Thank You and Best Wishes to Mary Chinigo

jward — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:39:40 +0000

This is a time to extend our appreciation and thanks to Mary T. Chinigo for her contributions to the Voluntown Public School System over the last 35½ years, including 17 years as Principal of Voluntown Elementary School. This Pre-Kindergarten through Eighth Grade school is an important part of our community. We thank Mary for her active participation in promoting a team effort to create a wide range of excellent learning opportunities for the students over her career. She is a caring, dedicated, hard working person, who followed through with a wide range of responsibilities since her first position in 1976 as a teacher. A summary of her experiences includes:

1995 - 2012: Principal - responsible for the daily leadership and management of the school. Mary supervised regular education programs and chaired the Curriculum Steering Committee for the district. She also served as Acting Superintendent of Schools in the fall of 2005 during a time of transition.
September 1994 to December 1994: Interim Principal/Special Education Coordinator - responsible for the daily principal duties of the regular education and special education programs of the district.
1992 – 1994: Teacher/Special Education Coordinator - Special Education teacher for Grades K through 4 and trained paraprofessionals in their responsibilities to help with mainstreaming learning opportunities for students. Mary was also the Special Education Coordinator for the school system that included Pre-Kindergarten through 12^th grade.
1990 – 1992: Served as Special Education teacher for Grades 1 through 5.
1989 – 1990: Special Education teacher and responsible for multi-categorical, self-contained and resource room programs for Grades 3 through 5.
1976 – 1989: Teacher for Grades 1 through 5. Worked in developing individualized math and language arts programs. Experience with behavior modification, team teaching, self-contained classroom, and mainstreaming programs for special needs students.

Ms. Chinigo received recognition as an author in The Collaborative Educator with her publication of “Special Education Program Meets Diverse Student Needs”, Vol. 8, 2 (November 1994) and “Team Teaching Using Cooperative Learning Activities with Mainstreamed Students”, co-authored with Joan Gardner, Vol. 5, 6 (1991)

Our Early Childhood initiative in Voluntown is directly related to the educational leadership of Mary Chinigo. She applied for a School Readiness Grant that has funded the program for Three-Year Olds for these past five years. This strengthened our early childhood program that already included a program for Four-Year olds, which Mary developed 15 years ago and was located at the Fire House due to space restrictions. The importance of this program greatly influenced the decision to include an early childhood wing in the 2000 building project to expand Voluntown Elementary School. These Pre-school programs helped us start the Full Day Kindergarten that is now in its fourth year. Mary guided the process of obtaining national accreditation for our Pre-School programs.

Mary Chinigo has had a long and successful career at Voluntown Elementary School. She currently has the unique opportunity to work with parents and staff members who had her as a teacher. Her years as Principal has allowed her to observe the progress of our students as they advance from a Pre-School through Eighth Grade School and on to their successes in high school and beyond.

Ms. Chinigo has had many diverse and dynamic experiences over the past 35½ years and has effectively worked with faculty, staff, community members, and the Board of Education to create successful programs for students. Just a few of these accomplishments include:

Each year our students have made Adequate Yearly Progress as defined by federal guidelines for No Child Left Behind.
There have been significant changes in technology over the years and Ms Chinigo has overseen infrastructure projects, upgrades in computers, and increased uses of technology across the curriculum to assist with instruction and maximize student-learning opportunities.
She was Principal when building projects were completed for the Junior High School and the Early Childhood additions to the school to improve our facilities for students.
As chairperson of the Curriculum Steering Committee she has guided recent updates in our Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies programs to allow our students to work with the most current resources.
She participated in coordinating Professional Development activities for reviewing instructional strategies in implementing the new federal and state Common Core Standards.
Her involvement also includes implementation of RTI (Response to Intervention) and SRBI (Scientifically Researched-Based Intervention) to help students improve.
She has supported ways to reduce Special Education outplacements through regular education initiatives.
She supported Title I services to help assist our students in After School and Summer School activities.
She participated in the process of updating of our Teacher Evaluation Plan.
She has participated in the Board of Education process of researching, developing, and implementing a Strategic Plan that includes contributions to develop the annual goals for our school system and Voluntown Elementary School.

Mary has been a member of such professional organizations as CAS (Connecticut Association of Schools) Council for Exceptional Children, NAESP (National Association of Elementary School Principals), NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals), ASCD (Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development), Phi Lambda Theta, Kappa Delta Phi, and IRA (International Reading Association). She maintained contact with educational leaders in the state and area.

Mary graduated from Norwich Free Academy in 1972, received her BS in Education from Eastern Connecticut State University in 1976, a Masters Degree in Special Education from St. Josephs College in 1981, and a 6^th Year Certificate in Education Administration from the University of Connecticut in 1994.

The faculty, staff, Board of Education, community members, and above all, the students extend the very best of wishes to Mary T. Chinigo on this memorable occasion of her retirement after 35½ years of dedicated service to the Voluntown Public Schools. On this 17^th Day of February 2012 we express the hope for her continued happiness.

MADD Power of Parents Workshop

jward — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:55:30 +0000

MADD Power of Parents

It’s Your Influence

How to start the conversation about alcohol with your child

March 27th, 2012

6:30pm – 8:00pm

Voluntown Elementary School

•Understand the problem of underage drinking.

•Learn techniques for having the conversation about alcohol with your child.

•Help your child make good choices and avoid peer pressure

Positive Parenting - Online Instruction

jward — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:05:33 +0000

Positive Parenting
Online Instruction
Voluntown parents have been invited to participate in Pat Quinn's Online Parenting Course. This course consists of six simple online video lessons that offer strategies and tips to help every parent. Each lesson is also available in MP3 format so you can download them and listen anywhere you go. The great part is that you can watch and listen on your own schedule, at any time, from any computer in the world with internet access. There are even opportunities to ask your own specific parenting questions! The course is perfect for parents of elementary, middle, and high school students. For Login information, please contact Linda Christensen, Family Literacy Coordinator at LindaCh5@comcast.net

Recent News Articles for Voluntown Elementary School

Thank You and Best Wishes to Mary Chinigo

MADD Power of Parents Workshop

Positive Parenting - Online Instruction