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Sunday, 01 May 2016 14:34

May Superintendency Message

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Work Worth Doing - 

With less than one month remaining in the 2015-16 school year, it is surprising to realize just how quickly this year has gone.  I congratulate each of our students, teachers, support professionals and administrators on a successful and productive year.  Thank you for your significant work and effort.  Certainly, it has made a positive difference!

Earlier in the school year, I invited everyone in our district to rise to a challenge I termed, “The Weber Way.”  That challenge entails maintaining a whole child focus, which places an emphasis on providing a rich and comprehensive learning experience for all children, while demonstrating greater awareness of the outside expectations associated with the testing and accountability model that permeates schools throughout our nation.  I asked teachers to develop a renewed focus to teach the Utah Core Standards, allow all students to participate in interim SAGE assessments to familiarize them with testing formats and ease test anxiety, and take advantage of more instructional time by spiraling the curriculum and teaching for deep understanding rather than extensive year-end reviews.  Great efforts have been made to prepare students for SAGE testing WITHOUT sacrificing what we know is right for children.  That is an extraordinary thing!  I know this has required extra work and effort on the part of every employee. 

I have been pleased by the tremendous strides made to do things “The Weber Way.”  Recently, I was presented with a replica road sign that reads, “The Weber Way.”  It hangs in my office.  Someone even suggested that Adams Avenue (in front of the district office) be renamed “Weber Way.”  The “Weber Way” suggests that there is a right way to do things and that’s the way we do it in our district.

 weberway

I love to read about Theodore Roosevelt, 26th president of the United States.  Teddy grew up a sickly child in a wealthy family.  Under such circumstances, he could have easily chosen a life of comfort and ease, but he didn’t.  Rather, Teddy became an avid outdoorsman and competitive athlete.  Most recall his leadership with the Rough Riders at San Juan Hill, as well as his successful political career.  While governor of New York, Roosevelt preached what he called the “doctrine of the strenuous life, the life of toil and effort, of labor and strife.”  With great conviction, he once said, “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”  I agree.  The work with which each of us is engaged is definitely “work worth doing.”  On behalf of the Board of Education, I wish to thank every one of you for a great school year.  

Read 40722 times Last modified on Monday, 24 October 2016 13:31

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