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Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Schweitzer once said, “In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” By this time of year, my inner fire starts to wane, so I use the opportunity of Thanksgiving to reflect on the gift of being here at KTS.
There are so many individuals here who rekindle my inner spirit. First and foremost are the students themselves. Every student is here because of his or her unique abilities and challenges. Therefore, our students have learned much sooner than most that we can celebrate our differences rather than disparage them. They have also been learning to take risks and to know that fear of failure should not keep them from the possibility of success. Last week, 13 students participated in the Poetry Out Loud school assembly. The assembly was the culmination of weeks of hard work in the 11th and 12th grade English classes, from choosing a poem to memorizing it to reciting it with appropriate intonation. Each class had a contest, and the winners performed at the assembly. In addition to 11 juniors and seniors, one sophomore and one freshman student challenged themselves to participate as well. All the students were amazing! I had tears in my eyes as I heard students who have trouble reading, a student who has been selectively mute, students with difficulties with memory, and students who had been told in the past that they “couldn’t” recite their poems with grace and beauty. My inner flame ignites with the memory.
The staff who work with your students every day help them succeed because of their “can do” attitudes and their belief that everyone can achieve if we find the right path to guide them along. The high school program enrolls a diverse group of students with a wide range of abilities. Each staff member works like a detective to determine each student’s strengths, weaknesses, and learning style, and uses that information to challenge without overwhelming and to assist the student in reaching the next level of performance. What an intricate dance that is! I am so thankful for the talented individuals who provide the opportunities for our students to achieve success on many levels, and my inner flames soar!
Last, but certainly not least, I want to acknowledge the parents/guardians who partner with us so we can provide the highest quality education to our students. The hallmark of KTS is the team approach, and working together with the students and families enables us to problem solve, to modify, to remediate, to challenge, and to get the support necessary to meet the needs of each and every one of our students. In addition to working together for your individual child, it is very helpful when we get your constructive criticism and kudos so that we can make changes as needed and continue what works best, and then the whole high school program benefits. As I add the parental contribution to my list of thankful encounters, my inner flames roar!
This Thanksgiving, as you join family and friends, please reflect upon the individuals who have rekindled your inner flame and thank them. You’ll find that you will glow as I am now.
Wishing you a happy and delicious Thanksgiving!
Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year! This is a year filled with celebrations. TLC is celebrating its 60th anniversary, the high school program is celebrating its 5th anniversary, and KTS is celebrating 15 years of caring and learning!
Some exciting changes have occurred over the summer. Ms. Delma now has her own office, both science labs are now on the 2nd floor of the high school, and Mrs. Zhang has been "promoted" to a full-time position in the high school.
We have started using the Blackbaud Education Edge information management system, beginning with the daunting task of creating the high school schedules. Special thanks to Mrs. Blau for her leadership in implementing the new system. Our goal is to strengthen communication between high school staff and families, and this system is the tool that will enable us to achieve that goal.Teachers are now learning how to use the gradebook system, and by back-to-school night, parents/guardians will be able to access students' grades via the internet.
Don't forget that the Family Fun Picnic is Friday, September 10th, from 5:30-7:30 PM. It's a great chance to meet new families, to reconnect with other parents/families, and to mingle informally with staff. The high school Back to School Night is Thursday, September 16th, at 7:00.
Our Parents Association plays a vital role in supporting the needs of the school and the students. Your participation makes our school much stronger. The first meeting is Wednesday, September 8th, at 8:30 AM.
Even if you can't make every meeting, please attend this first one for the year. Your presence makes a difference!
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Rhona Schwartz
High School Director
Send me an Email
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