I would like to see a principal who re-instates the 1-5 grading system, and one who pushes the top students. I do not understand why there is no leveling in the grade six classrooms. Recent MCAS scores show that our top students are not performing as they should.

Agree with the above comment. The top students aren't challenged, and more and more have to seek outside enrichment classes like science & robotics, Russian math, writing classes, etc. to prevent total boredom and get some intellectual stimulation. All at a hefty price tag. But if the schools continue to focus mainly on the struggling students, and leave the top students alone and unchallenged, what other choice do parents and students who really want to learn have?

Mill Pond, along with all the schools in town, should be addressing the needs of ALL students, which includes those who struggle as well as the average ones. The top 5-10 percent are no more or less important than the rest. As I see it, it is the average students caught in the middle, that receive less programs directed at their development.

I would like to see a new principal come in and throw out all the gold keys and buzz words that paper the hallways and create an environment where the students have the opportunity to shine, be challenged, and be proud of their work. The National School of Character distinction is a bunch of rhetoric and I wish the time, energy and resources put into gaining it had been directed at creating a positive learning environment for the students.

I also agree with the reinstatement of the 1-5 grading system. The current system makes absolutely, positively no sense. Also, why is there no room for comments on the report card? Parent-teacher communication is nonexistent in many cases and the lack of teacher comments on the report card only makes the situation worse.

Perhaps a parent survey (Armstrong conducted one a year or two ago via Survey Monkey) would help to identify areas of concern from parents and data could be as input into the search process.

I am sorry that the parent above feels the National School of Character designation is unimportant. I'd welcome an opportunity to discuss the rigorous process we went through to win that award in 2010. I could debate each point in the statement above with concrete evidence that Mill Pond is providing opportunities for students to shine, be challenged, and proud of their work. Creating a positive learning environment is absolutely what we try to do at this school. In fact , that is what the NSOC is really all about.

As for the report card, we agree that the grading system needs revision, and we are working on that right now. You will see changes next year as a result of the work being done this year.

We, too, have conducted surveys of parents in the past. Perhaps, it is time for another one. After 11 dedicated years at this school, I care deeply about the work we have done with students, staff, and families. Like you, I care about the future, and I would welcome a conversation.

It's hard to believe that in the turbulent times educators and parents alike are faced with that there are still parents knocking the very essence of what makes Mill Pond so unique. The gold keys that the ignorant parent above referred to is just the tip of the iceberg in what the administrators, counselors, parents and students strive to live by. In a world jolted by news of yet another bright student gone astray and attacking innocent students and educators in schools across the country, you would think that the ignorant parent above would understand that Mill Pond educates the whole child. The current principal of Mill Pond can not be replicated. She is the hero to many parents, educators and students. I just hope that she does not put too much stock into the meaningless chatter of the parent who clearly has no idea of what it takes to run a school of 900 plus in our modern world of lockdowns, Facebook, and stressed out over-scheduled students.