From the Superintendent
West Irondequoit CSD update from Aaron Johnson
APRIL 1, 2022
Greetings folks,
I hope everyone had a great week and survived what is hopefully the last blast of winter. During the COVID pandemic, I wrote regularly to you. Now that our COVID updates are handled by our COVID-19 team and Public Information Office, look for Superintendent Updates coming your way monthly to keep you well-informed and to share celebrations. Please also consider our district website as a resource. You will find latest news there as well as links to the the The Quote newsletters and our social media channels. In May, we will share our annual budget edition of The Quote and a special publication "Honoring Irondequoit's Indigenous Roots."
CELEBRATIONS
West Irondequoit CSD is devoted to providing a comprehensive learning experience personalized to all students. We're proud of our programs and services and know that most of you choose our district for our high-quality neighborhood schools. Thanks to you, a supportive community, and our amazingly talented and caring staff, our students continue to perform at peak levels. We love to brag about student achievement and this year there is much to celebrate. Below is a sampling of that talent:
- The IHS musical "Tuck Everlasting" was terrific (CLICK HERE for highlights)! Congratulations to the gifted performers, crew, musicians and many committed staff members who made this show memorable! This year, a collaboration with our middle schools provided a special connection between their literature and the performing arts!
- Our IHS Business program and DECA Club continue to thrive. Last month, 30 IHS students competed in the State Career Conference with eight students finishing in the Top Ten and one State Champion, freshman Evelyn Dean in Principles of Marketing! Those excellent results are reflective of exceptional programming and dedicated students! CLICK to read more.
- Two of our very talented eighth-graders, Elisa Pacyga and Abigail Summerlin, recently created a buzz, appearing on local TV and radio, for an original and powerful song they wrote called "Differences are Beautiful." Congratulations to them, and thanks to staff like teacher Lindsay Porter for ensuring lessons are meaningful and inclusive. Watch the wonderful music video that features the girls and different students across our district at THIS LINK.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS NEXT WEDNESDAY IN IHS AUD
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGAINST THREATS: During our March 18th Superintendent’s Conference Day, staff engaged with Mr. Mark Concordia, a certified threat manager and specialist in targeted violence intervention. They learned more about the district's behavioral threat assessment and management structure, which focuses on gathering input through a multidisciplinary team to intervene early and develop ongoing support plans. Next Wednesday, April 6th, we are hosting Mr. Concordia and a panel of staff for a live Community Connections “Town Hall” meeting for families to learn more. Please join us at 7 PM in the IHS auditorium.
BE EDUCATED ON TEEN SUBSTANCE ABUSE
A growing concern in schools is the increasing accessibility of edibles and vapes containing THC and other drugs. Educating our children about the risks of using related items is of the utmost importance. Materials that students are purchasing online and in local shops have little oversight. Such products often contain incredibly high levels of THC or other contaminants that pose significant and sometimes life-threatening harmful effects. Our substance abuse prevention counselor Lindsay Snyder and others are available as a resource for families as needed. We are also fortunate to partner with Drug-Free Irondequoit (DFI) in our work to prevent and reduce youth substance abuse- https://dfitogether.org/
STAYING HOME IF SICK
Finally, our community and schools are experiencing an uptick in sickness and positive COVID-19 cases. As a result, we see more people choosing to wear masks and more people home sick. Thank you to everyone for continuing to follow proper health and safety measures and making sure to remain home and get tested if you are symptomatic. Let's stay diligent in our efforts to safeguard our health and others to keep our schools and community moving in the right direction.
In partnership,
Aaron R. Johnson, Ed.D
Superintendent of Schools
CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: public_info@westiron.monroe.edu
Website: westirondequoit.org
Location: 321 List Avenue, Irondequoit, NY, USA
Phone: 585-342-5500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WestIrondequoitCSD
Twitter: @WestIrondequoit