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Perspective Newsletters
Fall 2005
LEARY SCHOOL, PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY
Page 5
 Welcome
to the 2005-2006 school year at Leary School, Prince George's County! My staff and
I look forward to working with you closely toward our common goal, to help our students
learn and grow. We began the school year with an Open House on September 8th. Parents
had the opportunity to take a copy of their student's daily schedule and meet all
of the staff who will be working with them throughout the year. We plan to have another
Open House at the beginning of the second semester; stay tuned for more information.
I would like to take the opportunity to introduce some new changes that have been
implemented this school year and remind you of how far we have come. As most of you
know, prior to the 2003-2004 school year, our traditional classroom structure had
been a self-contained classroom model wherein students stayed with their primary
teacher for most subject areas. At the beginning of the 2003-2004 school year, we
made dramatic changes in our academic program. Most students had either three or
four teachers instead of just one. The school was divided into two pods. In POD A,
a three-classroom pod, students were taught by their homeroom teacher and the other
two teachers in the pod. POD B, a four-classroom pod, worked the same way as POD
A except those students were taught by three other teachers in addition to their
homeroom teacher. This meant that most students were changing classes. Your primary
staff contact became your child's homeroom teacher, who was aware of what was happening
with their student's in the other classes. The same plan was implemented in the 2004-2005
school year.
This school year (2005-2006), while we maintain some self-contained classes, the
majority of the students have all the teachers in the building for a class or two.
The decision to eliminate the Pod System was part of our mission to continue to offer
students the best academic opportunities possible and re-create an academic and social
culture more similar to that of a the public school. Our students still struggle
with learning how to move from one class to the other in an efficient manner. Social
skill training has been infused within the psycho-educational group as we work with
students in an effort to help them learn how to have successful relationships with
one another. Other schoolwide psycho-educational training is offered throughout the
school year in the areas of substance abuse and anger management.
We are hopeful that the changes implemented will be positive ones for students and
parents alike.
Our sports program is off to a great start. Congratulations to our Vikings volleyball
team and our flag football team - you are indeed all-stars! The flag football team
did an excellent job in our first season of competitive play. Special thank yous
go out to Coach LaChance and other staff who directly and indirectly support our
teams.
Monthly award assemblies are scheduled throughout the year. Selected students will
receive awards for their participation in the program during each month. These awards
include special recognition in academic areas, attendance, participation in group,
and student of the month to name a few. Parents are invited to attend.
We would also like to take the opportunity to thank our students for their cooperation
in yearly academic testing. Academic testing, while sometimes difficult for the student,
is very helpful to the teachers and IEP team in preparing each student's academic
program. With new and more rigorous statewide testing requirements in most jurisdictions
already in place, we are working hard to provide each student with an academic program
that will provide as much opportunity for success as is possible.
We need volunteers! Parents and friends of Leary School are urged to think about
volunteering at the school. Current volunteer opportunities include working one on
one with students as a reading tutor and assisting in coaching any one of the four
team sports we participate in through the Metro Athletic League. League teams are
drawn from nonpublic schools throughout Virginia and Maryland. The League has met
with great success since its inception last year. Currently, the basketball season
is getting ready to start; in the spring, a slo-pitch softball team will be formed.
Please feel free to contact me if you might be interested in participating in this
worthwhile venture.
Visit our website( www.learyschool.org) for more information on our programs and
regular updates regarding The Lincolnia Educational Foundation and its mission.
Again, I look forward to another wonderful school year as we work together!
Deni Brancheau, M.A.
Program Director
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