August Message from the USD 224 Superintendent: Welcome Back Students!
by Brian Pekarek
August Message
from the USD 224 Superintendent
Welcome Back Students and Parents! As Superintendent of USD 224,
I would like to welcome the students, parents, and community
members of Clifton-Clyde back to the start of the new school year!
The USD 224 teachers, staff, and coaches are excited and ready to
start the new school year and we hope the students are looking
forward to starting the year again on August 20th! As the students
in the school district are now a year older than last year, we hope
that this coming year provides a wealth of good memories and
life-learning experiences in order to help them grow and develop as
individuals. It is my hope and desire that the 2009-2010 school
year proves to be one of exemplary academic achievement, strong
student/parent/community involvement, and high success in our
extra-curricular programs. It is also my desire that we, as a
community, continue to provide support to our school board members,
students, parents, district staff, and coaches as they effectively
navigate through the coming school year.
Important Dates to
Remember: Although school starts for USD 224 on
Thursday, August 20th, there are important upcoming dates for
parents and students to remember. These dates are the
following:
1. Monday, August 10th: USD Enrollment at the Clifton-Clyde High
School, Middle School, and Grade Schools. (Clifton-Clyde High
School parents/students can avoid paying athletic fees if they turn
in the needed enrollment forms before school starts!)
2. Monday, August 17th – Wednesday, August 19th: USD 224
Teacher/Staff In-service: The USD 224 staff will be conducting a
goal setting session, learning about differentiated instruction,
addressing and brainstorming educational strategies in order to
address our weakest state-tested indicators in math and reading on
our Kansas State Assessment Tests, and learning about our new
PowerTeacher Computer System.
3. Monday, August 17th: First Day of Volleyball and Football
Practice at CCHS and CCMS
4. Thursday, August 20th: First Day of School: (This is a half
day of school.)
Advice for a
Successful School Year: Often times, in order to have an
effective school year, it is necessary to start the school year off
on “the right foot.” As the superintendent, I would recommend these
concepts for parents to consider for the 2009-2010 School year:
1. Have your children get at least 8-9 hours of sleep on school
nights.
2. Make sure that your children are eating a healthy breakfast
each morning before school.
3. Meet your children’s teachers, coaches, bus drivers, and
administrators and keep in contact with them throughout the school
year.
4. Ask you children about their school work, their teachers, and
the school each day when they come home.
5. Section off a special place for the children to do schoolwork
at home and encourage them to do the work right after school if
possible.
6. Be in contact with the school administrators if you have
major concerns regarding the health, safety, welfare of your
children as it retains to the school district.
7. Use the “Chain of Command” whenever possible if there are
minor problems or concerns with teachers and coaches. This means
that you should try to contact the coaches/teachers first. If the
situation is not resolved, then contact the administration. If the
situation is still not resolved, then contact your school board
members.
8. Encourage your children and your family to be involved in the
many curricular and extra-curricular activities that USD 224
provides.
9. Support the students, teachers, coaches, administration, and
board members as much as possible in the public. (Positive Pride in
the community and school district is contagious.)
10. Thank our local USD 224 School Board Members often (and
always) for their leadership to our community, their time that they
spend serving us, and their volunteer service for our students.
Again, I would like to welcome the USD 224 District family back
to the start of the 2009-2010 school year. We are very glad to
share, learn, and grow together as we provide the highest degree of
education for the children of our district.
As always, it is an honor to serve the Clifton-Clyde Communities
as your Superintendent of Schools. Contact me any time if you have
questions or concerns about the start of the school year.
Sincerely,
Mr. Brian Pekarek
USD 224 Superintendent
785-455-3313
bpekarek@usd224.com
