August
2010
Dear SJP
Community,
In the earlier part of July, I
attended a conference about the new evaluation process for
Archdiocesan principals. The crux of the new process is
self-reflection. It systematically breaks down our three
leadership roles spiritual, instructional and managerial and helps
us gather and display evidence of our strengths and areas for
improvement in our role as principal.
As I listened to the
presentations that day, I remembered the meeting Monsignor Petrillo
and I led in my first days on the job last year. Quite
simply, we set some very clear goals that evening that I coined the
three Cs Curriculum, Communication and Christ. With regard to
curriculum, we committed to improving our academic offerings,
specifically Math 9 and Spanish for our middle school
students. Both courses are a part of our curriculum this
September. In addition, students in the
6th, 7th and
8th grade will be grouped for
Math based on their abilities. This differentiation, seeing
and addressing the differences of our students, was another
curricular need that our new program addresses. In
partnership with this challenging coursework, we expressed our
desire to cap classes at 25 students. In these very
challenging economic times, this number speaks volumes to our
understanding of how class size directly affects the quality of
education.
Secondly, communication was the
foundation for my first year as principal of our school. I
learned and discovered so much about the culture of SJP just by
simply talking...to teachers, students and parents. I held
monthly Principal Coffees to hear the specific needs and concerns
of the parents of each grade. As a first time administrator,
I quickly learned that relationships are the key to managing a
school just as they were in managing a classroom. Our new
website and email communication was a first for SJP and widely
used. I will continue to rely on electronic communications,
so please be sure to keep your email addresses current if you want
to get regular updates for both the entire school and your childs
individual grade.
Although my third C was Christ,
we know that Christ permeates all we do. We are not just
educators; we are educators in a Catholic school. You are
parents who have chosen to send your children to a school where we
can talk and celebrate our relationships with God. We may not
be able to rival all of the amenities of area public or private
schools, but the individual care we can give each of your
children isunrivaled. Each morning we
begin the day with Morning Prayers. I value this time so
much. Along with the prayers, our messages often remind the
community of how to act, think and speak as children of God.
I hope to get more student and teacher voices heard at our
prayerful gatherings this year. I, too, am planning a staff
retreat in concert with our parish priests and Deacon Jack Shea,
our new Director of Religious Education. I hope this will be
an opportunity for all of us to strengthen our individual and
communal relationships with God.
Obviously, the start of each
school year is an opportunity for both reflection and looking
ahead. Throughout the summer, we have been regularly planning
for the new year. I met with teachers about curriculum, the
new plan for our library and our student/parent handbook.
Luckily here at SJP, the parents are partners in our planning as
well. I am so grateful for the time you have given our school
in planning the new Aftercare program, our admissions and marketing
plans and the 2010-2011 calendar. This collaboration is
indicative of the growth and change here at SJP. A very
tangible sign of our growth is the addition of so many brand new
families to our school. In addition to our two Kindergarten
classes, we also have admitted 19 new students in grades 1 through
8. We welcome all of you with open
hearts.
I extend another heartfelt
welcome to our newest part-time staff members, Mrs. Anne Donnelly
and Mr. Jim Irzyk. Mrs. Donnelly comes to us with over 30
years of experience teaching Spanish in both middle and high
schools. Mr. Irzyk, too, brings his knowledge as a
career Math educator and administrator in secondary schools to
SJP. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to work with
these two new experienced educators.
Lastly, here is some information
to help the school year start off
smoothly.
· New Student Orientation (for
grades 1-8) for students and parents on Tuesday, 9/7 from
1:30-2:30.
· School begins on Wed., 9/8 at
8:35 a.m. for students in grades 1-8. Kindergarten students
report at 10:00 a.m. in uniform with their parent(s) for an hour
Orientation (it will end at 11:00 a.m).
Dismissal is at 12:00 p.m. for
all other students. Please note that dismissal is
NOT 12:45 as it is on regular
Wednesdays.
·Thursday and Friday, 9/9 and
9/10 12:00 p.m. dismissal.
·Monday, 9/13
first full day of school.
·Back-to-School night for Grades 5-8, on Tuesday,
9/21 at 7:00 p.m.
·Back-to-School Night for K-4 on Tuesday, 9/28 at
7:00 p.m.
I look so forward to learning
and growing with your children again this year. I
cannot wait to see their smiling faces next week. May you
savor these last carefree days of summer.
Many
blessings,
Mrs. Colleen
Pettus
(This letter will be backpacked
on the first day of school as well)