Superintendent Schuster’s Tiger Topics

BACTOSC2009-2010

The district offers all-day, every-day kindergarten classes. Children may enter kindergarten if they are 5 years of age on or before Sept. 1st of the year in which they are to enter school. The district offers a junior kindergarten program each day from 12:30-3:10 p.m. for students that are eligible to attend kindergarten, but are not quite “ready” for kindergarten. Students enrolling in 1st Grade must be 6 years of age on or before September 1st of that school year.

Open House will be held during the first week of school this year. It will run from 6:00-7:15 p.m. at the elementary school and 7:30-9:00 p.m. at the JH/HS on Thursday, August 27. The Elementary PAC will again be hosting a Book Fair during the Open House. Please plan to attend!

The first day of school is on Wednesday, August 26. Students participating in band should bring their instruments. Buses will run and school lunch will be served. Each route driver will contact parents to confirm bus arrival times. Other bus route questions may be referred to transportation supervisor, Loren Bahr, at 397-8117. The GRASP (OST) program at the elementary school will be available on the first day of school.

Several sessions have been set up for sophomores, juniors, & seniors, and their parents to pick up the Tablets. These will be held in the GHS gym. Students and parents must sign and return the Laptop Computer Protection agreement, the Student Pledge agreement, E-mail Acceptable Use agreement, the Groton Area School District Network/Internet agreement, and the Parental Consent to Publish Student Photos/Work agreement before the laptop can be used to the student.

Seniors – Tuesday, August 25, 6:00-7:00 PM
Juniors – Wednesday, August 26, 6:00-7:00 PM
Sophomores – Wednesday, August 26, 7:00-8:00 PM

Those unable to pick up tablets Aug. 25-26, Session on Thursday, August 27,
7:30-8:30 PM

Orientation for all 7th grade students and their parents will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the GHS gym following the Welcome Back Picnic at the park. This will be an opportunity for the 7th grade students and their parents to meet the teaching staff, become familiar with the building, and get questions answered.

All students enrolled in the district for the 2009-2010 school year, their parents, and all staff are invited to a “Welcome Back” Picnic at the Park on Monday, August 24, from 5:00-6:30 p.m. A free meal will be served. Sweet G’s Inflatables will be set up for the kids and door prizes will be given away. In case of inclement weather, the picnic will be held in the GHS gym. Please plan to attend!

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, all teachers of core academic subjects must hold at least a bachelor’s degree, have full state certification, and demonstrate knowledge in the core academic subjects they teach. The District takes great pride in announcing that all professional staff meet or exceed the “highly qualified” teacher requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). For information regarding your child’s teachers’ qualifications, you may contact the superintendent’s office.

Each year we ask the professional staff to demand excellence from our students, both in the classroom and in co-curricular activities, based upon the student’s ability to perform. It is equally important that parents emphasize the value of a quality education and, in cooperation with school staff, are dedicated to helping each child reach his/her potential.

Each school will foster a school climate conducive to learning by encouraging good behavior and citizenship, good attendance, a thirst for knowledge, and high academic standards. Teachers will employ strategies and approaches to instruction to meet the needs of all children assigned to them. With proper motivation and instruction, all children can learn!