It’s hard to believe how quickly the summer months pass. I hope you and your family have found time to rest, recharge, and make memories together this summer.
Even though school has been out, our buildings have been busy places all summer long. Across the district, significant facility work has been underway. Projects have included updates to some of our HVAC systems, infrastructure repairs and maintenance, renovations to older spaces, and continued progress on facility safety updates. In a district with 35 schools and more than 3 million square feet, there is always work to be done to maintain our buildings.
I want to extend my sincere thanks to our incredible facilities team for managing these complex projects and to our custodians, maintenance, and grounds crews for all they do to prepare for the upcoming school year - especially during these hot summer months. Their flexibility and dedication to preparing our buildings and grounds for a new year make such a difference for our students and staff.
In addition to the facility improvements, I want to recognize the work happening behind the scenes to prepare for another year of learning. Many of our teachers and staff spend part of their summer attending training, writing, and refining curriculum, taking classes, and working together to strengthen our programs and learning opportunities for all students.
This year, we are especially excited to launch Upchurch Elementary and Russell Middle School as our first schoolwide STEM schools. This new Program of Choice is designed to build upon the strong elements of STEM learning embedded in our core curriculum throughout the district. This is just the beginning. We look forward to seeing it evolve and expand in the years ahead.
As these final days of summer slip by, I hope you enjoy every last bit of time with family. Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support. We can’t wait to welcome your children back for another year of learning, growth, and success.
We are excited for an amazing year ahead. It’s almost go time!
