Strategic Plan Summary

The strategic planning team is a great example of the core values of our school at work. These volunteers have demonstrated their love for the students and families, been committed to benefitting and participating in our community, and dedicated to helping meet each student’s potential and promise. This will be accomplished by recognizing the individuality of each student and enabling the discovery process that is such an exciting part of learning.

The process was almost magical; having faculty, parent volunteers and the board functioning as a team was so exciting! Please take time to personally thank our volunteers. They are listed below.

The International Committee established two goals for 2013; (1) Organize one international trip for students and faculty annually. The committee scheduled a trip to the Galápagos Islands; it was canceled due to logistical challenges. (2) To maintain a sister school for each school division. The middle school division worked on collaborative projects with schools from Russia, India and France during the 2012-2013 school year. We have obtained a membership from Global Jax and have also contacted the President of the Jacksonville Sister Cities Association in order to pursue more channels of collaboration for the next year. The committee will meet during the summer to organize a series of diverse events for the 2013-2014 school year.

The Stem Committee identified two main objectives: to create awareness of STEM within the community of the school and to provide resources necessary to execute STEM based projects. Some of the goals established are to ensure at least one STEM based activity per trimester for all grade levels and to create a shared resource document to connect community opportunities with the classroom teachers. The committee will meet one last time in May to discuss the financial needs of the committee and gather additional ideas from its members.

The Arts Committee went through a very thorough process to formulate ideas for the 2013-14 school year. Three initiatives resulted from this process; (1) Create more electives in Middle School in order to meet “The Whole Child”, a school talent show and Jacksonville involvement. (2) Establish an annual Creativity Day starting in 2014 with a “World Showcase”. (3) Work collectively with the Partnerships Committee to get our students involved in the community.

The Marketing and Branding Committee has been working hard on several of the identified operational goals. (1) Posters have been placed in all classrooms and around the school campus, containing the vision and core values. (2) Thermal cups with the school logo have been purchased as “take away” items for children and parents that visit our campus. (3) Compiling information to create a schedule to coordinate teacher-planning time for grade level planning and well as collaborative planning for multiple grades. (4) We can all show our school spirit! We have an adult clothing line available for parents, teachers and staff and it is available through the Lands’ End online website.

The Differentiation Committee’s main objective is to develop a program that provides support and enrichment to all students at Hendricks. The goal was to address the need for renaming the existing Enhanced Learning Program for the 2013-14 school year. Through surveys, parental input, and for organizational purposes, it was determined that the program’s name should remain “ELP.” We are working towards an updated ELP description, which will be adjusted to include students working above the curriculum. The committee will continue to work with the Curriculum Committee to provide activities that are multidisciplinary and encourage our students to stretch!

The Health and Fitness Committee was created to promote health and fitness throughout the school. In the 2012-1013 school year we implemented healthier food and beverage choices in the cafe. We also implemented an initiative to help students to learn and understand about healthy food choices and activities that promote healthy living. Parent volunteers provided Mr. Blay with different vegetables for students to learn about and try in a unique classroom setting. Hendricks also offers a variety of different sports clubs after school. This gives students another resource to exercise and maintain healthier lifestyles.

The Safety Committee’s goal is to make sure our students, faculty, staff and parents are safe. The team reviewed the school’s policies, procedures and the physical security. The new safety procedures were implemented on April 2nd. Our families have adjusted well to the changes and understand that keeping our students as safe as possible is our first priority. In the future, the committee will continue to offer oversight and guide our decisions in this area.

The Team Committee has strategized ways to attract and keep the best faculty, staff, administration, Board, and volunteers resulting in HDS becoming the organization of choice for the best, brightest, engaged and passionate faculty, staff, Board members and volunteers. The committee is comprised of representatives from Board of Trustees, early childhood, elementary school, middle school and support staff. Each of these representatives held a group discussion within their division and discussed ways in which the school can make them feel more supported and appreciated. Through this process thirteen areas were identified. The committee created a survey and sent it to the faculty and staff to help prioritize the list. The committee, in conjunction with the Board of Trustees, will create and implement and long range plan to accomplish our goals.

