It hardly seems
possible that June is here and the 2007-2008 school year is rapidly coming
to a close. I find myself thinking of all the experiences I have had this
past year, and the pleasure I have had working with you and your children.
The elementary school years are one of the most important and exciting times
in a child's life. The philosophy of the elementary school is based upon
establishing a sound foundation in terms of academic achievement by meeting
the program goals that are defined in our curriculum. We want our students
to develop a positive self-esteem and self-concept so that they will have
the confidence to excel in new situations, develop friendships, learn how to
interact in an appropriate manner with peers, and discover joy and happiness
in each learning experience.
Over the year we strived to meet these challenges. While we were successful
in many instances, there were cases where further improvement was necessary.
Whatever the situation may have been, we hope our programs had a positive
impact on your children, and that you were able to see them grow in many
areas. It is important to note that for us to achieve our goals there needs
to be a partnership between home and school. Numerous people have
contributed to this success. First and foremost are you, our parents and
guardians, whose support, love and understanding are essential to our
students' educational progress. I also must recognize our teachers, whose
dedication and expertise are extraordinary, and who extend themselves in
providing meaningful experiences that benefit your children.
As I complete another year at School One, I feel extremely fortunate to have
had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people throughout the
Scotch Plains and Fanwood communities. I hope that we can continue to build
upon and enhance many of the programs and activities that we offer our
students. With summer vacation quickly approaching, may I suggest that you
continue to support the educational endeavors that we have developed this
past year. You can help tremendously by encouraging your children to read on
a daily basis, or to write and illustrate activities that they are
experiencing, perhaps about a family trip or a special topic of interest.
You can also help reinforce your children's math skills by having them play
computation games (maybe when traveling) or by structuring problem-solving
activities that involve measurement, graphing, or multiple operations based
upon their developmental readiness. These types of activities will help
refine the skills that they have developed over the past year and will
enable them to receive a “jump start” for school in September.
I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to wish our fourth-grade
students continued success as they move to the middle school. They are a
terrific group of children who have worked diligently to address our
academic standards, and have contributed to our school in a variety of
capacities. Over the years we have witnessed many achievements, and we have
enjoyed and appreciated their unique personalities and qualities. As we bid
them farewell, I would like to express again that it has been my pleasure to
get to know each and every one of them. Hopefully, in some small way, I made
a difference and had an impact on their educational experiences while they
were at School One.
In closing, please accept my best wishes for continued fulfilling
experiences in these final weeks of school. Have an enjoyable and safe
summer!
more...
Jeffrey Grysko
Principal