From the Secondary Principal

Dear Parents,

Teacher Appreciation Week Thank You
As many of you know, last week was Teacher Appreciation Week. Many of you contributed food and other items to thank our teachers for their commitment and dedication to their students. On behalf of our teaching team, please accept a genuine thank you for your kindness and generosity. Effective learning for our students requires a partnership with parents, and we are grateful for your support in our efforts. We return our appreciation back to you!

Classroom Without Walls
Thank you to all those who responded to the Experiential Learning/CWW interest survey. The committee met again last week to review progress and continue planning, and reaffirmed that CWW will continue next year - no plans to cancel CWW or remove trips were made. Instead, the focus has been on providing choices where possible, including offering engaging learning opportunities for those unable to travel. In Middle School, trips to Isla del Sol, Senda Verde, and Sucre & Potosí are being planned, and in high school, grade 9 will travel to Salar de Uyuni and grade 12 to Cusco & Machu Picchu. Options for grades 10 & 11 are still under development - possible options include Samaipata, Parque Madidi, and 1-2 others. Committee members also worked on several non-travel community engagement options and a possible trip to Washington, D.C. All activities will occur during the week of October 7-11, 2024. Students are not required to travel, but all must participate in an activity during that week. We will share details about trips and several local options as soon as they are available. 

Staffing for 2024-2025
Each year teachers leave the school to pursue professional opportunities elsewhere, and this year is no different. Although not all have made formal announcements, a small number of middle and high school teachers will not return in August. We have been recruiting qualified teachers to replace those planning to leave as well as making some adjustments to current teaching assignments, and have nearly finished the hiring and reassignment process. We will provide a more detailed update before the end of the year.

Weekly Schedule for 2024-2025
In response to challenges with this year's course schedule, we are now finalizing a substantial revision for the 2024-2025 schedule. Some of the features include flexible periods during which students can receive individualized academic support, work on extended projects, or participate in assemblies and other activities, and also an early release day each Wednesday to allow Secondary teachers to benefit from collaborative meetings and professional development, similar to the current arrangement in the Elementary School. Students are now in the process of making course requests for next year which will help guide decisions about the availability of certain courses. Although the overall schedule will be finalized before school is out in June, minor adjustments often need to be made over the summer. Students will receive their individual schedules in late July or early August, and those that have questions or concerns will be able to consult with our counselor before school starts or during the first few days of classes.

Performances This Week
Drama students will perform this Thursday and the final musical concert of the year occurs this Friday. Both events start at 6:00 in the Theater. We look forward to seeing you there.



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