We are in the midst of a season change, out of the cold winter and into a mild spring. This also means the transition of winter activities to spring activities. Congratulations go out to all our students involved in winter teams and clubs for their work and success this year. It has been fun to watch the teams in action and see the growth and success they have experienced.

While we have some winter activities still in competition, we are also planning for the start of our spring activities. The first practices to start will be softball and track on March 14, followed by baseball and golf on March 21 and boys tennis on March 28.

We continue our work to plan programs and staffing models for next year. Analyzing where we are at, what has changed since last year, what we see as needs for the next few years, and finances all play a part in how we put together programs and staff assignments. While we work in the current year to support students and families, we also are working on plans for next year. COVID has made all of us reflect on our business practices and what can be done differently — schools are no different in how we plan post-COVID.

After our spring break, our students will begin to take the state spring assessments. Each building will communicate with students and parents about the tests, timing, and how we will use the information. We are required to conduct state annual assessments in math, reading and science. Other assessments we offer are for high school students with the ACT and students in our Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

We know the past few years have been a struggle for all of us, at different levels. As we plan for next year, a priority will be on providing additional mental health supports and offering outreach to support families who continue to struggle. We aim to continue our work with increasing student growth in their academics and providing them with a vast array of opportunities, at all levels of their education. We are fortunate for the many classes, clubs, fine arts, and athletic programs our students can be a part of.

GO EAGLES!