News:

• BVE Wall of Character 
  
  
• Interested in PTA Meetings?

RESPONSIBILITY

"Words are like spears: Once they leave your lips they can never come back."

- Yoruban proverb

---

President's Message 

by TJ Kirke, PTA President 2011-2012 

What do you want Burton Valley Elementary to be in five or ten years? What changes or decisions should we make now to get us there? If you have opinions that you share with your friends over coffee or on a walk, or with your spouse after the kids have gone to bed, please don't leave those ideas or criticisms there. We need to hear your thoughts on how we can make our schools even better.

The Lafayette School District will begin the process of updating its Strategic Plan next month. This plan guides the district's curriculum and budgeting. It sets the priorities for what stays off the chopping block in lean times, and what we invest in when there's money to spare. 

The last plan, drafted in 2006, set five priorities: Student Achievement, Healthy Kids-Healthy Adults, Globalization, Technology, and Finance. Goals and recommendations were outlined for each (http://tinyurl.com/77ldbqv). For example, under Student Achievement, curriculum should help students excel in math, science and language arts. Our kids should develop critical thinking skills. But they also should have a broad-based education that includes the arts and physical education. Under Globalization, the plan recommends that students develop strong communication skills and an understanding of world events. And under Finance, the plan lays out what the district must do to have a sustainable budget. And while the goals may have changed very little in the last six years or so, the way we want to reach them may have changed quite a bit. 

A public meeting for parents and the greater community will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at BVE. Please plan to be there.  If you cannot attend but have comments or recommendations you'd like to share, please email them to me:tjkirke@comcast.net. I'll forward them along. Or, if you'd prefer, write a note, put it in an envelope labeled Strategic Plan, and slip it in your Friday Folder. Parent Dawn Brightbill will be representing BVE during the process.  Thank you, Dawn!

On the subject of getting your opinions heard, please consider volunteering to serve on the PTA board. We still have a few open positions. It's a great way to learn about the inner workings of the school and district. To volunteer, contact Jill Lewis, chair of the nominating committee: jillrlewis@comcast.net. If you have questions about the various positions, contact Kaisa Lyon, parliamentarian: kaisalyon@comcast.net.

 

 

TJ Kirke, PTA President