From the Principal
Dear parents/guardians of Alderwood students,
My husband convinced me to watch the PGA Championship yesterday. Unsure of how long I would truly be able to dedicate to golf, which I had previously considered a “slow” game to watch on television, I unexpectedly became entranced watching the respectful, skilled competition between the two leaders, Tiger Woods and Y.E. Yang.
What struck me more was the write-up on msn.com this morning after Yang’s victory. The journalist stated that people assume Tiger Woods is “constructed of something different,” yet Yang said his strategy was simply to play solidly and wait for others to make mistakes. The truth is, that in life, those who play solidly will often outperform those we think are “constructed of something different.” Everyday we work to instill this belief in our children, and experience has shown us that Alderwood students who have been most successful in high school and beyond have, much like Yang, “played solidly” in middle school.
o Our most successful students have had outstanding attendance. They were on time for school each morning. Students need to be at school, for the entire day, to hear instruction, engage in learning, and ask for help when they need it. Students can only be successful if they are at school.
o Our most successful students were organized. They came to school with their required school supplies and used their planners every day. The planners helped parents and teachers communicate so projects and test preparation could be spread over time, rather than cramming at the last minute.
o Our most successful students were involved in extra-curricular activities at school or in the community. Music, sports, the arts, and community service helped these students to be well-rounded; they learned self-discipline, time-management, and grew from the success they earned though dedication.
o Our most successful students took responsibility for their actions. They did not make excuses for incomplete work or inappropriate behaviors.
o Our most successful students worked with their teachers during lunch or after school. If they had questions or problems, the sought help rather than give up or blame others.
Our most successful students were respectful to all people. Whether in the hallways, on the phone, on the internet, or in the community, these students were consistently positive about others.
The middle school years can be difficult, and many students have unique challenges that make others look like they are “constructed of something different.” However, each one of our children can be successful if they practice now, in middle school, to be successful adults. If they play solidly, they will achieve. We, the staff at Alderwood, are here to work hand-in-hand with you to help them do that.
Our greatest priority here at school is keeping our students emotionally and physically safe, so please remember that supervision of students starts at 7:30 a.m. Students should not be on campus before that time. Also, students are dismissed at 2:30 p.m. All students need to leave campus after the bell rings unless they are involved in an after-school activity. Students will be expected to follow-through on their transportation plan each day (riding bus, walking home, or adult pick-up). If your child tells you he/she is working with a teacher, please be sure to contact the teacher.
If we, as parents and educators, can focus on the areas listed about and keep our students’ lives simple, structured, and supervised, all of our students can be highly successful. I’m greatly looking forward to working with you and your child during the coming school year; it should be a great one!
Sincerely,
Kelly Campbell
Principal
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