st. johns public schools - september 2009 spotlight

8/14/2019 St. Johns Public Schools - September 2009 Spotlight

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September 2009

Inside the Spotlight

Message from Superintendent... 2

District Calendar... 4

www.stjohns.edzone.net 501 W. Sickels PO Box 230 St. Johns, Michigan 48879 (989) 227-4001

St. Johns SpotlightLearning Today ... Leading Tomorrow

From left to right: Brandon Wirth,Michael Gorby, Karli Paradise


2/4www.stjohns.edzone.net 501 W. Sickels PO Box 230 St. Johns, Michigan 48879 (989) 227-4002

Message from the Superintendent

Superintendent

Dr. Ken Ladouceur

As your new Superintendent of St. Johns Public Schools I have endless thoughtshow education should be shaped in America but, above all else, our St. Joh

schools must be focused on teaching and learning. It is easy to get drawn i

public policy issues and become distracted from what should be our primary foc

and that is on providing an excellent education for the children of St. Johns.

It is my goal to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of SJPS in an environme

of improved public trust and confidence through open, honest communication a

positive relationships. We have a powerful opportunity to collaboratively create

truly great school district. Our success depends on our willingness to be decisive a

courageous in our actions.

The term 21st Century Skills has been used to describe what an education must invo

for our students to be able to compete on a global basis. You and I now comp

across all international borders and recognize that location is no longer important

ones workplace. St. Johns Public Schools prepares your children to enable them

compete and win on a global playing field. Our Board of Education believes that

must produce strong citizens and strong functioning individuals, while insisting tha

standards-based education be provided for every child throughout his or her time

K12 education. A world-class education will be provided for every child in St. Joh

Schools. Nothing less is acceptable.

Our Board of Education has said that the foundation of our mission is to prov

a standards-based education. A standards-based system measures each stud

against a concrete standard, instead of measuring how well the student perform

compared to others. Curriculum, assessments, and professional development a

aligned to the standards. A standards-based school system is based on:

High academic standards and expectations for all students.

Tests that are more rigorous and more challenging, to measure whether stude

are meeting those standards.

Accountability systems that provide incentives and rewards for educato

students, and parents to work together to help students reach these standards

... neveraccept good enoughas a standard.


3/4www.stjohns.edzone.net 501 W. Sickels PO Box 230 St. Johns, Michigan 48879 (989) 227-4001

All staff in St Johns Public Schools work hard to provide an excellent program for our students. We areproud of our work and particularly proud of the record of success of our students. From athletics to

academics, from the arts to industrial education, I am honored to be here to play my part in ensuring

that all of our schools, and all of our programs, remain strong. My promise is to work tirelessly to

improve our service to your children and to never accept good enough as a standard.

As a staff we devote time and attention to creating a culture to support teaching and learning.

Relational leadership is key to any sustainable culture. Our Board of Education has established a list

of six core values that will define all activity in SJPS and guide our district into the future.

Everything that we think, say and do must be guided by these core values of integrity, trust, respect,

accountability, high expectations and service.

We will build trust through building relationships with families and staff. Relationships are built

through open, honest communication to enrich the culture in our school district and community.

We will act with integrity and demand that all others within this organization act with integrity

as well. Integrity is based on trust, honesty and accepting accountability for all of ones words

and actions.

We will create a culture ofrespect based on the equal intrinsic worth of every individual.

We will all be held personally accountable for our words and actions. While it is my promise to

you that each of us will put the needs of others ahead of our own, we do not want to see seven

disjointed schools focused on their needs only. That is not enough. We are one school district and

must value the needs of each member of our family. I cannot accept any school looking at its work

as working in isolation from the rest of the school district.

These are the high expectations we have for our work.

Finally, we are here to serve the educational needs of our students. We will put the needs of

others ahead of our own and no other standard will be applied to our work.

Everyone in our community must accept a role to ensure that every student is able to reach his or

her fullest potential. I am proud to be a part of St. Johns Public Schools and our larger St. Johns

community, and promise to do all that I can to embrace our future successes together.

I invite you to meet with me to talk about your childrens educational needs, your perspectives about

education and how we can better serve the St Johns community.


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www.stjohns.edzone.net 501 W. Sickels PO Box 230 St. Johns, Michigan 48879 (989) 227-40

District Calendar

St. Johns Publics Schools501 W. SickelsPO Box 230St. Johns, Michigan 48879

September 28-October 3 Homecoming Week with Candyland theme

October 2, 5:00pm Parade downtown St. Johns along Clinton Avenue

October 2, 7:00pm Homecoming football game (vs Waverly)

October 3, 8:00-11:30pm Homecoming dance in High School gym

October 15 Evening Parent-Teacher conferences (All Levels)

October 16 Morning Parent-Teacher conferences St. Johns Public SchoolsDistrict Office501 W. Sickels StreetSt. Johns, MI 48879Phone: (989) 227-4001Fax: (989) 227-4099

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st. johns public schools - september 2009 spotlight

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