QUINCY SCHOOL COMMITTEE
ATHLETICS & WELLNESS SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ~ Monday,
March 28, 2022
A meeting of
the Athletics & Wellness Subcommittee was held on Monday, March 28, 2022 at
6:00 pm in the Coddington Building.
Present were Subcommittee members Mr. Doug Gutro, Mrs. Emily Lebo, and
Mrs. Tina Cahill, Subcommittee Chair.
Also present were School Committee member Mr. Frank Santoro, Superintendent
Kevin Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent Erin Perkins, Ms. Rita Bailey, Ms. Molly
Belovorac, Ms. Colleen Connerty, Mr. Michael Draicchio, Mr. Terrell Johnson,
Mr. Michael Lorenzano, Mr. Kevin Mahoney, Mr. Jean-Jacques Niamkey, Ms. Maura
Papile, Ms. Caitlin Plaskasovitis, Ms. Madeline Roy, Ms. Keith Segalla, and Ms.
Laura Owens, Clerk.
Quincy High
School Athletic Director Kevin Mahoney and North Quincy High School Athletic
Director Jean-Jacques Niamkey presented a review of Winter 2021-22
Athletics. Students were allowed to
return to play without modifications in rules and participation numbers
exceeded pre-COVID levels. Each Athletic
Director reviewed the 5 MVPs and 32 All-Stars for Winter Athletics and the MIAA
tournament qualifiers and records. Mr. Niamkey noted the single-game scoring
record of NQHS Basketball player Orlagh Gormley and the undefeated season and
Patriot League Championship for the NQHS Girls Basketball team. At Quincy High School, Maggie Lynch became
the all-time program scoring leader for QNQ Girls Hockey. The co-op Ski club had a good turnout and
will become a sport for Winter 2023.
Mr. Gutro
said that as a parent, the teams were amazing, great performances in so many
sports, the successes brought the schools and the city together.
Mrs. Lebo said
that the excitement was shared in the community, it gave the whole city a boost.
Mr. Santoro
said this winter was so meaningful, the students were excited to have the
opportunity to be together. Mr. Santoro
asked about MIAA sharing of the admission fees for games. Mr. Niamkey said that
there is a split between the MIAA and the host school
Mrs. Cahill asked
about leadership opportunities. Mr.
Niamkey said that prior to COVID, there was an annual student leadership summit
for 100 juniors who are athletic leaders and this event will be returning this
year.
Mrs. Lebo
asked if there is an orientation package for the coaches, each Athletic
Director meets with the coaches to set expectations at the beginning of the
season: schedules, buses, expectations for student athletes, anti-hazing and
concussion training.
For the
Spring 2022 season underway last week, both Mr. Mahoney and Mr. Niamkey said
that participation has skyrocketed with 360 students at QHS and 330 students at
NQHS signed up. QNQ track, QNQ Boys
Lacrosse, Boys & Girls Tennis, and Boys Volleyball are all showing an
increase. Mr. Niamkey said that
Commissioner Murphy and the Parks Department staff have done a great job
preparing the fields.
Mr. Gutro
asked if the students will all have the opportunity to participate or if there
will be roster cuts. Mr. Niamkey said
they are looking at establishing three levels of teams that previously had
two. Boys Volleyball is the only sport
that has cuts traditionally.
Mr. Gutro
asked if there are emerging sports for Spring, Mr. Niamkey said Rugby is
something that is being considered for next year. Mr. Niamkey said the schools have badminton
and table tennis clubs.
Mrs. Cahill
asked if the increase in participation affects the budget. Mr. Mahoney said that the increased participation
can be accommodated, for track & field some decisions may be made on which
athletes will travel. Mr. Niamkey said
there are challenges in scheduling the third level of lacrosse, but these are
good problems to have.
Senior Director
of Student Support Maura Papile presented on Social Emotional Learning along
with Elementary School Guidance Counselor Ms. Molly Belovorac, Middle School
Guidance Counselor Ms. Colleen Connerty, High School Health Inverventionist Mr.
Terrell Johnson, Middle School Health Teacher Mr. Michael Lorenzano, and High
School Health TeacherMs. Caitlin Plaskasovitis.
Social- Emotional Learning consists of social awareness, relationship
skills, responsible decision-making, self-management, and self-awareness. These are supported by curriculum and
instruction in the classroom, school-wide practices and policies, and family
and community partnerships. Diversity,
Equity & Inclusion are integral to Social-Emotional Learning, especially
cultural competency, identity, and self-reflection.
At the
elementary school level, there is a tiered support model. Tier 1 is for all
students, social skills presented in the classrooms; Tier 2 is for identified
students to work in groups on developing targeted skills; Tier 3 is intensive
support for students at high risk including check-in/check-out on a daily basis
with trusted staff. Elementary schools
also utilize large group events such as grade-level assemblies and smaller
groups for community circles and mindfulness and empathy-building activities. Curriculum supports include Second Step (skills for learning,
developing empathy and emotion management, and problem solving), Steps to Respect (anti-bullying) and Superflex or Incredible Flexible You (depending on grade level). Elementary schools also have outside
partnerships such as Boston vs. Bullies (from the New England Sports Museum)
and the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State.
