The Holiday Season is a time for celebration and a lot has come our way in 2020. We need to celebrate the hard work being done by students and staff as we continue to improve our remote learning processes. Students are doing a good job with daily check-ins, engagement in online activities and completing assignments. Teachers have raised the bar with quality lessons while still focusing on the student centered learning model. Parents, hats off to you for reinforcing the importance of being engaged and staying on top of your child’s progress. The “chromebook for every student” program has improved our overall disposition and will become a common tool in the face to face classroom as well. Remember, if ever there is a question or concern please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or myself and together as a team we can “work it out”.

Career Center Celebration-

Career Center continues to promote “hands on learning” during this time of Covid-19 restrictions and remote learning. We have received permission to explore face to face instruction of individual (1) and small groups (3-5 students) on a limited basis in an effort to address performance assessments associated with student/project needs and program assurances. Our goal is to continue to focus on student achievement while compiling with Covid-19 protocols. The limited face to face instruction will be by invite only via communication from instructor and parent permission.

Valley School Celebration-

The new Valley School building is approaching completion on the Career Center Campus. The new building will have four classrooms, a counselor’s center, a kitchenette (snack prep area) and a “meet and greet” front office area. The building’s design was heavily influenced by the Valley staff with student’s needs in mind and it has BATHROOMS AND RUNNING WATER. Though it is not a huge building, it is just the right size to allow us to continue to do “student centered learning” that Valley School is known for. Valley School will start the transition over to the Career Center Campus mid-December with student occupancy of the new building by the first of February. We are finalizing our plan to provide a hybrid (blended) face to face and remote learning model during this transition time. And yes! - Mrs. Lori Starr (Valley Counselor) will continue to be with us as we make the move, so stay tuned for updates as we workout the final details.

The Future-

2020 has been a trying year in so many ways. Yet, what we all have learned or are learning is …“together we will overcome and be better for it.” There is no better time than now to support those around us and pay it forward. By doing so, we have a reason for being and purpose greater than ourselves. Tolerance and understanding are the foundation to an appreciation of the human condition and making of “good people” in bad times.

Please continue to take care of yourself and those around you as 2021 promises new beginnings for ALL OF US.

Cam Wyatt

Principal

Career Center/Valley School