Well, Crimson Bear Families.  We did it!  The first semester of our 21-22 school year is complete.  Finals are done (although perhaps not yet graded), and semester long courses are finished.  Your students should have from today through January 10th to rest, relax and recuperate.  It is our sincere hope that they are able to spend the winter break with friends and family, without the pressures of school looming.  

Semester 2 will begin January 10th, with all six classes that first day.  As a reminder the five day add/drop period is in effect the first day of the semester, so communication about concerns needs to happen in a timely fashion with your student’s school counselor.  Year long classes are a full year commitment, so any conversation about a disruption for a year long class should also include the classroom teacher.  This rarely happens, but we want to make sure that we share the expectation now so that no one is caught off guard. 

As I reflect on the first semester there are a few highlights that I would like to emphasize.  First, your students are genuinely appreciated for their efforts with the Covid-19 mitigation plans.  We know that it is not ideal to mask, distance, have windows open and so on.  That said, the vast majority have followed the rules and adjusted as needed, and we are grateful.  Second, while the return to routines and systems was not easy for all, most of us are now in the swing of things.  Thank you for supporting JDHS in returning to more typical school offerings.  In-person school includes regular, on-time attendance, attention to systems such as PowerSchool and Canvas, and occasionally a Super Saturday to stay caught up.  Our systems are important to supporting teaching and learning,and the better we all get at them the greater the educational impact.  Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we have seen a tremendous growth in the pride our school community takes in our school, its activities and the physical campus.  Most of you have students who are taking ownership of how our school looks and reflects on all of us.  The fierce loyalty to being a Crimson Bear is priceless. As you begin the winter break with your kiddo at home please talk with them about why they are proud to be a Crimson Bear and what impact they have on our school community.  I suspect there are some hidden conversational gems in there!  Most of you have students who are taking ownership of how our school looks and reflects on all of us.  The fierce loyalty to being a Crimson Bear is priceless.