BOLD Ink

Dear BOLD Community,

Our ship is pulling into the harbor after an adventurous voyage, and most of our students and crew are still on the ship. It is no small thing to commit to learning with a positive attitude through such choppy waters, but our BOLD Warriors have weathered the storm well. Not only that, but most have seized the opportunity to build creativity, character, and confidence along the way, which happens to be the core element of our district’s mission, which is to “Provide all learners in the BOLD community an education designed to develop the creativity, character, confidence, and skills essential to flourish in a changing global society.”

My pride in being a member of the BOLD community increases with every day I have navigated alongside this amazing crew and the students we are guiding forward toward the successful life they will be prepared to lead once our ship hits land. The end of each voyage is an opportunity for our kids, and we are doing our best to ensure that all students reach land with the skills and tools they will need to have a great shot at happiness and existential fulfillment.

St. Patrick’s Day was one of my favorite days at BOLD, because I got to dress up as a leprechaun (Thanks to Ms. Krafka) and visit kindergarten and preschool classrooms. The light in those kids’ eyes was inspiring and a reminder of why we are doing what we are doing. Those kids are filled with life, hope, and happiness, everything we all strive to attain. They already have it, and we want to make sure that they never lose it.

We have a strong foundation for learning at BOLD, with 87% of our kindergarten students reading at a proficient level. This is because of our excellent teachers and our elementary principal/literacy lead, Ms. Krafka, and the work that she has done in implementing an effective literacy curriculum.

In high school, we are working to build and develop a robust CTE (Career and Technical Education) program alongside an impressively effective REACH (Relationships, Education, Accountability, Character, Hardwork) program. Our high school principal, Ms. Bodin, has been working hard getting these programs off the ground, and we will be enlisting the help of our activities director, Mr. Flann, next year to help expand our CTE program.

CTE is a major wave of the future in our community and our country, and so we are also prioritizing this endeavor with a CTE Committee to the Board. We need community members to participate on this committee and to participate in this program, so if you are interested in either or both, please let me know.

Lastly, I would like to enhance my engagement with our community beyond visiting gas stations in the wee hours of the morning. I will be hosting “Coffee/Tea with the Superintendent” on the first and fourth Thursday morning of each month at 7 am in the District Trailer in the East parking lot for anyone interested in having inspiring conversations about the great potential and possibilities of the BOLD school district. I’ll host the first one next Thursday, March 26th, at 7 am.

Thank you all for your support of what we are doing at BOLD. Even if you are just sitting back and trusting us to do our jobs, that is considered tremendous support, and we appreciate it.

Take care,

Tim

Dear BOLD Families,

As part of Minnesota’s READ Act and the Families Read Toolkit, our school remains committed to building strong reading foundations for every student. A key part of this work is the partnership between school and home.

Below are some simple ways you can support your child’s reading development at home.

• read aloud every day: this builds vocabulary and a love of reading.
• play with sounds: practice rhyming, clapping syllables, or saying the first sound in a word.
• re-read favorite books: repetition helps build confidence and fluency.
• talk about stories: ask questions about the characters and what happened
• build vocabulary: talk about new or interesting words and what they mean
• encourage daily independent reading: let your child choose books that interest them
• connect reading to real life: make connections to personal experiences or current events

Reading development happens in stages. In the early years, students focus on the “building blocks” of reading—hearing and recognizing sounds, connecting those sounds to letters, and beginning to read words. As they grow, students make an important shift from learning to read to reading to learn, using their skills to understand and explore new ideas.

Whether your child is just beginning to read or developing deeper comprehension skills, your support at home makes a meaningful difference. A few minutes each day of reading, talking, and practicing skills can have a lasting impact.

As we head into summer, I encourage you to keep reading a priority at home. Consider making regular visits to your local library and helping your child find books that spark their interest—maybe even choosing a good book for yourself to enjoy alongside them.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for all you do to support your child’s success.

For some of our students, the countdown to spring is full of excitement and for others, losing daily school routine can actually feel a bit overwhelming. If you notice moody moments or tired eyes, please know that it’s a reaction from a situation. It is a response to the end of the school year. As a school counselor, I see so much growth in the small wins like a student choosing to try again after a mistake or just showing up even when they feel tired like students who are greeting and smiling in the hallway. Testing season has also come. Some students are already excited asking about class registration for next year and seniors completing their scholarship and career applications.

We don’t all have to finish this year in a hustle. Whether your student is excited for the break or feeling a bit uneasy about some changes, remember that their worth is not tied to a grade or a best day. Let’s focus on being extra kind to ourselves and to each other as we cross the finish line together.

Basically, have you noticed the sun is staying out a bit longer lately? Since the days are getting brighter, try to use that extra light as a simple reset for yourself. You don’t need to do anything big, just spending 5 minutes outside for a quick walk or some fresh air as grounding can really help you feel better. Take walks without turning them into workouts. Take a little break and enjoy the sunshine, okay? “Kaya natin ito!” (We can do it!)

Darryl Correa

School Counselor