitney Cleary, kicked off the presentation with a discussion of the roles and responsibilities expected of council members, as well as various service activities conducted by the group.
Student members included fifth graders Brian Harris, Sina Nickerson, Bruce McLaren, Ariana Demetri, John Lupien, Brooke Morris, Bella Mizzoni, and Willow Koepke.
“The reason I joined Student Council is because I wanted to be the person every new kid can look up to. Also, I can help around the school and make sure it’s a place that kids want to be,” Harris said.
Nickerson noted that Student Council members set an example for the rest of the student body, so members must sign a Code of Conduct.
“Student Council members must show respect to all adults and other students by using respectful words and actions,” Nickerson said.
Other expectations included completing all coursework, working well with others, maintaining good attendance, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and regularly attending Student Council meetings.
Demetri stated that the Student Council had a fundraiser to support students with juvenile diabetes. Koepke discussed the council-hosted book fair to raise money for the Hood School.
Lupien added that the council is also participating in the annual Toys for Tots drive, and Morris discussed making cards for troops.
McLaren discussed the daily jobs of the council, including afternoon announcements, as well as raising and lowering the school’s American flag.
Mizzoni shared possible ideas for Spirit Days at the school, including crazy hat/hair days, grade level color days, sports day, opposite day, green and gold day, and pajama day.
School Committee Chairman Scott Buckley commended the students on their poise and public speaking abilities.
“They are nice mentors for all the other students,” McKay said.
For the next presentation, fourth grade teacher Kathy Gauvain explained elements of the mathematics curriculum to the committee.
“We began this year with a geometry focus,” Gauvain said.
Committee members were invited to participate in a geometry activity with fourth grade students.
Student participants included fourth graders Bryce Fitts, Anna Foiadelli, Pierce Burnham, Kelsie Quinn, Jackson Wisco and Alicia Suramani.
Andrea Slavin, a first grade teacher at Hood School, assisted first grade students Mila Delrossi, Henry Lyon , Marshall Taylor, Reagan Barstow, Lakshmi Reynolds and Taylor Griffin in sharing their holiday traditions.
“We’re going to read all of our posters just to share and show how we celebrate our families and our cultures,” Slavin said. “All of these children happen to celebrate Christmas, but we do represent the first grade out of 53 students, four different holidays.”
The presentation concluded with Music Specialist Janna Comeau and members of the school’s chorus singing one of their winter concert selections.