It's time to reflect, be thankful and start fresh!

Dear Friends of SIS,

As we bring closure to the first quarter and begin a new one, I would like to thank all the members of the Shelton Community for making our first marking period such a success. Within the first marking period, students and staff bonded together in many ways. Our Dean’s Cup competition has gotten off to an amazing start, and I love to see those SIS vocabulary selfies.  Congratulations to Team Inspiration who currently leads in points for the Dean’s Cup at the end of the 1^st quarter. 

There were many activities and events that students and staff participated in during the 1^st quarter.  No month displayed this togetherness best than the month of October.   We began the month initiating our 7th graders as part of the SIS family at Nature's Classroom

and participated in Bullying Prevention Month. Activities were planned each week and announcements regarding positive behaviors were shared daily through WSIS.  We dressed “Blue”

to demonstrate our stand against bullying and “orange”

to show our unity.  The month came to a close when we transitioned to “Pink” as our school worked together to support the community efforts in the battle against cancer during "Valley Goes Pink". 

November continued with great learning opportunities and community events with a historical Presidential election and our Veterans Day celebration.  Both events demonstrated how we need to continue to appreciate each other and our world around us. We work together to make a positive influence on the community and lead by example through our Viking Values of respect, responsibility and safety. 

Of course the first quarter also involved our responsibilities of teaching and learning. During these past few weeks, the staff and I developed the building’s School Improvement Plan (SIP).Click here to view the SIS School Improvement Plan (SIP) The SIP is created from an analysis by the staff of current data about our students. This data then determines our focus areas for improvement. With this document, our school’s goals are established for the year. Each teacher and I set our personal and professional goals related to the SIP as we work towards the education of our students. By having this common plan, we work together in improving teaching and learning for all students.

In order for us to reach our school’s SIP goal, we will need the continued cooperation and support from home. As we set our goals for improvement, I encourage families to share their goals and expectations of the school year with each other. Working together as a team, we provide our students with a focus and instill in them the concepts of purpose and awareness. As a learning community, we need to make great strides in our educational growth in a short period of time. Student focus is paramount in making this possible.

As I reflect upon this first marking period, I could not be prouder to be the Headmaster of this incredible learning community. What the students and staff of SIS have accomplished in the first few months of this school year solidifies why SIS is a great part of the Shelton community.

For us to continue working towards improvement, we need to work as a community. Next week, our first round of parent/teacher conferences will take place. Our conferences are a time in which the key components of the school/family/relationship (the parent, the teacher and the student) come together. I hope you find this time productive. It is important that parents gain important information about their child’s current progress in school. It is my expectation that conferences provide strategies to help our students be successful in school.

I look forward to meeting parents through informal open dialogues and discussions regarding our students and the school's improvement plan.  As I have shared, our school's motto is "Leadership, Teamwork and Focus".  Together we can make your child's educational experience a success.

I would like to take this time to extend my wishes for a happy and relaxing Thanksgiving holiday for each of you.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  The focus is a great meal with the people closest to you.  There are no gifts or holiday pressures.  The holiday has always been a day of great memories and laughs.  I continue to be so thankful for my health, family and SIS.  As the Headmaster of SIS, I am very thankful to lead this community.

Professionally Yours,

Ken Saranich

Headmaster