Elgin ISD E-Newsletter
What Values Matter Most for Our Students to Be Successful in Life?
We're wrapping up a successful semester here in Elgin ISD, and I am so proud of the excellent work of our students and staff. Over the holidays, I hope you have time to recharge and spend time with those you love.
While many reflect on the past year during the holidays, Elgin ISD is planning ahead. We have big plans for this spring! I hope you will be a part of them.
Introducing the Elgin Essentials
In Elgin ISD, we're launching a new program called the Elgin Essentials. We're collecting information from our community on exactly what values in life matter most for our students to be successful in their future.
We're blessed with outstanding students who do remarkable things every day, guided by innovative teachers who give their best every day. We're incredibly proud of our academic accomplishments as well as the success our students experience through their activities and programs.
Now it's time to ensure our students graduate with another set of important skills.
Success in life requires more than academics. It requires soft skills like communication, problem-solving, resilience, emotional intelligence and the everyday habits that make someone a good colleague, neighbor and citizen.
Knowing how to do the work is one thing. Being hireable and a good team player is another, and we must ensure our Wildcats graduate fully ready for the workforce.
There is hard evidence that supports this initiative, and the research is compelling. Students with strong social-emotional skills in kindergarten are twice as likely to earn a college degree and have stable employment. Major employers consistently rank these skills among their top priorities, and the World Economic Forum found that these skills now rank above reading, writing and mathematics as essential workplace competencies.
We Need Your Help — Will You Join Us?
The question: What values and life skills do you believe every Elgin ISD graduate should possess?
The request: Help us create the Elgin Essentials together.
The Elgin Essentials will be a framework of fundamental values that define what it means to be a Wildcat. We really want these to reflect the heart of our community. Over the next few weeks, as you gather with friends and family during the holidays, we are asking you to think about what you hope our children will carry with them long after they leave our schools. What traits do you admire most? What makes a community strong? What specific behaviors do successful and respected individuals exhibit?
Then, share those thoughts with us here.
We want to hear from parents, students, staff, alumni and community members. If you're interested in being part of the planning process, there's space in the survey to let us know. We will meet once or twice in the spring semester to build the groundwork of this important new program.
The Elgin Essentials will be foundational guideposts for our students on their journey to become graduates and will ensure that when they walk across that graduation stage, they will be fully prepared for whatever comes next.
Thank you for being the kind of community that cares deeply about our children's future.
Happy Holidays!
Dr. Jana Rueter
Superintendent of Schools
Elgin Independent School District
Share Your Input Here: Link
Visit the link below to get reach the Peachjar Flyerboard. You'll find all the flyers from Peachjar this week!
