Patrick Henry Post

Special Edition: First Day of School, August 23rd, 2021

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Happy First Day of School!

Today was such a special day - we finally got to welcome back every single one of our 244 Patrick Henry students to the school year IN PERSON! We were so happy to see everyone and begin this school year in a safe, fun, and exciting way. Take a look below for some of the highlights seen around the school on our very first day of the 2021-2022 school year!

Highlights around Patrick Henry

New Related Arts Team

This year, we welcomed Ms. Sara Gonzalez, Ms. Kellie Godfrey, and Mrs. Morgan Ralphs to the Patrick Henry family. Ms. Gonzalez teaches music, Ms. Godfrey teaches art, and Mrs. Ralphs teaches Physical Education. This week, they introduced not only themselves to our students, but also a consistent set of expectations to each classroom. That way, all students know what to expect from their music, art, and PE teachers at all times. These expectations will remain high throughout the year so that all students get to participate in the magic and fun of each specialized content area!

Building Relationships

The most important part of our work as elementary educators is building relationships between staff and students, and between students as peers. Some of our students have been virtual for the past 18 months, which means that they might feel out of practice in the regular school day. Our staff will be working with all students every day to make connections and build a strong foundation for a positive, safe, welcoming school environment.
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New Reading Spaces

Patrick Henry is such a special building with wide open spaces that are calling for reading nooks! Our team has been hard at work this summer to build new furniture, repurpose vintage furniture, find new books, and organize our spaces so that they support our students' learning. It was an incredible undertaking, but with the help of our Leadership Team, Special Education Instructional Care Aides, Related Arts Team, and Reading Specialist, we transformed blank and empty rooms and hallways into beautiful, comfortable, and inviting literacy areas.

Cheers to you, Staff!

Thank you to each and every Patrick Henry staff member who worked this summer, during Professional Development weeks, and during your "free time" to prepare for the first day of school. You all did an incredible job building a kind, happy space ready for our students. Thank you for your work, you are ESSENTIAL to our children and their futures!
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