Greetings all,
As we begin the 2021-2022 school year, we are both excited and hopeful for several positive steps that we can take together as a district. We are ecstatic that we are bringing all students back into our schools, five days per week with the goal of a full school year. A few short years ago, this would have seemed like a preposterous goal, but the pandemic has changed our appreciation for in-person learning and face time with our students. The last 18 months has presented challenges unlike anything we could have predicted. However, changing the way we educate our students and work together has made us stronger. Education during the pandemic has required patience, courage, flexibility, and perseverance, and we have found ways to meet the needs of our students while dealing with circumstances outside of our control.
Although the pandemic has endured for about a year and a half, it’s important to note that this will be the third school year affected by COVID. Because of the fatigue that can set in with such a highly politicized issue, we must maintain our composure and rise above the rhetoric to meet the needs of our students, by any means necessary. As an educational entity, our focus remains fixed on the needs of our students - this provides a clear focal point for all. In light of the challenges that lie ahead, a specific purpose aligns our beliefs, our thinking, and our actions. Here’s a quick look at how we desire to approach this 2021-2022 school year:
- Reconnect – Back in our schools five days a week, we will reconnect with our students and our colleagues. Engaging with students and ensuring learning and growth will reconnect our students with their desire to learn while fostering an incredible learning environment. Additionally, reconnecting with colleagues will reinforce the importance of collaboration and highlight the strength of our district – relationships. Simply put, we need each other, and we are stronger when we work together.
- Reimagine – The pandemic has taught us some valuable lessons. We learned that we are capable of much more than we could have ever imagined. Teaching in a remote and hybrid setting challenged us to create and innovate like never before. Some of the practices that we learned last year will carry over to this school year. Embedding new pandemic practices with previous expertise, our students will engage, connect and learn on a greater level.
- Inspire – As we return to this school year, the challenges that we face while re-engaging our students, bridging gaps, and helping our students adjust to 5 days of in-person learning will be significant. Our focus will be to inspire love for learning and helping students find their way amidst so much uncertainty. Our passion for our students and excellence in teaching will inspire our students to regain what has been lost.
The 2021-2022 school year will be a test of our character and will, but we are more than capable of overcoming the obstacles in front of us as we connect with our students, collaborate as a staff, and partner with our community. In such a time as this, we must remember that We are Shaler Area, and We are Stronger Together.