Marcellus Central School District Holds Academic Information Services (AIS) Parent Information Nights

The Marcellus Central School District conducted a series of Academic Information Service (AIS) informational nights during the fall of 2010-2011. The informational gatherings were held in conjunction with Open House or Curriculum Nights at KCH (September 15), Driver Middle School (September 16 and 30) and Marcellus Senior High School (October 7th). Janet O’Mara /Driver Middle School assistant principal and district administrative liaison for K-6 AIS programs welcomed parents to both the KCH and the DMS evenings. O’Mara addressed her role as a facilitator and support for student services and she gave an overview of “what AIS is”. AIS teachers at both KCH and DMS outlined program services, defined entry/exit criteria, reviewed AIS assessments, detailed push-in and pull-out options and shared “activities to do at home”. Fourth grade teacher Suzanne Alexander and special education teacher Jeanine Snyder praised the positive impact of the District’s co-teach model. O’Mara also did a very informative job of explaining the new English Language Arts State Assessment scoring procedures. AIS faculty presenting at the K-3 and Grade 4-6 AIS evenings included Patricia Barry, Susan Decker, Ginger Holloran, Teresa McNaney, Trina DeCilles, Diane Mueller, Suzanne Alexander, Jeanine Snyder, Pamela Springer, and Karen VanBuren. Deborah Glisson, Marcellus Senior High School assistant principal, introduced the grade 7-8 AIS meeting on September 30th and the high school AIS information meeting on October 7th. Kathy Rein, Driver Middle School English teacher, presented an overview of AIS programs and services at the grade 7-8 meeting and Alan Wing, DMS guidance counselor, spoke to “what parents can do at home to help”. Wing shared suggestions relative to time management, organization skills, facilitating communication, and the development of individual intervention plans. The thread of open communication was clearly the common theme throughout the various Marcellus Central School District AIS information meetings.