Superintendent Update

Dear Families,

I am excited to share that we've had a safe and smooth start to the new school year. This success is a testament to the incredible efforts of our entire school community and reflects the work we have all invested. It has been enjoyable visiting classrooms, observing faculty and students establish classroom norms and expectations, and intentionally building their classroom and school community. Sometimes, we may question the importance of taking the time upfront to build connections and promote relationships. However, as Educator Rita Pierson's quote captures best, "Kids don't learn from people they don't like." I appreciate the staff and the community's commitment to welcoming every child.

Our first district newsletter is filled with information. A notable one is the recommendations regarding our K-6 Report Cards. Please note: Proposed changes won't take effect until the 2025-26 school year. The change, which will shift comments to a rating scale, reflecting a child's progress toward grade-level standards, aims to provide more specific, personalized feedback for families and students, as requested. The timing and alignment of parent/guardian-teacher conferences promote the rhythm and improved partnership between home and school.

As we transition from fall to winter, it's crucial for our students to remain vigilant when walking to and from school. This month's newsletter shares valuable guidance from the Irondequoit Police Department on promoting pedestrian safety. Over the past five years, our physical education department and IPD have worked diligently to equip our children with the skills and strategies to safely navigate our community on foot or by bike. We urge you to review these tips with your children and stress the importance of using designated crosswalks. It's a collective responsibility to ensure our students' safety, and we appreciate your proactive approach.

October is National Principals' Month. We have an exemplary group of caring and committed leaders passionate about serving our community. They dedicate themselves to ensuring every child finds success by supporting them, our staff, and families with passion and creativity. Leading a school takes a lot of energy and determination. We appreciate all the talent, wisdom, and love they devote daily to others. This month, please join me in thanking our principals and supporting administration for their dedication to our district's commitment to "All Means All."

You can find all of my updates on our website under Superintendent Update.

In partnership,

Aaron R. Johnson

Superintendent of Schools

On Sept. 10th, NYS Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie and Assemblywoman Sarah Clark announced $1 million in funding to help renovate our Pinegrove facility, which will boost the district’s growing Pre-Kindergarten/Universal Pre-K program. The funding is part of a proposed $6 million project that will add three classrooms in a 70-year-old building that was once an elementary school and then a town-owned Community Center. The district bought it from the town in 2022. Funding also will help refresh classrooms currently used by the district’s Helmer Nature Center, located on site, and for another STEAM learning. Click here to read more.

We are sharing our planned transition from the four quarterly Report Cards K-6 students receive to students receiving three Report Cards (Fall, Winter, Spring) starting in the 2025-26 school year.

This decision comes after multiple years of research and evaluation of our current K-6 Report Card. The process began in the 2019-2020 school year when we convened a Report Card Committee (RCC) consisting of teachers and families. In January 2020, we emailed a survey to K-6 families and had more than 360 responses. The major themes that emerged from the feedback was the desire for comments to be more personalized to each student and specific content areas, and to have a better understanding of where students are in relation to standards and expectations. Of course, later in March 2020 we experienced the COVID pandemic and the RCC was put on hold so we could focus on efforts on supporting students.

But the past couple of years we have reignited the K-6 RCC to redesign a more informative and family friendly Report Card. In February 2023, we emailed another survey to families and received more than 280 responses. Major themes included a desire for more clarity on what ES, MS, AS mean on K-4 Report Cards, more consistency with how comments are completed, and again more specific information pertaining to a child’s progress. One parent suggested, “Any areas reported as approaching standards should be accompanied by an explanation or suggestions on how parents can assist. Having the specifics helps us give more support at home.”

Taking all of this feedback into mind, throughout the 2023-24 school year, a committee met to review our current K-4 Report Cards and made potential revisions and recommendations that will be put in place for the 2025-26 school year. Those are:

1 – Move from AS, MS, ES on the K-4 Report Cards to 1, 2, 3, 4 rating scale like the picture to the right shows. See Example 1 below.

2 - Provide space for teacher comments after each component of the K-4 Report Card so specific comments can be made regarding student progress in relation to that content area. See Example 2 above.

