COVID 2022-23 Information
Feb. 3, 2023
Greetings families:
As we move into February, I want to thank everyone across our district - students, staff and families - for their renewed liveliness and energy. Daily and nightly activities are in abundance and most important, you can see the joy in learning across the district. It is uplifting and a tribute to the dedication of our staff and to our families for the well-being of our children.
February is Black History Month, first organized around the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, two key figures in the history of Black Americans. As one of our WICSD Heritage Months, our schools have organized activities to recognize the important contributions made by black and brown people, past and present. One example is the third episode of a new video series, "Sitdown with the Superintendent." I had the pleasure of discussing our Irondequoit High School Black Student Union with its founder, IHS junior TeJon Tejada, and staff advisors. Our discussion touched on the mission and purpose of the club, the work its members are leading to prompt important conversations and how our teens are learning to bring people together to explore black history, culture, experiences and more. To view the full conversation, CLICK HERE, and make sure to check our Facebook page and YouTube channel regularly this month for features.
Work continues on Year 2 of our district's Strategic Plan. The five-year plan's four key focus areas are- Curriculum, Instruction, Implementation Systems and Well-Being of Self and Community. CLICK HERE to watch a video of a recent update to the Board of Education about the work happening in Curriculum & Instruction in the areas of humanities, STEAM and the utilization of data to inform academic achievement and behavioral needs. The presentation begins just before the 25-minute mark.
In addition to our Strategic Plan, please click here to read other updates from across the district that I think are important for you to know. Stay warm and safe over the next few days - or at least until Sunday when our district team, the Irondequoit Icy Eagles, participates with more than 1,200 others in the annual Polar Plunge to raise money for the Special Olympics (read more below)! We reached our goal of raising $2,500. Thank you!
In partnership,
Aaron R. Johnson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools