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