3 - K-6 Report Cards will be sent out three times per year instead of the current four per year. This is beneficial for a few key reasons:

• More accurate student assessment and feedback: In our case Report Cards would better align to benchmarking schedule. Fewer reports allows more time for teachers to thoroughly assess student progress and provide more meaningful and accurate feedback to students and families regarding their progress.
• Reduced stress for students: A less frequent reporting schedule can relieve pressure on younger students, allowing them to focus more on learning and growth rather than constant evaluations.
• Alignment to curriculum pacing: The earlier part of the school year particularly in K-4 is spent establishing routines and classroom culture with a slightly reduced academic focus. A later first report card gives teacher's time to get into the academic work for a bit longer prior to the first report card.
• Streamlined Parent-Teacher Communication: A later 1st Report Card allows teachers to share information that better aligns to report cards during parent/guardian-teacher conferences.

Again, these changes will not take place until next school year. In the 2025-26 school year, K-4 Report Cards will be freshly revised and sent out three times per year. We will keep grades 5-6 Report Cards similar to what they currently look like to help with the transition to Dake, but grade 5-6 Report Cards will also be sent out three times per year in alignment with K-4.

If you have any feedback or questions toward this shift, please complete this form: https://forms.office.com/r/F47NcC5e3J. Our Office of Instruction will follow up with you.

NYS Public Health Law requires schools to distribute influenza educational information to our school community. Please click here to reach our Health Information page and to read specifically about "Fighting the Flu," click this link. To read that document in other languages, click here. There are other resources on our website for the flu, RSV, COVID, head lice, etc.

One way we provide care for your children is by performing state-mandated health screenings (vision, hearing and scoliosis). You can read more specific details on page 14 of this year's Back to School Newsletter, The Quote, which was mailed home to all families in late August. Read via this link . Some highlights:

• Screenings vision and hearing happens for new students and those in kindergarten and grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11.

• NYS Education Law requires a health exam for new students and those in kindergarten and grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. It's recommended that your child be examined by your primary physician. If that's not possible, contact your school nurse.

• Immunization requirements are important to track. Click here for a chart.

• This time of year is when nurses start to see cases of head lice on children. Contact your health care provider if you suspect your child has lice. If your child is treated, they can return to school the next day. Click here for more info: cdc.gov/lice/caring-head/index.html

Please remind your children that using a crosswalk is crucial for the safety walking to and from school. Crosswalk significantly reduce accidents because drivers are more likely to expect and see pedestrians. The Irondequoit Police Department provides Crossing Guards at strategic locations throughout our district to ensure visibility to motorists. Thank you!

• Mrs. DeWitz
• Mr. O'Toole

Other notes:

• Dr. Brenna Farrell began her new role as Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources this Monday. She replaced Mrs. Michelle Cramer (retired). Dr. Farrell has been the Principal at Briarwood/Colebrook for the past four years.
• Final interviews for a new Director of Equity and Wellness and Dake Jr. HS Principal (expected to start in January) are in early October.

In case you missed last week's email, construction on the second-story walkway connecting IHS and Dake Jr. HS started Monday, Sept. 30th and is expected to last into late spring of 2025. This is part of the R.I.S.E. Capital Project and will improve safety for our students, so they no longer need to leave the building to transition between schools. Work being done by Campus Construction will impact students, staff and visitors, so we wanted to share some details. Click here to read more.

We wanted to share information about a few upcoming town events tied to our Indigenous Roots. Two years ago, we raised Haudenosaunee flags across our district that still fly today. On Oct. 11, the Town of Irondequoit will do the same.

• Saturday, Oct. 5: Look for an Information Table and crafts (cornhusk dolls) and learn more about Haudenosaunee culture at the Fall Harvest Festival at Helmer Nature Center from 1-4 PM.
• Thursday, Oct. 10: A screening of “This Is My Grandmother,” (watch the trailer) happens at the Irondequoit Public Library at 6:30 p.m. Produced by the Our Voices Project, the 15-minute “short” chronicles stories of two Indigenous families, one from the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and one from the Tuscarora Nation. It features stories of growing up on and outside of the reservation and traditions and cultural norms, among other topics. Discussion immediately followin, including talking points on how to approach teaching Indigenous Culture and History.
• Friday, Oct. 11: In the lead-up to Indigenous Peoples Day on Oct. 14, the Town of Irondequoit will raise a Haudenosaunee Flag at 10:30 a.m. during a ceremony.

West Irondequoit Community Education has a NEW Facebook page! Give 'em a LIKE/Follow to be plugged in to their programming and check out some of their great stuff for this fall! Click here to see the Facebook page. Get better with WI Community Ed (click here for programs).

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
X/Twitter: @WestIrondequoit