Dear Strayer Families,
Did you know that Rube Goldberg was trained as an engineer and began his career designing sewer systems in California? During a recent assembly, many of your children recognized the name but did not realize that Mr. Goldberg’s career began as something other than what he is known for today - a cartoonist that designed elaborate contraptions to achieve a relatively simple task. I went on to share a video clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w) that demonstrated a Goldberg-like contraption. This particular creation was designed by a group of engineers, working many months to meet the challenge of taking a current song and matching it to a series of dependent actions to achieve a common goal.
The message behind the video clip, the assembly and my words are simple. Each of us is an integral member of the community we call R.E. Strayer Middle School. We each have an important and essential role to fill…
· Teachers, support staff, and administrators to provide the most effective instructional program and healthy social/emotional environment for your children
· Custodians working to maintain a safe and orderly space in which to learn
· Parents to be active members of the school community through participation, asking questions and offering suggestions
· AND, most importantly our students, your children, to arrive everyday ready to learn with an open-mind and a willingness to actively take advantage of all that Strayer has to offer
Much like the marbles, flags, umbrellas, water glasses and all of the other components in the video clip, we each have a necessary role to fill if the Strayer community is going to achieve a successful result. “Today is the day!” Today is the day to do your part! Today is the day to do your best! Today is the day to work as a community to achieve our goals! Your children responded with thunderous applause when asked if they were ready for the challenge. I echo their response!
Our 2010-2011 school year will be extraordinary. For the first time at the middle school level, we are able to offer your children an on-line learning environment that combines cyber and traditional face-to-face classes. We have an in-school alternative to meet the needs of our students who struggle in a traditional school environment. We have a Related Studies elective model in 8th grade. We continue to support an effective Strayer Strong program that reinforces our commitment to a safe, positive, respectful and responsible school culture.
Welcome to a new year! Thank you for supporting your child and doing your part to ensure a safe, productive and successful school experience for all of us.
