Superintendent Update
West Irondequoit CSD update from Aaron Johnson
SEPT. 29, 2022
Hello everyone,
I hope you agree that the school year is off to a great start. People report normalcy with a renewed sense of purpose and comfort. Schools are back to pre-pandemic customs with a return of traditional events and activities such as the Homecoming week, Curriculum Nights and field trips. They have looked and felt like they did before we ever heard the term COVID-19. We are pleased to welcome families and guests into our schools without COVID restrictions and excited to apply all that we learned over the past few years. I cannot say enough about our staff's skill, care and determination. They carried us through the last two years, and we're excited that this year they can refocus their energy on what they know and love - helping your children develop to their fullest potential.
This year marks the second of our Strategic Plan. It spans five years (2021-26) with the most ambitious being the upcoming year. Thanks to many hearts and hands, we accomplished more than 92% of the action steps we set out to achieve last year, making significant gains in our instructional model, curriculum alignment, effective communication, data-driven instruction and more. This year, we are taking those to the next level, combined with foundational work in the following initiative areas:
- Data-driven instruction
- College and career readiness
- Criteria for progress
- Professional development for all
- Instructional framework
- Grading
- Staff recruitment and retention
- Comprehensive communication
- Professional development frameworks
- Systems for equity in experiences
- Data alignment/access
- Communication
- Health, safety, and wellness
- Diversity, equity, inclusion, and access
It is an extensive list, but a critical sidenote is that these items are interconnected. Each is essential to others and directly tied to our mission of delivering on our promise to "welcome each child, nurture each mind, and inspire one another to peak performance." Our complete 2021-26 Strategic Plan, 2022-23 (Year 2) Management Plan, and Key Focus Areas for the coming year are available on our website at this link.
Last, safety and security remain front and center for our schools. In our district's annual Back to School newsletter, The Quote, we outlined physical security and staffing enhancements. To reaccess that edition online, CLICK HERE. In addition to these actions, we remain determined to create an environment where every student feels welcomed, valued and part of their school. This feeling of inclusion and physical and psychological safety happens through supportive relationships with trusted adults and peers. Everyone must report concerns, harmful acts, or threats of violence. If you see something, you must say something. Please continue to be mindful of the different ways to do so -- contact a trusted school employee, tell an administrator, or use the Safe Schoool Helpline.
Please scroll down through this newsletter for more updates, information and celebrations about students and staff. Thank you for your ongoing support for our schools and all the ways you engage as parents and guardians. Together, we will make the 2022-23 school year a huge success for all children.
In partnership,
Aaron R. Johnson, Ed.D
Superintendent of Schools
Friday, Oct. 7th is the state-mandated “Go Home Early Drill.” It starts a three-day weekend (No School on Monday, Oct. 10th). All students will be released 10 minutes early on Oct. 7th. If you pick up your child at school, please arrive 10 minutes early, and expect students who ride buses to arrive 10 minutes early. The K-6 Extension Childcare Program will open early and remain open until 6 PM. Crossing guard schedules also will accommodate the time change. Questions? Please contact your child's school directly.
October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month and its goal is for children and young adults to develop the tools they need to connect with peers, cope with emotions, and occupy their free time in healthy ways. Prevention aims to develop life-long healthy habits using a balance of physical, emotional, and social strategies for well-being. During the month of October, we encourage our students, staff and our community to strengthen healthy habits by trying new strategies or committing to using existing healthy strategies more consistently.
The strategies included in the Wellness Calendar below align with the 5 CASEL Core Competencies of Social-Emotional-Learning, which are a focus for all of our K-12 students. Encouraging our students to strengthen their social-emotional skills provides the foundation for a healthy and drug-free future. Check our social media channels daily in October for Wellness tips and updates!
McCARTHY TO JOIN STUDENT SERVICES
Ms. Sheila McCarthy will fill in as the Interim Director of Student Services when Mrs. Amy Donk goes on maternity leave, which is expected very soon. For most of the past 34 years, Ms. McCarthy has worked in special education for the Webster, Fairport, Victor and Homer school districts. She spent the bulk of that time (1997-2017) as Fairport's Director of Special Education. Since retiring in 2017, she served as an Interim Director in Victor and Homer (south of Syracuse). Please join us in welcoming her to West Irondequoit.
SAFETY UPDATE
SAFETY EXPERT HERE NEXT MONTH: Each school will undergo a comprehensive safety and security analysis in October conducted on-site by Don Shomette, a nationally recognized school violence prevention expert. Our district, East Irondequoit and Bishop Kearney are each working with IPD and Blackhawk Emergency Management Group to review and refine district and building-level emergency response plans. They also will provide emergency preparedness training to district and building-level teams.
Homecoming Week
What a week it was! See all the spirit at these links:
Therapy Dogs
Meet our trio of therapy dogs - Bean, Hope and Nellie Belle! Nellie Belle will be at Dake, Bean at Briarwood and Hope with post-secondary students at St. John Fisher and in-district. For more information, read our district regulation, click here. For a video on Nellie Belle, click here: https://youtu.be/HMY3FkSINyk
Honor for IHS music teacher!
METRAS, SULLIVAN ARE NEW PRESIDENT & VP
Mr. Matt Metras and Mr. Matt Sullivan are the new Board of Education President and Vice President. They were sworn in July 12. Mr. Metras was VP last year and is serving his second term. Mr. Sullivan was elected to his second term last May. You can find many elements related to our Board of Education at THIS LINK.
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS OBSERVED
One of the strengths of our community and the WICSD is our diversity. Being respectful of that is extremely important, particularly for professional educators who are expected to model behavior that is highly valued in society and expected from students. To that end, the Board of Education has a policy acknowledging our responsibility to be understanding and sensitive to the varied religious beliefs and practices of members of our school community. To see the list, click the attachment below. To see all district policies, click here and click on POLICIES.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: public_info@westiron.monroe.edu
Website: westirondequoit.org
Location: 321 List Avenue, Irondequoit, NY, USA
Phone: 585-342-5500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WestIrondequoitCSD
Twitter: @WestIrondequoit