Welcome back, colleagues; we hope you have had a restful break and are ready to pursue another year of excellence, achievement, and success. As we reflect on the unique strengths of our district and what sets us apart, one of the foremost attributes that comes to mind is our relational culture, and our ability to provide a diverse array of academic and extracurricular offerings while still being personalized and investing in relationships with our parents/guardians, students, and colleagues. As we look toward how we can best support student success and continuously improve student outcomes, we see how investing in relationships supports our mission to develop self-directed and collaborative learners who are college, career, and community ready.

The relationships we build with parents and students matter, because they make them feel cared for, safe, and seen – leading them to be more engaged in learning, have better attendance, and elevating outcomes. If problems arise and behavioral interventions are needed, a trusting relationship helps guardians understand that we are here to help them and we value their involvement. When students and parents feel they have a supportive and welcoming environment, they are more likely to make school a priority.

The relationships we build between our schools and the community matter, because support from the community is instrumental in our efforts to provide the best education possible for our students. Local businesses and community members help support our programs, and the ways our schools give back to the community teach our students to become globally-minded citizens.

The relationships we build with our colleagues matter, because the invaluable work of educating our youth demands our best, and we know the work can be exhausting and overwhelming. By investing time into developing healthy relationships with our colleagues, we are creating a supportive and collaborative work environment and fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie. This leads to improved communication, trust, and teamwork, making work more enjoyable as people feel valued and connected. Ultimately, positive relationships enhance productivity, boost morale, and contribute to a more fulfilling and joyful work experience.

Pursuing academic excellence will always be a priority, but at our core, I truly believe that relationships matter. The relationships we build among our parents and students, community, and staff profoundly impact our ability to help our students learn and succeed. We appreciate the care and dedication that each of you brings to your work, and we look forward to another year of student success as we work on building trust through relationships and rediscovering the joy of our work.