Thursday, May 23, 2013
Newly-appointed interim superintendent Christopher Martes wants to move forward in Wrentham and work to find a full-time leader of the schools.
Christopher Martes was selected as Wrentham’s interim superintendent for the 2013-2014 school year, as the town deals with the moving of current superintendent Jeffrey Marsden to Medfield. Martes, who was the superintendent for Foxborough, recently just helped Norton find its permanent superintendent, and hopes to do that here.. “I think we ran a very successful search and ended up with someone who was a very good fit for that district,” he said. Martes said the first thing he would like to do in the Wrentham District is to reach out to parent leaders and organizations and get a feel for what they are looking for in a superintendent. “I know Jeff very well and have had experience with some of the things that have gone on here from a …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
USDA awards Wrentham for healthier schools.
Wrentham saw a group of government officials on Friday a the Vogel School Auditorium to recognize Wrentham’s efforts to promote healthy lifestyles in students. Wrentham’s Delaney and Roderick schools were awarded the bronze level award for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Healthier U.S. School Challenge. The HUSSC is an initiative that was established in 2004 to recognize schools participating in the National School Lunch Program that have created healthier school environments through promotion of nutrition and physical activity. The program was a volunteer initiative and was submitted by food services director Judy White. The award, which has silver, bronze and gold levels, has so far been awarded to only a handful of schools within …
Monday, April 22, 2013
Selectmen discussed ways of involving and educating Wrentham's youth in the inner workings of their town.
The Wrentham Board of Selectmen discussed recently how they could produce more interest in the town’s government. Their answer? Early involvement and investment in the town’s children. “Finding people who are interested in joining committees is always a challenge,” selectman Michael Carroll said. “There are a few things that we might try that would not have immediate dividends, but would pay off eventually. There are groups in town that might have an interest.” Carroll said involving kids and youths in town government early would help them to understand the importance of getting involved in the town. “When I was a kid in Boy Scouts, the troops would get together in town hall,” he said. “The troops elected Boy Scouts as selectmen, school …
Friday, April 19, 2013
Wrentham schools seeking a temporary superintendent to replace Jeff Marsden, who will be leaving to become the superintendent of the Medfield school system.
With current Wrentham superintendent Jeffrey Marsden accepting a new job in Medfield, the town is now looking for an interim position while they look for a permanent replacement. Applications can be sent here, and details can be viewed at www.MASC.org, the Web site for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. Selectmen chair Ed Goddard appointed the following people to the super search committee:
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Wrentham says goodbye to Jeff Marsden.
The Wrentham School Committee and officials said their official goodbye to Jeff Marsden, who was chosen recently to be the new principal for the Medfield School District. Both principals, Stephan Grenham and Melissa Peterson gave their regards to Marsden “Dr. Peterson and I would like to congratulate Dr. Marsden on his recent appointment as superintendent of schools in the town of Medfield,” Grenham said. “The staff at the Wrentham Public Schools wish him well. The primary reason we are here tonight is to reassure the school committee and all the stake holders of the Wrentham Public Schools that we are well positioned to move forward as a district.” Both principals expressed regret at Marsden departure. We have been extremely fortunate to …
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Wrentham School Committee gave thumbs up to superintendent Jeffrey Marsden's 2014 proposed budget.
The Wrentham School Committee voted to approve 3-0 (with Lynn Desrochers and Eric Greenberg absent) superintendent Jeffrey Marsden’s proposed fiscal year 2014 budget for Wrentham Schools. The budget, which Marsden said was to keep level services, has an increase of 6.2 percent in funding requests, or $592,981. The revenue provided for the budget is estimated, especially since over $3.6 million of the budget is assumed from Chapter 70 State Funds. The Massachusets House and Senate haven't yet approved numbers for the funding. Marsden said it could change. “We still don’t really know what those numbers are going to be,” he said. “It’s predicated on the tax increases put forth by the governor, in the additional tax package that he’s proposing…
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Wrentham superintended of schools Jeffrey Marsden gets high marks from the committee. Marsden is a finalist for the Medfield superintendent position.
Wrentham’s superintendent received high marks for the 2012 year. The Wrentham School Committee rated superintendent Jeffrey Marsden’s performance for the 2012-2013 school year and gave him a 6.7 out of 7 rating for the year. Marsden is one of three finalists for the Medfield superintendent's position. “I think he does a fantastic job,” said school committee member Lynn Desrochers. “It was actually very easy to go through this. It was hard not to give all sevens, but realizing that nobody’s perfect, I think a 6.7 is as high as you can get.” Committee members had much praise for Marsden and what he brought to the district during his tenure in Wrentham. “I think the overall rating reflects what he’s brought to the district,” school committee …
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Schools say new system of teaching working well in Wrentham.
The Wrentham School Committee heard a presentation Tuesday regarding the practice of common core standards in the schools. Currently, the first and second grade math programs are already implementing new methods for teaching basic math skills that are designed to create deeper understanding of math among the students. Superintendent of schools Jeff Marsden said he visited the classrooms in which these new programs are taking place. “I was so impressed with the work the kids are doing,” he said. The program differs in many ways from that of the way basic math has been taught in schools for decades, in the teachers don't move on to new subjects from day to day, but refocuses every day on concepts. “We’re asking the students to really …
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Sequester cuts could have impact on the Wrentham Public School District.
The Wrentham School District could see some serious cuts from the sequester if it goes into full effect later this year. Currently, schools superintendent Jeffrey Marsden said the schools receive over $320,000 from federal grants that were on the chopping block in Massachusetts. "I don't know what percentage of that the cut is going to entail," he said. Marsden said currently, the schools receive $250,605 for the IDEA special education grant, $50,384 for the Title I grant, also known as the Education for the Disadvantaged grant and $22,536 from the Title IIa grant, also known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Wrentham has not been given any definite percentages of cuts to those programs. “There’s really not been a lot of …
Saturday, January 5, 2013
A roundup of the news from the week.
Wrentham Fire and Norfolk Country Rescue Crews Save Two Trapped Climbers on Joe's Rock While accidents and injuries are nothing new to Joe’s Rock in West Wrentham, Wednesday evening’s rescue of two 27-year old men who climbed about 40-50 feet up the face of the rock created one of the more notable incidents in the conservation area. “We have been here before for slips and falls. This is one of the most dramatic ones we’ve had here,” Wrentham Fire Chief Jay McMorrow said. At about 5:20, Wrentham Fire responded to an emergency call from one of the climbers on their cell phones asking for help. According to Wrentham Fire Chief Jay McMorrow, the two men came to the conservation area after one of them visited the area yesterday. While walking …
