Dear Oakdale Community,
I write this welcome back letter with a song in my heart! I just received our CRT Scores and I am proud to say we showed great gains in all areas! When I came to Oakdale a year ago, I spoke about the need to improve our scores and really focus on respecting the instructional part of our day. My goal was to give our teachers more uninterrupted academic teaching time. My hope was that students would show improvement in their studies.
My staff took a pledge called “Keeping the Oakdale Promise”. This promise was simple and based on our mission statement. In return, we asked parents and students to pledge to keep their own promise. We asked parents to make sure students came to school ready to learn and on time, that they limit instructional time absences and interruptions, and respect the learning environment during school hours by making appointments to see teachers either before or after school.
As a result of your actions and ours, we have seen overwhelming evidence that our collective measures have had an impact. I want to thank you for supporting our school-wide promise and ask for your sustained support in the coming year. We are a powerful team. THANK YOU!!!! Take a moment to look at the percentage of students who scored a 3 or a 4 on the CRT’s this year compared to the previous year (see the back of this letter).
Take a look around the school grounds and you will see other aesthetic improvements. Thanks to our SCC and PTA, we were able to make changes to the outside of our building. The new improvements to our campus grounds reflect our school pride. Now with the addition of a new scrolling marquee, landscaping upgrades and new entrance signs (which should be in place by the first day of classes), our school reflects our commitment to education. In addition, the playground areas have been resurfaced, and we now have a safer environment for our students. The most important change is our new school logo created by Melissa Shupe. Be sure to tell her how much we appreciated her efforts. What a fantastic look!!
As we begin our new year I am full of awe and respect for the teachers in our building. They truly are the backbone for all that we accomplish. They have and will continue to make any and all adjustments necessary to meet the needs of your children. They work long hours and are truly committed to helping each and every student become their very best both academically and socially. Oakdale teachers are the Rock Stars of Education. They simply are “THE BEST”.
I look forward to an even more successful year than the last. Thank you for entrusting your children to us. We will not let you down!
Sincerely,
Alice Peck, Principal
