We're Building a Better Pleasantdale Together!

As we welcomed our students back into the hallways and classrooms of Pleasantdale Middle School last week, there was such great energy in the building.  Staff members were smiling, and students (even 8th graders!) were commenting after the first day about how good it was to be back!  Positivity like this only happens in a place where good things are happening on a regular basis.

Even though our Pleasantdale schools are a good place for learning already, we have plans to bring our schools from "good to great", as you may have heard before, and to do this, we are going to implement the ideas in our District 107 Strategic Blueprint.  Last year I wrote a post about our district's future planning process, which brought a committee of staff members, students, parents, and community members together to shape a new district mission and goals.  Our mission "to create a community of inspired learners" is really what is shaping everything we do together in our three goal areas of building learning capacity, building human capital, and building learning environments.

On our opening district institute day, we were fortunate to have Will Richardson speak to our teachers about modern learning and how to create opportunities for deep and meaningful learning to occur in our schools, and he pointed out that "it is an absolutely amazing time to be a learner".  There is an abundance of resources available online and ways to connect with experts around the world, which means if someone has the desire to learn, the opportunity is there.  It is our goal as District 107 educators to create the conditions which will pique our community members' interests, ignite new passions, and allow for critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving.  Seymour Papert; a mathematician, computer scientist, educator, and MIT professor; hit the nail on the head when he said, "We imagine a school in which students and teachers excitedly and joyfully stretch themselves to their limits..."  I would also include families and community members in that statement as well since our goal is to inspire our entire Pleasantdale community of learners.

We are happy to have you all along for the journey as we work to build a better Pleasantdale together!

And We're Back!

Maggie sends Mommy
off to the first day of school!

And just like that, we are back to school again!  My last blog post was on April 27, just two days before I gave birth to my first child, my sweet daughter Maggie.  In less than four months, my world has changed in so many ways, and I constantly marvel at the endless love I have for my daughter.  While I still have a lot to learn about parenting, I already know that I will always want what is best for her and am so excited to watch her have new experiences and learn as she grows up.

You all, as "veteran" parents, already know you are an invaluable partner in your child's learning journey, and one of the first ways we invite you to partner with the school is by inviting you to our Middle School Curriculum Night on August 31 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM (Elementary School Curriculum Night is on September 6 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM).  Curriculum Night is held at the beginning of the school year to provide parents and guardians an opportunity to know the teachers and administrators, get an overview of what students will be learning for the year, and understand the expectations teachers have for their students.  Unlike parent/teacher conferences which are held at the end of the first trimester, this is not the best time to ask the teacher about your child's work and progress since teachers are still getting to know their students.  Rather, focus on getting to know the teachers at curriculum night.  The teachers who will be spending the year with your child will have a significant impact on your child.  They will inspire, challenge, and support your child.  By getting to know your child's teachers, you will get to know their interests and experiences while also learning about their teaching philosophies, expectations, and resources that will be helpful throughout the year.  You will learn the best way to communicate with the teachers, which will open doors to dialogue throughout the school year so we can all work together to support your child's learning.

So please join us on August 31 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM to start our partnership for the school year.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, Mr. Sonntag (principal), or the front office.  We look forward to seeing you soon!

Check out photos from Pleasantdale Middle School's first day!