The Technology Committee established four overall goals for 2013-14; (1) Provide parent education classes on Internet safety, iPad usage, apps, and student organizational support. (2) Create and follow hardware replacement plan for faculty/staff. (3) Create and follow hardware plan for student technology needs which would include mobile technology, classroom hardware and/or assistive technology. (4) Provide electronic support for teachers on professional development, curriculum development, design and implementation and strategic plan initiatives.

As a part of these initiatives, the technology department is pursuing partnerships with other schools to help develop iPad and network infrastructure improvements. One of the immediate projects for this summer is to segment our current network for student and staff networks to increase throughout and improve overall performance. We continue our relationship with Acosta. Their generous donation of laptops has enabled us to provide laptops in our classrooms as well as to replace old and failing equipment on campus for students and staff.

iPads are becoming a significant addition to the education landscape and will become a larger part of what is happening at Hendricks. Next school year, we will launch our iPad program beginning with the 6th grade. Students will utilize iPads for many of their textbooks as well as apps for organization, note taking, mathematics, writing, media creation, simulations, and many other activities. During the next school year we are planning parent education nights with topics to include social media, Internet safety, iPad care and usage and digital citizenship.

The Technology committee will focus efforts that are in collaboration with other strategic planning committee initiatives. Technology instruction will place greater emphasis on global projects with collaboration with the International Committee. Instruction in technology will also include STEM activities such as software programming and robotics.

The Strategic Partnerships Committee’s purpose is to assist other committees through the growth of strategic relationships within the community. Some of the things the committee achieved include: obtaining guest speakers for our middle school leadership days, providing treats for the faculty and staff, partnering the school with Mac Paper for paper needs, and arranged for middle school students to participate in the St. Johns River cleanup with the Riverkeeper of Jacksonville. The committee is also investigating potential grants.

Committee Volunteers:
Lucia Allen, John Baccari, Mimi Bajalia, Peter Blay, Christian Borne, Adrienne Brannam, Patrick Brannam, Elise Capobianco, Jill Carter, Wendy Carter, Jami Caruso, Ali Chassman, Chris Collinsworth, Dwight Cooper, Ray De Lugo, Brian Donovan, Grace Donovan, Tim Dougherty, Debbie Duncan, Renea Dunn, Sharon Durden, Jeff Durfee, Linda Edwards, Tonya Elstein, Andrew Elstein, Bethany Erickson, Alexis Espey, George Fallis, Dean Fallis, Kristen Farnham, Mike Figueroa, Darleen Finegan, Tom Fonger, Tom Forbes, Brittany Geeslin, Jenna George, Tom Gibson, Janelle Glova, Shelley Grant, Nilmarie Guzman, Lisa Hale, Jessie Harrell, Adam Hartwell, Joe Hassan, Shonda Heath, Becky Hedges, Angie Hicks, Rob Hoenshel, John Hogarty, Beth Hood, Jackie Hrachovina, Jenny Hulsberg, Linda Johnson, William Joyce, Aronson Kagiliery, Jim Kagiliery, Erik Kaldor, Cherie King, Lori Lawrimore, Ellen Lindros, Dawn Lotz, Lilianna Lowery, Lisa Lynch, Maki Manning, Mark Meyers, Ann Meyers, Elaine Mitchum, Jamie Murray, Leslie Navidi, John Neel, Kelly O’Brien, Carolyn Peacock, Chad Perce, Dayna Perret, Cindy Phillips, Andrea Porter, Anita Ramirez, Lisa Ricker, Lisa Rinaman, Melanie Rodgers, Christine Rothberg, Sharon Royal, Angie Rukab, Tiffiny Safi, Itziar San Sebastian, Tricia Senesac, Salee Shackleford, Stan Shaffer, Jeff Sheffield, Lorie Shvets, Jeremy Simmons, Casey Sparrell, Diana Talbert, Nancy Thomas, Dawn Thomas, Greg Thomas, Shane Tripp, Tracy Tyson, Theresa Varnes, Cindy Vermut, Melisa Walker, Anita Warming, Chelsea Weise, Justin Weise, Leslie Wilbur, Nancy Wood, Jennifer Yates, Chantal Young, Cyrus Zomorodian

