Time Flies

They say time flies when you're having fun...It's hard to believe that we are coming up on the Christmas/Holiday break in just a few weeks. From an administrative perspective, the Fall has been busy with preparing and presenting the budget, continuing negotiations with the Teachers and Support Staff, program evaluation, and staff observation and evaluation in addition to the daily operations in the district. I applaud the hard work and dedication of the entire leadership team as they not only "keep the trains running on time", but work to secure continued success as we move toward our goal.

As many of you know, we have also implemented a great deal of technology this year, moving to a new Student Information System and Gradebook called Pinnacle as well as a new professional development tracking system called MyLearningPlan. The implementation process has not been without struggles. I know it has not been an easy process. The change process is never easy, but the entire staff continues to work through the issues, knowing that the systems represent best practices and will benefit everyone in the long run. Software "glitches" and customization have contributed to the implementation struggles. The staff are to be commended for their persistence and dedication in making this transition. As I write this, the finishing touches are being put on the first trimester report cards for the elementary and middle schools. The high school report cards went out successfully several weeks ago.

The first trimester has been packed with plenty of activities in the schools, from sporting events and awards ceremonies to band and choral concerts, homecoming, and theatrical productions. I hope that you have been able to witness at least some of these wonderful displays of student talent.

During the past two months, I have had the opportunity to participate in two of the Theatrical productions, "Our Town" produced by the High School, and "A Christmas Carol", produced by the Middle School. It was a wonderful opportunity to interact with the students and staff in a different environment and witness first hand the dedication and mutual respect between the students and staff. Participation in the shows also allowed me to share my theatrical experience with the students. I found it to be a rewarding opportunity. Many people commented that it was great to see the Superintendent and the teachers interacting with the students and participating in the culture of the school community. A special Thank You to these dedicated students and staff for putting in many evening and weekend hours.

As we move toward the holidays, visit our District website to see the calendar of events for holiday concerts and other activities in each of the schools. As always your comments and feedback are welcome.