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Dear Parents: As we planned, and now move through the 2009-10 school year, we continue to look at additional strategies to support the movement of our school from good to great. We continue to analyze data from the range of sources available to us to determine what areas and what strategies will be most beneficial and impactful to our students. This includes listening to parents, working with our School Board and the various Board and Parent Committees currently in place, collecting and reviewing a variety of student data, talking to students, continually revisiting our W.A.S.C. recommendations, conducting exit interviews with students matriculating to high school, talking with teachers, and surveying current best practices among the most successful schools with whom we compete. We feel confident and excited that we have put together a plan that is moving St. Anne forward and supports our students achieve great things. It is important to note that the overall mission of St. Anne School has not changed. Our focus is to provide an education that supports the development of the whole child; academically, socially, emotionally, developmentally and spiritually. This year, one of our key areas of focus is the refinement of the substantive curricular, instructional and organizational changes of the last few years. We have moved quickly and effectively in many areas, and made what we believe is very significant growth. But, we want to insure that we “own” these advancements, and that we are able to implement these programs and strategies as effectively as they are intended. I have learned in over thirty years as a teacher and principal that substantive change does not occur overnight, and that practically speaking, major goals and projects are not necessarily designed to be completed in a calendar year. In addition to the above area of focus, the implementation of nearly $200,000 of classroom instructional technology to support student learning will take a high priority this year. Our SMART Boards, iClickers, classroom sound systems, and LCD projectors, all offer enhanced opportunities for student learning and interaction. We want to make sure that these resources impact the learning within each classroom and among all students. Our final area of focus for the year is the implementation of Professional Learning Communities throughout all grades. The development of Professional Learning Communities has proven to be a uniquely powerful and effective way of increasing the achievement of students. It involves the manner in which teachers work together to develop common instructional priorities, determine best teaching strategies and assessments, regularly review individual student and class data, and utilize and prescribe the collective resources of the school to support the learning of all students. We have every reason to believe this will be a truly outstanding year for your children. As proud as we are of our programs and innovations, we are even more proud of the team we have assembled to provide these programs and services to our students. And, we are proud to have you as a member of our team!
God Bless,
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