The Parents We Mean To Be

As a parent of three late teenager/young adults, my husband and I took parenting very seriously. Over the years, I often wondered, “Are we doing the right thing? Are we setting the correct example?”.  At Hendricks, Shane and I are hosting a book club based on Richard Weissbourd’s The Parents We Mean to Be.  Dr. Weissbourd, a Harvard professor and dad, has interviewed hundreds of families and provides some startling research that I have listed below.  I feel it can be very helpful to growing families.

Did you know?

• The widespread desire to be closer to our children (really a wonderful thing) and the intense focus that some have on their children’s happiness and achievements can turn children into self-involved, fragile conformists.
• Many Americans (2/3 of those interviewed) view happiness as more important than morals for their children.
• Many families want to pass along their own station in life. That is based on student achievement, so there can be a tendency to push students to achieve in areas when they may not be ready or willing to do so.
• We, as a society, spend a great deal of time and energy praising our kids and helping to protect them from emotional upsets. This can backfire, producing children who can’t manage stress and feel they must be perfect.

So what do we do?

• Teach and model appreciation of others, even if they are different.
• Teach your children to be kind and gracious to those who help them- store clerks, babysitters or servers in restaurant.
• Be a role model and require your child to view you as an authority, not a buddy.
• Encourage your child to stick it out if he or she has joined a group activity or sports team. Helps children to think about the team, not themselves.
• Most importantly, send the message that being kind, thoughtful and empathetic of others if more important than happiness. He also points out that being kind and helpful to others helps us be happy.

We will be meeting twice more, on January 29 and February 12 from 12-1. Please join us! You are welcome to read the book, but if not, just come join the discussion. We learn so much from one another.

Guest blogger Mark Meyers discusses Technology at Hendricks

Dear Hendricks Families,

My name is Mark Meyers and I am the Technology Educator at Hendricks.
Dr. Johnson asked me to share with you some of the exciting things your children are doing in technology and the great new projects on the way.

I first want to say how much I enjoy teaching technology to your children.  Their enthusiasm and willingness to try new things when they come to the Tech Lab makes a world of difference.  As you know, our children are far more comfortable with technology than we are.  Even my preschooler at Hendricks teaches me technology things I never knew!

Technology in schools is not about the latest amazing gadget, it’s about the children and it always will be.  What makes technology great is how it can be used by our children to improve their learning.  With that in mind, we have created curriculum and purchased tools that directly affect student achievement.  This year, every technology lesson is developmentally appropriate and based on international standards. These standards are referred to as the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) created by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).  These standards are used worldwide to teach students creativity and innovation, communication and collaboration, research and information, critical thinking, digital citizenship, and technology operations.  For more information, check out the ISTE site (http://www.iste.org).

All classroom teachers and students have access to two exciting programs in the classroom and at home:

BrainPOP (http://www.brainpop.com) creates animated, curricular content that engages students, supports educators, and bolsters achievement for grades K-8. Our subscription also includes the Spanish version.

ReflexMath (http://www.reflexmath.com) a revolutionary, game-based math system that helps students of all ability levels to develop instant recall of their basic math facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).

We realize the safety of your children is our first responsibility so our elementary technology lessons have focused on Internet safety/security and digital citizenship.  Students have learned about keeping information private, evaluating safe websites for themselves, and creating safe usernames online.  We are using age-appropriate lessons created by Common Sense Media.  We encourage you to visit their website and look at the many parent resources available:  (http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/parent-media-education).

Fifth grade is also embarking on a very exciting global project called A Week in the Life, a Flat Classroom® Project for elementary school students of approximately ages 8-10. The curriculum focus is interdisciplinary: how we live, how we communicate, cultural understanding, and awareness. The aim of the project is to join elementary school classrooms globally with a view to exploring what life is like in each country through discussion, sharing and collecting multimedia to create final products together.  For more information, click this link: (http://www.flatclassroomproject.net/a-week-in-the-life-project.html)

Elementary students (grades 4 & 5) are now in charge of producing our school morning show.  Tim Dougherty and Chelsea Weise are supervising them and teaching them the basics of television production including writing and editing of the show.  Check out the latest show: (http://bit.ly/V84Llt).

Middle school students are also learning about digital citizenship.  They contribute their thoughts on current technology topics in the class forum of our Moodle site.  They have evaluated and provided feedback on technology tools for their elementary peers.  Students who took Digiteen last year gave presentations to their classmates on cyberbullying.  For more information, please visit our wiki:  (http://digiteen12-1.flatclassroomproject.org/home).  Upcoming projects will include Internet research and social media awareness.

As you can see, your children have been very busy with technology this school year.  However, we realize that technology-life balance is very important to everyone, especially children.  We strive to emphasize that communication and collaboration skills are more important than technology skills.  We are educating your children for a future we cannot even imagine.  Their skills working with each other, either in the classroom or with students from another country, will benefit them for the rest of their lives.  We are thankful you have trusted us to educate them.

If you have any questions, please email me at markmeyers@hendricksdayschool.org.  For previous lessons or upcoming projects, visit my school website (http://www.hdsjax.com/classrooms/mr-mark-meyers-technology.aspx).

Sincerely,
Mark Meyers

You Were Heard!

Dear Hendricks Families,

We are so excited to see you, it won’t be long! Orientation is on Tuesday, August 21. Early Childhood and Elementary students will meet their teachers and collect books and supplies between 9-11 AM. Middle School students will do the same between 1-3 PM.

Throughout the summer, I have communicated about curriculum refinement, technology improvements and clarification of the Ambassador Program. Please find information below by each committee chair. Please feel free to contact them if you need more information or further clarification.

Curriculum is a core component of every school, and it is our focus to refine our curriculum so that it matches our passion for differentiated instruction and 21st Century learning.  In order to properly refine our curriculum, we first had to identify our strengths and weaknesses.  Through faculty meetings, parent email and feedback, and the formation of the Curriculum Committee, we have been able to formulate a set plan and establish goals to help us improve the education of each one of our students.  During the first year of this three year plan, we will be completing a thorough evaluation of the standards we teach our students.  We will be aligning to the Common Core Standards, and it is our goal to exceed these standards when developmentally appropriate.  Of course, to properly evaluate ourselves, we look to the faculty and the parents to provide feedback, concerns, and praise.  Through the efforts of all involved, we will end up with a final product that challenges all students in our school and prepares them for future educational challenges.  If you have any feedback or would like to meet, please email Dayna Perret at daynaperret@hendricksdayschool.org.

Technology this school year brings many exciting changes.  Developmentally appropriate curriculum and standards in each grade level have been carefully designed. We have met with classroom teachers and have planned projects that are cross curricular. In elementary school, the students will be working on collaborative global projects using the latest technology tools.  Middle school technology will focus on online safety, security, and digital citizenship. All technology curriculum is based on national and international standards.  The curriculum will also tie in to what students are learning in their classrooms. Keyboarding skills will also be covered throughout the year.  We are also moving toward having student report cards online through our Blackbaud parent portal this year.  We are also moving more laptops to student classrooms. If you have any feedback or would like to meet, please email Mark Meyers at markmeyers@hendricksdayschool.org.

