September 2017
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the 2017-18 school year! It’s hard to believe that we’re already seeing the end of summer. While I will miss these warm summer days, I am so excited about the academic year ahead; our path is clear and our team is looking forward to serving our students! I trust this will be a year of joyful growth for your child.
We know the year will bring some challenges. Our nation’s stormy political climate is certainly cause for concern, as classrooms mirror the health and stability of the larger community and nation, and we know social or political stressors can reach into families and impact students. And we, of course, must pay attention to the state’s chronic underfunding of public education and other issues as well.
That said, we have never been better prepared to meet the challenges ahead! Our teachers and administrative teams are well qualified and have embraced the multiple initiatives we have launched to help us better serve our students and their families. Cultural proficiency, social-emotional learning, and lessons about respect, acceptance, and inclusiveness are deeply entrenched in our daily instruction, helping to provide a predictable, emotionally safe space for children to learn.
Plus, our long-term financial planning and community support has allowed us to build a district in which you can count on stability — and consistent, quality learning — during your years with us, regardless of how stormy conditions on the outside may be.
We are preparing for a great school year and are honored to be serving your family.
Sincerely,
Benjamin H. Picard, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools
