Superintendent's
Messages
January 20, 2010
Remaining school year offers initiatives, challenges
It is hard to believe this school year is already half over, until you consider all that has happened in the first five months. This fall and winter have been a great source of pride for the Hilliard City Schools as we have seen amazing accomplishments and impressive progress across the entire district.
It all began with our “Excellent with Distinction” rating on our 2008-09 state report card, followed by the smooth opening of the new Bradley High School in August. The start of school brought updated programming at the secondary level to continue the successful implementation of the High School 2020 recommendations, and literacy has remained a strong focus in all grades, K - 12.
Among this year’s seniors, Darby High School has seven National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists and commended scholars, and Davidson High School has eight. Our students involved with extra-curricular activities have performed at amazing levels as well, including the Davidson football state champions, Bradley students marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, and the Davidson Chamber Orchestra’s performance at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago.
Throughout these events, the pride and support of our community was immeasurable. Residents came out not only for their home school events, but displayed their support across the district for all our students. Our district is a highly successful system that promotes excellence for all students, and it is clear to me that our level of achievement is largely due to that community involvement and enthusiasm for our students and our schools.
As we look ahead to the second half of the year, we have some exciting initiatives to share and some important challenges to address. First, we will continue to be prudent with our spending and look for efficiencies wherever possible in order to stay off the ballot until 2011.
In the coming months, we look forward to unveiling the recommendations of K-8 2020, the continuation of our High School 2020 initiative. We remain purposeful in our work to personalize education for our students and will advance our efforts to refine assessments and effectively utilize data from the results to increase student achievement.
As always, our success is best measured through our students. Hilliard City Schools is building that success one student at a time, challenging and caring for each student, as individuals, to prepare them academically, socially and emotionally for the future. With common purpose, this school district and the extraordinary community in which we belong will help each and every student be Ready for Tomorrow.