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08/24/2016 09:30 AMWelcome to the 2016-2017 school year—a year filled with great expectations! We continue to forge ahead in making East Haven Public Schools better as we provide learning opportunities that challenge our students to think critically in order to make decisive decisions, build and develop content knowledge, master Common Core State Standards, and develop key skills at and above their grade level. It is our expectation that all of our children attending East Haven Public Schools will achieve a level of academic proficiency or beyond, demonstrating excellence in all aspects of their education. To assist them in fulfilling this expectation, we will challenge them to achieve grade-level expectations, to express themselves both in written language and oral presentation, to think critically, to solve problems through application, and to build character and self-confidence.
This year’s theme is “Developing Deep Practice and Finding the Sweet Spot for Improving Learning!” Staff will focus on instructional practices that are strategically targeted to acquire skills, providing challenges for students that result in a calculated effort from them, connecting the gap between “What students know and what they are trying to do”—otherwise called the application of learning.
Families play a pivotal role in helping us to be successful! We want you to be involved in your child’s education and ask you to reiterate learning at home by valuing the importance of education. Engage your child in conversations about what they have learned at school, encouraging them to read and use basic math skills, and most important, making sure they attend school on time and in dress code. By doing this, you will show them that school is a priority.
Attendance is the most important area that families can help the district. Students who attend school regularly, and on-time, perform better academically and have a lower percentage of retention. Five absences equate to 30 hours of learning lost and potentially students miss basic skills or foundations necessary for application in other parts of the curriculum. Help us help your children by making sure they are in school and on-time. Please make an effort to schedule appointments and vacations that minimize any days of non-attendance.
Also, look for the kick-off of our attendance initiative during the month of September, Attendance Awareness Month. Finally, I wish all of you a safe, joyous, and successful school year.
Sincerely, Dr. Portia S. Bonner
Superintendent of Schools
East Haven Public Schools students return to class on Monday, Aug. 29.