Principal's Message
Dear Durfee High School Community:
Despite the angst of state-wide budget dilemmas, the administrative team is optimistic that learning will continue to improve and a more collaborative culture will evolve at B.M.C. Durfee High School. A number of challenging qualitative decisions have been made in accordance with contractual agreements. We are confident that the twenty five teachers recruited will compliment our current faculty. Class sizes are reasonable and we have retained a number of our co-teaching opportunities.
Congratulations to Jay Correia, Derek Farias and the summer school staff for servicing more than 335 students. Courses ranged from enrichment to remediation. Extensive communications and support from counselors, grade office personnel and teachers have convinced many underachieving students to address deficiencies. The trend for freshmen retainees for the past three years is significant: 2006 = 225 students, 2007 = 84 students, and 2008 = 50 students.
More than 90 students experienced work and beautification programs coordinated by Rob Correia and funded by the Work Force Investment Board.
Omari Walker has refined programs for our alternative students which will be relocated to the Westall School. A number of our teachers from basic academic areas have worked to develop course scope and sequence as well as quarterly assessments.
A professional team comprised of teachers, students and parents is being assembled by Vice Principal Matt Desmarais to develop the school mission statement and school wide expectations for the upcoming NEASC accreditation process. Many departments will address curriculum and assessment needs throughout the school year.
Partnerships with Bristol Community College and the Work Force Investment Board offer tremendous potential to enhance services for Durfee students.
Plans are in process to upgrade communication within B.M.C. Durfee High School and throughout the city. A daily television or audio program highlighting Durfee announcements and news will be broadcast daily through FRED-TV. School officials are attempting to expand the capability of video broadcast to school rooms through computers and projection devices.
The sleeping giant is awakening through the 2008-2009 School Year.
Appreciatively,
Ralph Olsen
Principal
