Letter from the Superintendent - January 2020
I Hope as this message gets to you the joy of having family and friends around you have enriched your holiday season. Quality time with family is important, and students and staff need a bit of a break after a semester of teaching and learning. It appears that most students have been able to adjust to their new classes and teachers have been busy all year long looking for new, updated curriculum to match ever-changing curriculum changes from the Department of Education. Methods and materials may change, but most learning comes down to seeing purpose in learning and knowledge, that no matter what area or career a student leans towards becomes important. Wanting to be able to read well, write well, interpret information, recall facts, and complete mathematical problems is a requirement of all of us. Let’s encourage our young people to embrace the idea of being the very best student they can be. It will carry on throughout their lives, and be a life enriching and career boosting habit. Changing what and how a student learns is a continual process that continues with every change in technology or discovery of a new method or fact. Teachers and students are both part of the process.
When classes reconvene for the second semester on January 7th, a whirlwind of activities will continue, as well. It is a difficult balance. Again, this is excellent preparation for life. We will also begin the process of testing and assessment, and we all know that our students need to do their very best to show what they can do. Please encourage your child to do their very best, take these assessments seriously, and then take those results and look at what areas there are to improve. There is always room for growth! When a few students do not take their testing seriously, it can deeply affect the consequences of a school. It may lead to more rigid instruction, fewer elective types of classes, and we certainly want every student to be able to enjoy some of the “non-core” classes that we offer. They make well-rounded students, who are ultimately are able to enjoy life more. Students should be able to work hard, but have fun along the way. The first semester flew by, so here’s looking for a successful second semester in 2020!