Middle
school uses the same tiered supports, utilizing PBIS to recognize and reward positive
behaviors, community circles with more complex themes, including conflict
resolution. The community circles have been an important way to include student
voices in the classroom and school. At the middle school level, navigating
media challenges is particularly important.
Reframing terminology about balancing media use in school and outside of
school, students have the power to make choices about how media affects their
lives. In the Health classes, character
development is the starting point: respect, responsibility, fairness, caring,
trustworthiness, and citizenship. Critical
support for students around developing positive self-image, especially as a
means for resisting negative peer pressure and recognizing direct and indirect
influences, surrounding yourself with people who have similar values as you,
and ultimately making healthy choices.
At the high
school level, the Health Interventionists work with Grade 9 students in the
Freshman Seminar rotation and Health teachers for Grade 10 (semester course for
all students). In addition to
grade-level assemblies, students have leadership opportunities for
extracurricular and peer support groups.
Community circles were introduced this year, facilitated by teachers,
emphasize taking time for self-reflection during the day, among their many
other activities and responsibilities, sharing is more difficult for high
school students as a concept. There are
community building activities for small and larger groups, continuing education
on social media including privacy, building healthy relationships. The new Health Teacher positions are
supporting Wellness during the school day, students learning skills to support
friends and peers with problems (validate-appreciate-refer), lunchtime
self-care activities (pilot at NQHS), set up the Auditorium as a reflection
space (Calm app, dim lights). Outside
supports have been provided by the Samaritans (suicide prevention), dispelling
the stigma around mental health issues; Beth Israel Deaconess Milton Hospital recently
awarded QPS a grant for vaping education for students and families (Parent
Academy on April 5). Other community
partners include DOVE, Walker Therapeutics, QARI, Restorative Education, May
Institute. Quincy Public Schools is
collaborating with the Citywide EDI Subcommittee on a Multi-Cultural family event,
food trucks and sports around the world at Veterans Stadium on May 5.
Ms. Papile
concluded the presentation by thanking all of the dedicated professionals that
are working with the students and their families, doing such a phenomenal job.
Mrs. Lebo
thanked the presenters, so thankful to see the comprehensive range of
offerings. Mrs. Lebo said the DESE
Health frameworks haven’t been updated since 1996 and don’t really include
mental health issues. Ms. Papile said
CASEL Framework and Teaching Tolerance have been valuable resources. Mrs. Lebo
said there are many resources, would like to see a correlation of state
standards by which area of responsibility (Health, Health Interventions,
Guidance, Physical Education). Mrs. Lebo
said DESE was supposed to have new Frameworks for public comment in the
2019-2020 school year.
Mrs. Lebo
asked about opportunities for parent notification. In the middle and high school level, syllabi
are shared with parents and there is the opportunity to opt out. In Grade 5, parents are notified about the
sexual health curriculum. Ms. Papile
would like to revive the Health newsletter, providing parents with assistance on
different topics and external supports.
Mr. Gutro
thanked the presenters, the impact of the pandemic has been widespread,
depression, anxiety, social isolation and students re-integrate into school. School Committee wants to focus the
comprehensive package of supports, so impressive about how they are woven
together. Mr. Gutro asked about how
outcomes can be measured.
Ms.
Belovorac said that students are more open about topics, normalizing the
concept of getting help before it is a crisis.
Ms. Plaskasovitis said that the focus is on connection and student
buy-in once students were all back in person, student anxiety was more visible,
constant reminders about sharing and recognizing what they have in common. Mr. Johnson uses ambient sounds and scents,
allowing students to choose where they sit and the atmosphere of the room,
helps unblock
Mr. Gutro
asked for a follow up about the DOVE curriculum impact at the end of the school
year. Ms. P said that they are revamping
curriculum, asked the high schools for input
Mr. Santoro
asked about the scheduling, Mr. Lorenzano said Middle School Health is once per
the six-day cycle. Ms. Plaskosovitis
said that each Grade 10 student has 10th grade Health daily for one
term. Ms. Belovorac said that classroom
lessons are on a rotating basis, but she interacts with students in many
different ways individually and in small groups.
Mr. Santoro
is concerned about Grade 8 to Grade 9 transition, especially for students who
were not successful in middle school.
Ms. Papile said the May Institute is working with the high schools,
strategic planning for tiered interventions.
QPS is fortunate to have special programs and family assistance for high
risk students for re-engagement and student success. Ms. Papile said this year there are double
the number of mental health referrals from previous years. The new school adjustment counselors are very
important, we are looking at data points to build the road to recovery.
Mrs. Cahill
said the presentation really highlighted all of the important work that the
presenters are doing. Academically, students
build on skills learned in Kindergarten throughout their lives. The presentation showed how the
social-emotional learning works in the same way to support students as they
grow and mature and is just as important as the academic foundation we provide
for students.
Mrs. Lebo
made a motion to adjourn the Athletics & Wellness Subcommittee at 8:00 pm,
seconded by Mr. Gutro. On a voice vote,
the ayes have it.