Our Back-To-School Backpack Is Stuffed!

With the first day of the new school year coming up on Tuesday, September 5, let’s start unpacking it a bit.

I’ve got 3 great pieces of news to share with you today.

First of all, I want you to know it feels good to be back on schedule with my Thursday school community emails.

I appreciate you checking each one out when you can free up a few minutes in your busy day. (Not easy, I know!)

I also hope you are continuing to enjoy many wonderful summer moments with your family and friends – and are looking forward to a brand new year of learning in FSD.

Please don’t miss several key Back-to-School dates and links at the end of this email.

Now… let’s get started.

#1 – We’re heading into the new school year with lots of positive momentum.

Here’s one example.

Although I agree with the truth contained in this visual by @LizandMollie, it’s still nice to build upon a track record of success.    

Moving into our new school year, we are carrying forward the results of higher student achievement scores – and this because of the planned mini-miracles in learning our students and teachers create every school day.
 
Big time kudos to them!
 
And this school year we will be supporting our students in additional ways as well.
 
We’ve hired an academic interventionist who will assist elementary and middle students in improving their math and reading skills and also consult with their classroom teachers.
 
We’ve also hired a “Multi-Tiered Systems of Support” Coordinator who will assist our elementary and middle school teachers in responding to the academic, behavioral, and social needs of their students.
 
As you read this, our teachers and support staff haven’t officially reported back to school yet, so I don’t have photos and write-ups about them.
 
But I look forward to introducing both of them to you soon! 

#2 – Did you know technology has vexxed parents and teachers for several generations? 
 
Take a look at this newspaper reprint from the 1930’s.

Wow!
 
Parents and teachers obviously had a serious problem on their hands back then – and I’m proud to report in the 171-year-old history of FSD, we don’t have even one case of improper radio use in our files.
 
Not one!
 
(Uh, oh – I hope I didn’t just jinx this!)
 
Now, as proud as I am about our spotless record when it comes to past radio controversies, I’m more proud to tell you about the instructional technology foundation we are carrying forward into this fall for the very first time.
 
In brief, our students will now have the benefit of a more structured, more age-appropriate approach in attaining the technology skills they will need for their futures, whether those futures involve college, trade school, military service, or career.

• K-2 students will use iPads equipped with a touchscreen
• 3-4 students will use chromebooks equipped with both a touchscreen and a keyboard (keystroke mastery begins).
• 5-8 students will use chromebooks solely equipped with a keyboard.
• 9-12 students will use laptops for higher-level research writing, and accessing in-depth programs complementing the full range of our instructional curriculum.

I hope you share my excitement about rolling out a rock-solid technology foundation like this in our district.
 
We have a new super-talented technology director in our district – Ashley Calliote – and I look forward to introducing her to you in a future email too.
 
#3 – Here are key Back-to-School dates and links.
 
Back-to-School 2023-2024

• First Day of Classes – Sept. 5
• Meet & Greet: PreK & List Elem – Aug. 29, 6 – 7 pm
• Meet & Greet: EFR Middle School – Aug. 29, 5 – 6:30 pm
• Meet & Greet: FHS – Sept 6, 6-7:15 pm (Parent Tech time 5:15 pm)

ALL SCHOOL OFFICES RE-OPEN TUESDAY, AUGUST 22. Visit our Back to School page for more information. 
 
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And, as always, thanks for all YOU do!
 
We’re planning on a great school year for all of our Eagles!