Post by warriorpride on May 23, 2008 11:12:47 GMT -5
As my first year as superintendent draws to a close, I look forward to a notable milestone taking place this weekend when we bid farewell to the largest class of graduating seniors in the history of our district. More than 1,800 students will receive their diplomas this Sunday. We extend best wishes to all our graduates as they begin a new chapter of their lives.
I also want to thank our 26 staff members who are beginning their own new chapters after they retire in June. Their service to our district has made an impact on the lives of many students and they have contributed to the success of our district.
While graduation and retirement are times of celebratory appreciation, it is important to identify other accomplishments for this year as well.
We should begin our focus on our students. The district continued to celebrate student academic success as 92 percent of our students met or exceeded standards on state tests.
Outside of the classroom, we recognized hundreds of students for competing and succeeding at the state and national levels in athletic and extracurricular activities. Our students succeeded on the playing fields, in the classrooms, as individuals and as teams. I am confident there are scores of students who enjoyed newfound personal achievement in reaching their goals and doing their very best.
While I am pleased with this year's efforts, we cannot rest. Irving Berlin once said, "The toughest thing about success is that you have to keep on being a success." I find the same commentary holds true with the field of education and our district.
This year marked the beginning of a number of new initiatives whose aim is to continue to drive achievement. Highlights include implementing an intervention system to increase the academic achievement of low-performing elementary students. The district also designed a six school pilot program to academically assist our students with special needs. At the middle school level, we set in motion plans for a middle school schedule that will provide teachers and students with more time dedicated to core classes. And finally, a large number of people collaborated on a program that will begin this fall to help our youngest learners--all-day kindergarten. With more than 1,800 children enrolled in all-day kindergarten next year, I look forward to seeing the long-range impact this program will have on our students.
In addition to our many initiatives this academic year, we moved forward with a major construction project--the construction of Metea Valley High School and the conversion of Waubonsie Valley's freshman center to our seventh middle school. Both are scheduled to open in Fall 2009. I want to thank Mayor Weisner and the City of Aurora, Reverend Jesse Hawkins and the St. John AME Church congregation, Aurora Alderman Lynda Elmore, and countless community members for their ongoing support over the past few months. Both schools will greatly assist the district in easing overcrowding and serve our students for years to come.
Lost amidst the fervor of Metea Valley are the major advances we have begun to roll out with technology. From fiber optics that will greatly enhance inter-school networking to enhancing internal and external communication to greater advances with our technology curriculum, we're enthusiastic about how these changes will help prepare our students for life after graduation.
I am grateful for all that we have accomplished this year. To Indian Prairie's students, teachers, parents, and administrators, I extend heartfelt thanks for a great first year as your superintendent. I look forward to seeing all that we can accomplish together next year.
Stephen Daeschner Superintendent
I also want to thank our 26 staff members who are beginning their own new chapters after they retire in June. Their service to our district has made an impact on the lives of many students and they have contributed to the success of our district.
While graduation and retirement are times of celebratory appreciation, it is important to identify other accomplishments for this year as well.
We should begin our focus on our students. The district continued to celebrate student academic success as 92 percent of our students met or exceeded standards on state tests.
Outside of the classroom, we recognized hundreds of students for competing and succeeding at the state and national levels in athletic and extracurricular activities. Our students succeeded on the playing fields, in the classrooms, as individuals and as teams. I am confident there are scores of students who enjoyed newfound personal achievement in reaching their goals and doing their very best.
While I am pleased with this year's efforts, we cannot rest. Irving Berlin once said, "The toughest thing about success is that you have to keep on being a success." I find the same commentary holds true with the field of education and our district.
This year marked the beginning of a number of new initiatives whose aim is to continue to drive achievement. Highlights include implementing an intervention system to increase the academic achievement of low-performing elementary students. The district also designed a six school pilot program to academically assist our students with special needs. At the middle school level, we set in motion plans for a middle school schedule that will provide teachers and students with more time dedicated to core classes. And finally, a large number of people collaborated on a program that will begin this fall to help our youngest learners--all-day kindergarten. With more than 1,800 children enrolled in all-day kindergarten next year, I look forward to seeing the long-range impact this program will have on our students.
In addition to our many initiatives this academic year, we moved forward with a major construction project--the construction of Metea Valley High School and the conversion of Waubonsie Valley's freshman center to our seventh middle school. Both are scheduled to open in Fall 2009. I want to thank Mayor Weisner and the City of Aurora, Reverend Jesse Hawkins and the St. John AME Church congregation, Aurora Alderman Lynda Elmore, and countless community members for their ongoing support over the past few months. Both schools will greatly assist the district in easing overcrowding and serve our students for years to come.
Lost amidst the fervor of Metea Valley are the major advances we have begun to roll out with technology. From fiber optics that will greatly enhance inter-school networking to enhancing internal and external communication to greater advances with our technology curriculum, we're enthusiastic about how these changes will help prepare our students for life after graduation.
I am grateful for all that we have accomplished this year. To Indian Prairie's students, teachers, parents, and administrators, I extend heartfelt thanks for a great first year as your superintendent. I look forward to seeing all that we can accomplish together next year.
Stephen Daeschner Superintendent