Education Insider
Anacortes School District News & Events - 12/3/21
Planning for the future
The purpose of this newsletter is to highlight essential work that brings our District’s vision and mission to life and update you on significant happenings.
Almost five years ago, a committee of staff, students, and community members developed a strategic plan for the Anacortes School District, which included the following vision and mission statement:
Vision: Anacortes students rise to their fullest potential, embrace the future, and make a difference.
Mission: We inspire every student every day with quality instruction that promotes creativity, growth, character, individual strengths and a lifelong love of learning.
Today, our vision and mission have not changed. We continue to set the conditions necessary for our students to rise to their highest potential, preparing them not only to excel as they cross the graduation line but also to thrive in life, college, and careers beyond high school.
This past spring, the school board and district team enhanced the 2017 Strategic Plan’s goals by turning them into a coordinated, measurable, and systemic action plan template. These revisions create a bridge connecting the expiring Strategic Plan to a future Strategic Plan - one that will capture our action plans over the next five years.
As you review the current plan, please note the first two columns are goals and key performance outcomes (KPOs) set by our board of directors. The last two columns are the actions we will revise each year and the key performance indicators (KPIs) we will identify to monitor the steps necessary to get us closer to reaching our five-year outcomes (KPOs).
Over these next five years, our staff will engage in iterative processes, revising our action plans to provide every student every day with quality instruction that promotes creativity, growth, character, individual strengths and a lifelong love of learning. Additionally, the Superintendent’s Advisory Council, a representative community group, meets with me quarterly to share feedback and provide input into future action planning. We also continue to engage our community in real-time via various committees, such as the current process for updating curriculum and programs.
We are proud to serve you and your students - creating the conditions for our community to thrive and for our students to rise to their fullest potential, embrace the future, and make a difference.
Thank you for your continued partnership.
Sincerely,
Justin
The Anacortes School Board approved two resolutions on November 18, 2021, placing two ballot measures before voters for the February 8, 2022 election.
Both measures are replacement levies, taking the place of expiring levies approved by voters in 2018.
The two combined, estimated rate of $1.28 per $1,000 valuation is 32 cents lower than previously approved rates in 2018.
Both levies fund services for students that are not provided by Washington State.
More information can be found on our website: http://www.asd103.org/2022_election
COVID Coordinator: We are currently hiring for a COVID coordinator. This person will be responsible for maintaining ASD’s overarching response to the COVID-19 pandemic, developing plans and protocols that balance staff and student health and safety and access to academics and safety programs that will ensure consistent and equitable services throughout the District. More information is on our HR website: https://anacortesjobs.hrmplus.net/JobOpenings.aspx
Thank you for continuing to follow health and safety protocols.
Community Engagement for Curriculum and Programs
Questions? Contact Becky Clifford, rclifford@asd103.org or (360) 503-1214
Assessment
Questions? Contact Brandon Lagerquist, blagerquist@asd103.org or (360) 503-1208
Critical Thinking: Going beyond the basics
Anacortes High School history teacher Jessica Pullen couldn’t agree more. In her 20 plus years as an educator, teaching critical thinking has just become an organic, intrinsic part of her classes.
Pullen says she never wants to push her own perspective. Rather, much like in a Socratic method, she’s there to help students see lots of perspectives. “At the end of the day, I’m not here to provide answers or decipher everything for my students. I’m here to help them ask questions, flush out their own understanding of the world,” she said.
Mt. Erie fifth grade teacher Sheena Saleh concurs. She wants her students to have a growth mindset to encourage their openness. Both Pullen and Saleh say their teaching must go beyond memorization of dates, facts and plots. For students to think critically, they must be able to apply that knowledge and ask important questions about implications... (to continue reading, check out the latest issue of the Anacortes Pride)
Mental health crucial to schools opening
Expanded Public Hours at Rice Field
Monday-Friday, 5:30-7:30 a.m. and 5-8 p.m.
Please observe all posted rules. Groups with approved reservations have priority. All other use is first come, first served. Restrooms are not open during these times.
- Thursday, Dec 16 - School Board Meetings
- Friday, Dec 17 - K-5 Half Day (Students only)
- Dec 20 - 31: Winter Break (District Office closed/ No tech support)