40° and Light sleet
By Mark Laurrie
Niagara Falls School Superintendent
As we quickly move through our final days of summer, we anticipate the best time of year…back to school! As we previously discussed, our facilities are being shined, additional security and safety measures are being put in place, training and professional development for staff is wrapping up, and new staff has been assigned and on boarded. With tremendous anticipation, we will be ready for the start of another exciting year that will include many significant new programs and endeavors.
In September, we officially launch Say Yes, Niagara Falls. This incredibly successful program in Buffalo has selected the Niagara Falls City School District as their first expansion site. While Say Yes includes the opportunity for 16 pillars of programming, we are going to begin with four. These include expansion of our already highly successful apprenticeship programming. We will also begin Saturday Academics in four schools.
The community, parents and students will have the opportunity to learn, grow and explore together with our schools opening up on two Saturdays per month. STEM activities, performing arts, health and wellness, athletics, as well as academic enrichment, are just a few of the many opportunities planned.
The hallmark of our Say Yes, Niagara Falls will be a last dollar scholarship available to all Niagara Falls High School graduates that will pay the tuition for college-bound students or for an apprenticeship.
Students must attend SUNY/CUNY institutions or one of over 100 Say Yes private universities. We have successfully begun to build our endowment which will provide this opportunity in perpetuity for our graduates.
We continue to provide teachers and staff with professional development. The initiative to increase phonics instruction that correlates to stronger applications of reading and writing skills has been a major focus of our staff development.
The Science of Reading tenants have been utilized in our district for many years in Grade Kindergarten through Grade 12. We will move our instructional focus in phonics this year to Grade 3.
While we are on the topic of reading and writing, I would like to congratulate 79th Street School Grade 3 student, Nakia Johnson, who has published a book on Amazon entitled, “Make Your Dreams Come True.” We are so proud of her.
At some point early in the school year, parents will be able to utilize a new app which will track the location of their child’s bus. This is long overdue, and we are very happy to be rolling this service out prior to winter.
As a parent and community, we value your support, engagement and involvement. Student attendance is such a critical factor in student success. Across the country and in our district, student absentee rates continue to be a concern.
The greatest support a parent can give the district is to have their child ready, on time and in school daily. With your cooperation and the skill of our faculty, administration, and staff, we will certainly provide the best education possible.
As I close, it is incredible to note that preliminary planning has begun for the 25th year of the “New” Niagara Falls High School. It is incredible to think we are ready for its silver anniversary. We are hoping for special recognitions and celebrations throughout this school year.
I encourage everyone to take care of yourself mentally and physically. Our health is the most wonderful blessing. We wish you the very best as we begin another school year. There is so much to look forward to.