The Ambassadorship Program at Hendricks is a developmental process that fosters Hendricks core values through virtues, character building, leadership, and relationships.  The goal of this program is to teach children to connect their daily choices with an overall sense of purpose.  Ambassadorship is directly tied to the overall curriculum as it is designed to aid the children in developing their character, virtues, and relationships, both within themselves and with others.  This year, some slight changes have taken place in the delivery of the Ambassadorship program.  It will be more objective, more directly tied to curriculum and habits of mind, and will be communicated more clearly both to students and parents.  It is our desire at Hendricks to send each child off into their futures with an understanding of themselves, what they are capable of doing, and knowing that they can do it. If you have any feedback or would like to meet, please email Justin Weise at justinweise@hendricksdayschool.org or Tonya Elstein at tonyaelstein@hendricksdayschool.org.

Finally, I’d like to extend a very special thank you to our Strategic Planning Committee; Jeff Lott, Jeff Durfee, Patrick Brannam, Dwight Cooper, Justin Weise and Shane Tripp.  Thank you to Dayna Perret and Tonya Elstein who also contributed.

The faculty, staff and I are so excited about the coming year. It’s going to be wonderful!

Fondly,

Linda

The Countdown is On!

Dear Hendricks Families,

Thank you again for your warm, welcoming support in my new position. I am thrilled about exciting new things you will be seeing at Hendricks! As always, we will maintain our wonderful foundational culture and traditions.

As the 2012-2013 school year approaches, please expect the best teachers ever! I could not be more proud of this strong, experienced, highly qualified cohesive faculty. In addition to a solidified curriculum with more rigor, your student will experience more resource class time with refined curriculum and goals. Our Ambassador program has been adjusted and clarified to better meet student needs. Please look for more communication about these areas.

We are thrilled that Mrs. Dayna Perret will be our curriculum coordinator. She is highly qualified and has vast experience working with curriculum and curriculum teams. She will be working with the faculty in each grade and in vertical and horizontal teams to align and tighten our curriculum.

You can also expect an expanded after school Club program coordinated by Mrs. Chelsea Weise that will feature, among other options, Martial Arts, Puppetry, Spanish, Little Raiders Ball Sports, Girls on the Run, Volleyball, Basketball, Voices of Hendricks, Pom and Tumbling!

A Health and Fitness Committee composed of experts in the field, faculty and parents has been established. You can expect a survey of your thoughts and ideas regarding this topic, parent educational options and changes that improve our students’ understanding and experiences.

Shane Tripp and I wanted to clarify our roles, as we have had many questions. I will maintain my Elementary and Early Childhood Principal responsibilities in addition to my new Head of School role. Mrs. Tripp will be the Principal and in charge of Middle School. We will both remain in our current offices.

Shane and I are very receptive to your feedback about your family’s experience at Hendricks. We would very much appreciate knowing your opinions, thoughts, suggestions and ideas as they can help us to better educate your child. Please email, call or make an appointment. We really want to talk with you.

Coach Neel has been very busy, with help from Mr. Cameron and others, working on our physical plant this summer with the money you helped raise. In the gym, more classrooms have been built, as our maintenance department has moved to the new building. This will allow for better use of our gym by students and teachers. Mrs. Walker and Mrs. Duncan have moved into the new building, and a new board room is being created.

I have included the portion of my earlier blog entry regarding teachers and positions for those of you who may have missed it. There are some changes.

Teachers and Responsibilities 2012-2013

Take a moment to be introduced to our newest family members by clicking on their biographies.

Early Childhood

Sharon Royal – Pre-K3
Elise Capobianco, Jenny Hulsberg – Pre-K4
Linda Edwards, Darleen Finegan – Kindergarten

Elementary School

Chris Collinsworth BIO, Dia Houser – 1^st grade
Tonya Elstein, Casey Sparrell BIO – 2^nd grade
Brittany Geeslin, Alexis Espey (Martin) – 3^rd grade
Ellen Jones, Jennifer Ramirez – 4^th grade
Jami Caruso, Anita Ramirez – 5^th grade

Middle School

Dayna Perret, Leslie Wilbur BIO – Math
Jamie Murray BIO – Science
Justin Weise – Geography and History
Lucia Allen – Spanish
Lilianna Lowery – Language Arts

