From the Superintendent 

Seasons Greetings,

As we get close to the winter solstice, it is time to look back at the just completed first semester of this school year. We have many successes to celebrate and I am pleased to note that evidence of our continued commitment to improving our students' education is clear to me during my visits to our schools. These successes are due to the dedication of all who are involved and I am continually impressed by how much time and energy our staff, parents and community members devote to our students. I trust that you are as proud of our accomplishments as I am and appreciate the dedication and professionalism that is exhibited in educating our students.

The past four months were as busy as anyone would like with the external demands of the H1N1 flu causing us all to move a little bit faster. We continue to add new technology to our buildings; it is exciting to see how our teachers are using the new equipment to make their lessons more dynamic. Also of note is that many of our teachers are incorporating quality learning tools into their classrooms. These tools promote a greater level of student ownership in the learning process. Looking ahead, in April we will undergo a curriculum audit that will thoroughly analyze how well our curriculum materials are being used and how appropriate they are as a way to help our students meet our learning goals.

As is always the case at this time each year, we are in the midst of the budgeting process for the coming school year. I invite you to attend one of our upcoming budget informational meetings. The dates of these regional meetings are advertised on the homepage of our website. The responsibility of spending public money on our students' education is one that we take most seriously; we welcome your input on this process.

As we approach the end of 2009, I want to take a moment to encourage everyone to use the upcoming break as a time to recharge batteries for what promises to be a busy second semester. To our teachers and administrators, remember to take some time for yourself; you are of great importance to me, our students, and the school communities. I wish everyone a happy holiday season, and I look forward to seeing you in the coming months as we continue to work to help our students find academic success.

Steve Atwater
Superintendent of Schools