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Health & Fitness

Mr. C

Our new interim principal, Dr. David Castelline, has a long and impressive resume.  He has asked the students at the Fitzgerald to call him "Mr. C."

Last night, the PTO was happy to host a reception for our new principal.  Dr. Nicholson introduced Mr. C and he spoke for about 20 minutes about his own background (married for 28 years, two kids, one who works at Gordon College, the other who is beginning her sophomore year there), experience (he has taught everything from gym to math and was a school principal before finishing his career as a leadership consultant), and his approach to being a principal (open-door policy, very involved, lots of communication with parents.)  He then took questions from the audience and only the kids were smart enough to ask him anything (including a suggestion to have lemonade in the fountains instead of water.  Which is a perfect metaphor for the current state of the school district).

We were honored and pleasantly surprised that most of our School Committee members attended: Mayor McCarthy (who is a frequent visitor to the Fitzgerald), Mrs. Donnelly, Mr. Graceffa, Mr. Cincotta, and Mr. Tarallo were all in attendance.  

Mr. C is a seasoned, experienced, intelligent administrator.  I have assured him that all of the background noise about the overcrowding at the Fitzgerald and our other elementary schools and about the issues with consistent leadership in the district have nothing at all to do with him and that the Fitz Fight Force is happy to have such an accomplished leader in place at the start of the school year.  And he was smart enough to already know that anyway.

So, to the Interview Committee, including Dr. Nicholson: well done.  To Mr. C: a warm welcome.  To the Fitzgerald families: let's make the most of Mr. C while he's here, while being prepared for his inevitable departure.

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