ELP

Dawn Thomas
Tricia Senesac
Jackie Hrachovina
Jennifer Yates BIO

Resource Teachers

Peter Blay – Science Lab and Middle School Encore classes
Renea Dunn BIO – Middle School PE
Bethany Erickson BIO – Media Specialist
Erika Gallo – Art
Jenna George – Early Childhood and Elementary PE
Becky Hedges – Reading Specialist
Mark Meyers – Technology
Dino Saliba BIO – Band and Middle School Music Appreciation
Itziar San Sebastian – Early Childhood and Elementary Spanish
Chelsea Weise – Early Childhood and Elementary music
The countdown is on!  We look forward to seeing you in August!

Fondly,
Linda

A Summer Update

I hope this finds you and your family well, enjoying the summer and one another! I love the relaxed, warm, albeit a bit rainy, long summer days. It’s a wonderful time to build family memories and have fun in the process!

I believe that a great education is one that educates both students and families, and works in partnership with families to develop students to their potential academically, in character development, in creativity and social-emotional areas, as well as spiritually.  Teachers and families, working in tandem, create the best arena for student growth and development.

That being said, one area I would like your feedback and input on is student health and fitness. We are establishing a “Health and Fitness” committee, which will address food policies and fitness opportunities at HDS. We already have several members:  a registered dietician, a physician’s assistant and our P.E. department.  If you are interested in being a part of this effort, please email me at lindajohnson@HendricksDaySchool.org.

In addition, Shane Tripp and I are very receptive to your feedback about your family’s experience at HDS. We would very much appreciate knowing your opinions, thoughts, suggestions and ideas as they can help us to better educate your child. Please email, call or make an appointment. We really want to talk with you.

We are hard at work at Hendricks getting everything ready for your return in August. A few updates:

• In an effort to expand our resource offerings and the space needed for them, we are building out new classrooms in the gym area and are getting bids on updating the administration building and the newly purchased building. We’ll keep you updated on the progress.
• You should have received an email providing a link to the Net Classroom Portal to Blackbaud, our student data, finance and development system which will allow you to view your monthly statement.  Please contact technology@HendricksDaySchool.org if you have not received an email or have any questions.
• We are working on the HDS branding process so everyone in Jacksonville will know who we are and what a wonderful education we offer. Look for our new logo and branding materials coming in the Fall!
• Our new website is currently being built. It is clean, efficient and easy to navigate. Look for it in the Fall as well.
• The HDS Preschool and YMCA Summer Camp Programs will be running on campus now through August 10th. Sign up for a week, a month, or the whole summer! This is a great way for your student to get to know other HDS students and become comfortable on campus. If you would like more information about the summer camp programs, click on the links below:

HDS Preschool Summer Camp
YMCA Summer Camp

• As cost and textbook availability are currently issues, we will make the iPad program a reality for the 2013-2014 school year.  We will determine the specifics of this program early next year so parents and students will know exactly what to expect regarding curriculum, appropriate usage and planning for purchasing.  We feel strongly that a tablet program will augment our already strong curriculum and help to better prepare students for their future.

Again, please take the time to communicate with us. As a team, with your information and perception available to us, we can make Hendricks the best school ever. Enjoy your summer and look for another blog update in July!

Fondly,

Linda

A Glimpse of the Future!

I am so grateful for the outpouring of love and support I have received in recent weeks. To be the new Head of School brings me great joy and ignites my passions to do the best job as a leader and educator for our families, faculty and staff.  My vision is a collective vision overwhelmingly influenced by the HDS family. I owe a debt of gratitude to Sally for support and guidance, along with Shane, the faculty, HDS families and the Board of Trustees for your trust and support.

Today, as students and faculty are finishing the 2012 school year, I would like to take this opportunity to share my vision, our vision, for HDS. Hendricks Day School will be a cutting edge organization.  We will provide a more rigorous curriculum, steeped in critical thinking and problem solving, building a strong and varied foundation for each student’s future.  Meeting the needs of all learners through differentiation, we will support those students working above the curriculum and those needing additional support, while touching each student’s motivation.  Exposure to and learning of the visual and performing arts, global languages and experiences of other cultures are essential facets in helping our students learn to see the world through the eyes of others.

