Principal's Perspective
Cathy Nacrelli
August 16, 2009
Dear Parents and Families:
At the end of the summer, schools across our nation will reopen for a new school year. As school begins, students and teachers have the opportunity to begin anew. So many things are new: school supplies, clothes, shoes, classrooms, curriculum, bulletin boards, classmates, teachers, and even administrators. That’s right, even the administration may be new!
That’s certainly true at Holly Hall this year. I’m Cathy Nacrelli, the Assistant Principal here last year, and I’m thrilled to be your new Principal this year. Some of you may have already heard that Dr. Orr accepted a new position as the Director of Human Resources in Dorchester County, Maryland. We send him heartfelt thanks for his leadership and for his dedication to our school and our community. In addition, I am pleased to welcome our new Assistant Principal, Matt Stephen, who was previously the AP at Rising Sun Elementary School. Please welcome him as he brings many talents and skills to our Holly Hall family.
Additionally, we have several new staff members who will quickly become valuable contributors to our school community. They bring diverse talents, ideas, and experiences to Holly Hall.
We also welcome new and returning children and families to our Holly Hall community of learners. Our goal is to create a safe and inviting learning environment where we are soaring with high expectations for academics and behavior. When school opens at Holly Hall Elementary, please be assured that teachers and administrators have resolved that this school year will be the very best ever. We want to do everything we can every day to help every child achieve success. We believe in possibilities!
What else is new at Holly Hall? Because we are a Title 1 school, we have the resources to support several innovative instructional practices that benefit all children. In September, some exciting, new, interactive technology will appear at our school in many classrooms. A few of our classrooms had Smart Boards last year, and we are so pleased to let you know that most classrooms will be utilizing this technology this year. As Dr. Seuss said, “Oh, The Places We Will Go!”
Instructional resources aren’t the only new things at Holly Hall. Very soon, you will also be hearing about PBIS, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. This is a new initiative at Holly Hall Elementary for teaching and recognizing positive student behaviors and providing specific interventions for students who are having difficulties with behavior. You will be hearing about “the green zone” as a goal for your child.
Without a doubt, we have some exciting plans for the 2009-2010 school year, and we need your help. You see, it’s only by working together that we can achieve the greatest possible success in academics and behavior for our children. We are a team and we have to strive for and believe in possibilities together. WE CAN SUCCEED! WE WILL SUCCEED! I BELIEVE!
Looking forward to an awesome school year!
Sincerely,
Cathy S. Nacrelli
Assistant Principal's Notes
Matthew Stephen
I would like to first welcome everyone back for another successful school year and hope that your summer was a happy and healthy one. I'm Matthew Stephen, the new Assistant Principal here at Holly Hall Elementary School. I was previously at Rising Sun Elementary for two years and before that spent four years in Cecil County as a 2nd grade teacher and Local Support Teacher at Leeds Elementary and Chesapeake City. I can't wait to meet all of the students, parents and staff members that make up the wonderful learning community that is Holly Hall Elementary.