A Great Start

What an exciting start to the new academic school year!  

The first week back with staff was tightly scheduled, but they were focused on the right work. The staff was able to listen to motivational speakers, spend time reviewing school safety procedures and crisis prevention strategies, and dive deep into planning for their students to start school. It was a powerful way to start the year. 

The staff heard from Dr. Plugge, the former GHAEA Chief Administrator, and Mr. Christensen, our High School Principal. They shared words of wisdom and powerful messages that rang true with the staff about service, mentorship, making connections, and shifting our mindset, which I hope we recall in the coming months.  I also appreciated the veteran staff who participated in the panel discussion. The teachers were excellent representatives of our learning community. Their voice carried much weight with the team, and their message was valued.

There were several sessions that addressed school safety and the different aspects of prevention, protection, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. It isn't possible to share a safety checklist that will work in all situations, but staff reviewed critical information and walked away with real tools. Mr. Weinrich and Mrs. Spiegel's CPI presentation, if taken to heart, should challenge all of us to consider how we interact with students, staff, parents, and community members in difficult moments. How we respond to people matters. It makes a difference and is a prevention strategy. SMC also provided Stop the Bleed Training. It is information that truly saves lives and can be used anywhere.

I absolutely loved seeing our kids back in full session. I still smile when I think about Open House. The school was packed with families, and the food was fantastic. It was a great night for our students and their families. However, nothing is quite like the energy and excitement of the first day of school. I walked through each of the schools to talk with the students and staff. It was great to connect with them and listen to their different perspectives. The tone and feel of the buildings are very positive and energetic.  

It was good to see staff taking time to get to know their students and explicitly teaching routines. I attended some of the student grade level meetings at the High School. I appreciated the clear expectations that were communicated. This time was important for the students and staff. Students need to know we care about them and also understand what we expect from them. The conversations were quite positive, and the message was clear.

I met some pretty amazing students in the middle school gym. Friends, these kiddos were excited. I am not sure their excitement was all about learning math, but they were anxious to talk to their friends, meet their teachers, and find out what was on the lunch menu. They were eager to connect with others and be a part of the school learning community. I enjoyed every minute of my visit.

It has been a great start to the school year. I am thankful that you have chosen Shenandoah CSD as the place to be and have trusted us with your children and teenagers! You can watch a quick video of some of the highlights.

The Place to Be

Learning & Leading

The countdown is on, and it is going to be a great school year! I am really looking forward to having everyone back on campus. The administrators, teacher leaders, and many support staff have spent substantial time in preparation for the start of the school year. It has involved a great amount of collaboration, communication, and commitment, and we are nearly ready to ring the bell to start the 2022-2023 school year.  

There have been many leadership discussions this summer about how we as a system can create an invitational learning environment that intentionally welcomes students, staff, and families. In addition, we have discussed ways to make connections and move forward in a clear direction. Lead from Where You Are by Joe SanFelippo is one of the books we read this summer; it has been insightful for our team. We also spent some time connecting about Simon Sinek's work. This video, by Simon Sinek, will provide insight into our conversations as a team. I value our time together because it has strengthened our team. We learned together and had fun working together.

District's IGNITE Online & Personalized Learning School is continuing to grow, expand, and have an impact on our students. It is a powerful student-centered learning opportunity for students who participate fully online or as hybrid students. IGNITE provides education in a setting without the limitations of walls, and the possibilities are endless. If you take a minute to watch this video, you will see the powerful influence it is having on students. Seeing this video inspires me and makes me immensely proud of the work that is being done.