Volume 5, Issue 2

We are about a month into our school year, and it’s already looking to be a great year for our Huskies! There have been lots of activities, happenings, and planning by staff and students alike as we build towards a successful 26-27 year.

Now that K-2 & 3-8 campuses have been merged for a bit, we were able to tweak our schedules internally in an attempt to offer more individualized instructional time in areas of need, as well as further foster our character education efforts. We’ve rolled out new math & ELA curriculums, as well as new screeners to more accurately identify focus areas for our students. Additionally, we revamped our support staff schedule to try and have as many adults as possible helping our students meet their goals, academically, socially, or otherwise.

We also kicked off NWEA testing a few weeks ago. This test provides a snapshot of the academic progress and comprehension of our students several times a year; the resulting data helps to drive the instructional efforts of our teachers, so they can best meet the unique needs of all learners.

Outside of academics, our extracurricular activities are starting to kick-off, with almost double the amount of students participating in fall sports as normal, as well as updates to the chess club, a new photography club, and the return of DI. Our parking lot is near completion, as is the playground, PTC events are being planned, as are house activities, and we are also organizing our first Washington, D.C. field trip for middle schoolers in a decade.

Another event that I’d like to bring to your attention is our Cybersafety Assembly, being held on October 14th. We have it every year, but we would love to see more participation from parents. Most years, we’re lucky if we have 5 parents showing up, but this is an issue affecting all families. Even if your kids don’t have cell phones, because so many other kids have them, it is affecting their socioemotional development in many ways, and parents should be aware of the potential risks involved. Again, I strongly encourage your participation in this important discussion!

All in all, the energy has been positive in our building, and spirits are high amongst students and staff. If the first month of school is any indicator, the rest of the year is going to be amazing, and I look forward to sharing these experiences with you all throughout the course of the school year!

Sincerely,

Joshua Sobczak,
Superintendent