I hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer break. As we gear up for the upcoming school year, I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for your continued dedication and support as a member of the Cochrane-Fountain City School District. The start of a new school year is always an exciting time, filled with anticipation and new beginnings. I am personally motivated and encouraged by the hard work and commitment of everyone involved in preparing our facilities for the upcoming year. From completing important projects such as asbestos abatement and new flooring in seven elementary classrooms, to roof maintenance, new siding, tuckpointing, front entrance banners, the veteran hall of fame, and the wall of honor, our team has truly gone above and beyond.
I am also thrilled to welcome new additions to our C-FC family this fall. Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Amy Schaefer, who will be joining us as the new elementary principal and Kelly Demers as our full time psychologist/special education director. We are also excited to have Trevor Derksen as our new Science teacher, Clarissa Webb as our new English Teacher, Mikayla Gretebeck as our new 5th-grade teacher, Emily Henderson as our interventionist, and Paige Allemann as our speech pathologist. Additionally, we have some familiar faces taking on new roles, including Chris Ritscher as our Agriculture teacher, Amanda McKitty in the 2nd/3rd-grade blended classroom, and Heidi Noll as a 1st-grade teacher. I am confident that their expertise and passion will greatly contribute to our student's growth and success.
In today's ever-changing educational landscape, we face numerous challenges. However, our mission remains unchanged - to equip our students with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in an increasingly complex world. We must encourage our students to think critically, foster their understanding of fundamental concepts, and ignite their curiosity to explore the unknown. To achieve this ambitious goal, we will continue to implement our "Portrait of a Pirate" initiative, which recognizes the unique goals, skills, and interests of each student. We firmly believe that students are more than just test scores, and we consider their overall educational journey, including coursework, extracurricular activities, standardized test scores, academic grades, employment experiences, and community service, as well as their ability to demonstrate essential soft skills both inside and outside the classroom. By focusing on this holistic approach, we aim to increase student engagement, set higher expectations, and empower our students to take ownership of their learning.
Once again, I want to extend a warm welcome to the new school year. I am truly excited to collaborate with each and every one of you to create a safe and productive learning environment that fosters student success. Together, let's make this a great year!