The future is here. The impact of globalization requires an unprecedented educational landscape.  I believe that students’ whole brain capacities must be developed so they grow to be leaders in the fields such as technology, mathematics, the sciences, the arts, and writing.  Students must continue to acquire a strong foundation in the “three Rs,” but that is no longer enough to prepare them for the ever-changing marketplace in the 21^st Century.  To truly educate and prepare children through middle school for a very different world than what we have experienced, means to cultivate a specific educational foundation.  I believe this foundation must develop children’s critical thinking and synthesizing capacities, design strategies, and the ability to apply knowledge in fluid ways.  It is the student who combines love for learning with the ability to adapt and learn relevant patterns that will experience success.

My Priorities in the Next Year

You will see more and better resources and improved academic rigor, provided by the best educators. Our arts and PE programs will expand, as well as math, science and technology options for middle school students. Our curriculum will be aligned, refined and strengthened by a highly skilled faculty committee led by Dayna Perret and UNF professor and expert in Gifted Education, Dr. Chris Weber. They will continue assisting the teachers with strategies that engage and challenge students who are working above the curriculum.

Due to a generous donation from Mrs. Carson Sessions, the house on the corner of our property is ours to accommodate our growth. Offices and maintenance will be located in that remodeled space freeing up other areas on campus to expand our middle school, grow our resource offerings, and provide more appropriate meeting space for tutors and therapists.

In the last few years, we have strengthened the ELP program. It is now in top form and will not expand or become the central purpose of our school. It is my intent to continue perfecting a wonderful school that offers the most personalized, differentiated, and academically rigorous education in Jacksonville.

Teachers and Responsibilities 2012-2013

With all HDS has accomplished, you will be pleased to know we were overwhelmed by the quality of faculty candidates wishing to join the HDS family. I am thrilled to share the following teachers and their respective responsibilities with you. This is a strong, caring, and vibrant faculty. They are highly qualified and passionate about preparing our children for a 21st Century world.

Take a moment to be introduced to our newest family members by clicking on their biographies –

Early Childhood

Sharon Royal – Pre-K3
Elise Capobianco, Jenny Hulsberg – Pre-K4
Linda Edwards, Darleen Finegan – Kindergarten

Elementary School

Chris Collinsworth BIO, Dia Houser – 1^st grade
Tonya Elstein, Casey Sparrell BIO – 2^nd grade
Brittany Geeslin, Alexis Martin – 3^rd grade
Ellen Jones, Jennifer Ramirez – 4^th grade
Jami Caruso, Anita Ramirez – 5^th grade

Middle School

Dayna Perret, Leslie Wilbur BIO – Math
Jamie Murray BIO – Science
Justin Weise – Geography and History
Lucia Allen – Spanish
Lilianna Lowery – Language Arts

ELP

Dawn Thomas
Tricia Senesac
Jackie Hrachovina
Jennifer Yates BIO

Resource Teachers

Peter Blay – Science Lab and Middle School Encore classes
Jenna George – Early Childhood and Elementary PE
Cindy Glass – Band, Middle School PE, Encore classes and 5th grade band
Chelsea Weise – Early Childhood and Elementary music
Bethany Erickson BIO – Media Specialist
Mark Meyers – Technology
Becky Hedges – Reading Specialist
Erika Gallo – Art
Itziar San Sebastian – Early Childhood and Elementary Spanish

From an administration perspective, Shane Tripp will be the principal, focusing on Middle School, but also teaming with me on other exciting initiatives. I will maintain my elementary and early childhood responsibilities, as well as Head of School responsibilities.

Look forward to a wonderful 2012-2013 year for your student! Our amazing faculty and culture, coupled with more resource classes and stronger academic rigor will raise your student to his or her highest level of engagement and learning ever!