Principal’s Notes
August 12, 2008
STUDENTS: I hope that your summer was relaxing and provided opportunities for fun and adventure. Although it may be a bit premature to shift your thinking from the lazy days of summer to the school-year ahead, I encourage you to begin considering what you would like to accomplish this year. Thoughtful planning about courses and active participation in the different learning experiences and school activities may just be the spark that sets you on an exciting path to your future. While we will be there to provide support, instruction, and guidance, your success will be based on the degree of responsibility you assume for your own planning, learning and growth. If you begin with a thoughtful and challenging plan of study, engage in activities of interest, and invest quality time and energy in these experiences, you are bound to move forward in the pursuit of becoming who you want to be! A new school year is a fresh start and is filled with exciting possibilities for the future. Take advantage of every minute for your high school years will be a memory before you know it! See you soon and enjoy the rest of the summer!
STAFF:
On August 25th, the district breakfast will be served beginning at 8:00 a.m. in cafeteria at SHS. The district staff meeting will begin at approximately 8:45 a.m. and teachers should be able to return to their buildings by 11:00 a.m. All SHS staff will have the opportunity to take lunch and work in classrooms between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. At 1:00pm we will re-convene in the auditorium for our opening staff meeting.
With little more than two weeks before the opening of school our maintenance team continues to work diligently in preparation for the opening. The maintenance staff has been deep cleaning in the classrooms and I am sure you will be happy with the outcome of their effort.
As always our administrative support team has found a way to get everything done in time for our opening. Preparing us for the first day is not an easy task and our gratitude goes out to all the secretaries for their hard work. As is customary new staff will be introduced in our opening staff meeting.
To date we have hired one math teacher, one science teacher, three English teachers, a marketing teacher, a business, teacher, a world language teacher, a JROTC instructor, one secretary, an assistant to the deans, and a new counselor. I have had an opportunity to meet each new staff member and I am confident they will make an excellent addition to our staff. I want to thank each teacher that volunteered for interview teams. Interviewing is a time-consuming but important process and your expertise on these teams is invaluable and greatly appreciated. The New Teacher Orientation is scheduled on August 20th
On the technology front, the IT department has been deploying the new Thin Clients throughout the building and media has completed the set-up of fourteen new computer/projector carts. Food Service has made life a little easier for all by implementing a card swipe purchasing system. This system should help to improve efficiency at the register and provide more time for the students to eat. The parent information module (PIAM) in MMS has been activated on the school web-site for this year. Parents and students will have access to information like student progress and report card grades, attendance, and schedules
ATHLETICS:
The fall athletic season begins for all students interested in playing Varsity and Junior Varsity football on August 13th. For all other fall athletic teams tryouts begin on Monday August 18th. For details about tryouts go to: www.salemschooldistrictnh.com/athletics/
