Beginning on 12/12/11, Ms. Bindy Hathorn will take over as assistant principal for the duration of the year.  Zach McLaughlin, the assistant principal since July of 2010 will become Curriculum Director for the Springfield School District, replacing the retiring Dr. Vin Hawkins.

Ms. Hathorn has taught science and coached field hockey at SHS for the past 13 years and has served the high school in many ways, including as a team leader for the science department.  As someone who knows the students, staff, and systems of SHS, she is a natural fit and will make the transition a smooth one.  We are lucky to have her.

An Assistant Principal search committee will be formed in the coming weeks to recommend a candidate for appointment beginning July 2012.  Any parents or students who are interested in serving should contact Mr. Thibault via phone or email.

In the past two weeks, the SHS community has been victimized by two separate bomb scares, one in RVTC and one on our side of the building.  In both cases, the building was evacuated and local fire and police were called to the scene.  Also in both cases, sweeps of the building were done by school officials and nothing was found.  Both cases are in the able hands of the Springfield Police Department. 

On Thursday morning (Dec 1), the SHS community gathered together in the auditorium to discuss the effects on all of us, including the greater community outside our walls.

Police Chief Johnston, Fire Chief Thompson, and our truant officer, retired Vermont State Trooper Kevin Anderson joined Mr. McLaughlin and Mr. Thibault in addressing the students.

Please be assured that these incidents are taken seriously and that the administration is following the applicable policies and our handbook in determining consequences for the offenders.

Contingency Schedule for October 18^th  and October 20^th: (NECAP days 1 & 3)

• 9^th, 10^th & 12^th graders – classes begin for the day at 11:50am with Block 3 & 4 running in the afternoon.
• A.M. RVTC students – if you are in a morning tech program, it will still run at the usual time and your attendance is expected (unless you are a junior, then you must take NECAPs)
• P.M. RVTC students – if you are in an afternoon tech program, your program will run at the usual time
• No transportation will be provided other than the usual morning and afternoon runs.  Students who must be at the high school for the duration, will be provided a supervised area to be in.

Contingency Schedule for October 19^th: (NECAP day 2)

• 9^th, 10^th & 12^th graders – classes begin for the day at 11:50am with Block 1 & 2 running in the afternoon.
• A.M. RVTC students – if you are in a morning tech program, it will still run at the usual time and your attendance is expected (unless you are a junior, then you must take NECAPs)  In the afternoon, you are not expected to stay at school.
• P.M. RVTC students – if you are in an afternoon tech program, you will be expected to attend your SHS classes that would run blocks 1 & 2.
• No transportation will be provided other than the usual morning and afternoon runs.  Students who must be at the high school for the duration, will be provided a supervised area to be in.

Times of Classes on NECAP days:

7:40 – 7:50      Breakfast for Juniors in Cafeteria

7:55 – 8:00      NECAP instructions given in assigned classrooms (posted on cafeteria windows prior to day)

8:00 – 9:30      Session One of Testing

9:30 – 9:40      Break

9:40 – 11:10    Session Two of Testing

11:15 – 11:45  Lunch

11:50 – 1:06    Block 1 or 3

1:16 – 2:38      Block 2 or 4

NO Advisory will take place on NECAP days.  Lunch is optional for non-juniors.

One of our accreditation requirements included the development of a new mission statement.  It seems that the old one did not take into account many of the stakeholders' thoughts and opinions on just what SHS should stand for.  In the past 12 months, we have worked hard to solicit input from staff, students and the community at large.  The result is the new mission statement you see below:

Springfield High School students will prepare for postsecondary learning through achieving fluency in the essential skills of reading, communication, collaboration, and reasoning.  Successful SHS graduates will be capable, respectful, responsible citizens of the community in which they live.