FLRSD Sunday Message, September 8, 2024

Good evening FLRSD,

WELCOME BACK, as we begin the 2024-2025 school year. Happy Grandparents Day! To every grandparent the legacy and lessons you have taught us will continue for generations. Whether you are close by, far away or watching us from above we celebrate you daily.

The faces of our students said it all, as the first week began with such positivity. Many of those faces were filled with joy; as I walked through AES in the morning and waited outside for the buses at FES in the afternoon I saw students connecting with their teachers and paraprofessionals from both last year and this year. This joy and comfort reminds us that relationships are the springboard to learning. Yet there were other young faces filled with trepidation and I saw so many of our adults doing all they could to provide comfort and support with a silent “we are in this together” as they calmed the unsettled nerves. At GRAIS, FLMS and ARHS I saw students who despite an early arrival, that likely was a shock to their system, happy to be greeted by so many adults who are welcoming and ready to INSPIRE our students. The week was smooth and we will continue to look at how our bus departure can be expedited so our AES and FES students arrive home earlier.

image of a school bus with text of Every child deserves a champion - an adult who will never give up on them, who understandds the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be, Rite Pierson

Over the last two years it is very clear to me we are blessed to work with students who, regardless of grade level, academic standing, interest or pathway are inquisitive and searching for answers in their own beautiful ways and our students MUST AND WILL remain our focus despite what some might want. The mosaic of learning styles and interests found in our classrooms are incredibly powerful and each personal narrative and lived experience is poignant and filled with a myriad of feelings/responses, all of which remind us that we must spend more time listening, more time seeing, less time reacting and remembering that kindness always wins! Our goal as a thriving and vibrant school community is to incessantly provide relevant, high quality, inclusive, rigorous, and well rounded experiences for all of our students.One “type” of education does not address the needs of all learners and all learners excel differently and at very different times and that is always at the forefront of our thinking. We will continue to educate by teaching students how to think, and NOT what to think.

Should you choose to read the story below, I hope it is a reminder to spend time being vigilant in helping each other, being the change and feeling with our hearts. When we are blinded by our own egos everyone loses.

What do you choose to see?

Text of There's always more beauty to find, if we choose to see.

SEPAC

Our Special Education Parent Advisory Group is hosting its first meeting of the year and we encourage you to attend.

Please click on the link below

SEPAC Meet & Greet

Safety

Our hearts and prayers go to the entire Winder Georgia community as they are forced to deal with the unimaginable. I will reiterate that safety continues to be a priority as it has from our first day where it was evident from my experience in CT as a Principal very close to Sandy Hook, that our vestibules could be more secure. Yet, after improving and securing the vestibules, with the latest phase completed this summer, adding Raptor to check ID’s, continued CORI and finger print expectations,changing delivery drop offs from vendors, and with the support of the Freetown Select Board and community where the entire FES fire alarm system was replaced we will not remain complacent and just this week we began the conversation of where can do more and what grant opportunities are there for us to pursue. As always we encourage your thoughts and ideas.

With tragedy comes a plethora of questions some of which we likely will never have answers to, and although the first question from adults typically is “how can we prevent this?” The questions that our children ask or do not ask are just as important. As families navigate the questions that arise, how it is discussed always remains a personal decision, yet I felt it was important for those who might want some resources to have these difficult conversations. I have included a very straight forward document that includes a concise infographic that you can download and is available in multiple languages

Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Families and Educators

FES SRO

I am pleased to announce that with a great deal of work and collaboration from Chief Rose and Detective Medeiros FES will have Detective Medieros as our SRO. He will be at FES every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Certainly, if the force needs Detective Medieros for an incident off campus he will leave FES but this is the first step in adding another layer of safety for our students and staff.

From ARHS Boosters for ALL families k-12- LAKER GEAR

We are writing regarding our new online school store for Laker and Athletic specific apparel. Boosters have been working directly with Evan Swan from the swan brothers in MA over the last 9 months and we are excited to have this up and running. The store will remain open year round and we can request anything to be added as we continue to make enhancements. Our goal is to support families k-12 but not take away from our k-5 gear fundraisers.

For seniors we have also been working to create a "Senior Shop". The latest addition will be a theme package including 3 tshirts (pink, white and black). 10% of ALL proceeds go to the ARHS Athletic Booster Club as we work together to support the athletic initiatives and everything is mailed directly to your house.

Website: https://theswanbrothers.chipply.com/ALHS/

Please let us know if you have any questions or if we can provide any additional information! apponequetboostersclub@gmail.com

Have a fantastic week

Alan

Alan Strauss, Superintendent

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