Principal's Message

May 20th, 2010

Dear Parents:

As the 2010 school year draws to a close we find ourselves a full decade into the twenty-first century. As educators, we need to prepare our students for careers in a rapidly changing world. Current research projects that many students will fill these jobs that do not even exist in today's economy. That means we need to change the way we think about education. We can no longer continue to teach the knowledge and skills that the 20th century deemed important. We must ensure that our students are prepared for their future by being proficient in 21st century skills. Students deserve a first class education. We need to make the changes in our traditional thinking to ensure that they get it. The time to change is now.

The Dr. Lewis S. Libby School has been exploring the standards-based approach to education. We are looking for ways to more effectively engage our students and make sure they are in fact learning what we want them to know and be able to do. This approache is called performance-based rather than time-based. It is designed with the belief that all children can meet the highest levels of education. It empowers students and works toward teaching children based on their achievements not simply based on age.

Our superintendent, Dr. John Davis, is guiding us as we explore the exciting possibilities. During the current school year, he has encouraged us to work with parents, community members, teacher, and students to create a shared vision for our school community. We are in the final stages of that process now. We are moving steadily away from a school that is standards-referenced to one that is standards-based. It it our goal to keep parents and the community as informed and involved in the process as possible.

Ultimately, it is our goal to provide the very best possible education for your children. We need your help. For more information, you can check out our website at www.lewislibbyschool.org or the Reinventing Schools Coalition (RISC) website www.reinventingschools.org.

Sincerely,

Lynn Silk - Principal