Back-to-School Letters from District 300 Administrative Staff

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to the 2012-13 school year at the Du Quoin Elementary School. I hope you are all looking forward to the excitement of learning new things and making new friends. We welcome all our returning students, our new students, and our kindergarteners. We also welcome Brittni Kellerman to our fourth grade team and Sandy Stanhouse to our first grade team.

In accordance with national, state, and local expectations, our goal is for all students to learn. Our teaching staff works hard to implement dynamic programs in all areas of instruction in order to provide a solid core curriculum for our students. Using a tiered system of support, we provide extra instruction to assist students with their learning. Our local assessments as well as state assessments indicate the progress our students are making. The teachers are exploring and planning the transition to the new Common Core standards that have been adopted in the state of Illinois. Just as importantly, our staff works to maintain a positive environment that fosters the teaching and learning process. We continue to promote good character and positive behavior choices through our school wide Positive Behavior Intervention System (PBIS).

Our theme this year is "Papoose PRIDE." We will be working throughout the year to help children take the right path for academic growth and personal growth. Our school wide learning team invites parents to join and support us in our learning activities throughout the year. Weekly newsletters, the school website, and parent-teacher contact will help keep you informed. Your care and support sends us students who are ready to jump on the path to learning. Your assistance at home helps reinforce the knowledge and skills that are taught each passing year. Through teamwork involving the staff, the parents, and the students, our children will have the chance to learn and to experience success.

Once again, the staff of the Du Quoin Elementary School welcomes back its parents and students. We are looking forward to Monday, Aug. 13 and the start of an exciting new year.

Respectfully,

Margaret (Peg) Pursell, Principal

Du Quoin Elementary School