For 2017-18, DC Charter has embraced the them, “Empower the Positive!”  We’ve been looking for ways to see the best in ourselves and in others and to use those most positive attributes as a way to affect systemic change in a way that improves the district and the way we provide services to our students, their families, and our greater community.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I’d like to use this blog post as an opportunity to share some of the positives that I’ve seen during the first one-third of the school year:

--Student aides are being used effectively throughout the building in classrooms, the cafeteria, and the office.

--Our Educational Assistants (EA) continue to be an important and integral part of our work.  We’ve just hired our sixth EA (up from four a couple years ago) and this year each is assigned to spend most of their day working with the same teacher and students as a way to maximize relationships and student achievement.

--Students have had multiple opportunities this year to engage in learning outside the district.  Some of these special activities include: Umpqua District FFA Leadership Conference; Southern Oregon Trades Careers Expo; and Vocal Jam and Honor Choir.

--We’ve really focused in on our charter school’s natural resources theme this year.  One way we are providing additional opportunities in this area are through our Rubber Boots and Work Gloves days where elementary students spend part of their school day engaged in activities around this theme.  We couldn’t pull off these days without the support of our community and parent volunteers…thanks to all who have helped us with this initiative!

--Our teachers spent a Friday in October at the Douglas County Fairgrounds with teachers from all school districts in Douglas County learning strategies to help students be more successful in school.  We learned practical ideas for improving student engagement, creating a positive climate, and building cognitive capacity.

--Another area in which we’ve been especially focused this year is measuring and reporting to students their average daily attendance each week.  At the end of quarter one, our cumulative average daily attendance was:

----Elementary School     96%

----Middle School            95%

----High School                92%

We so appreciation the efforts of our parents in getting your children to school on time, sending them every day (unless there is a legitimate, excusable reason), and having them stay for the full day.

--Thanks to the idea of a DC alumna, and donations from the community, we served every child a free Thanksgiving Feast last week.  It was a great way for those of us who work at DC Charter to express our gratitude to our students for being part of our lives.

This is just a small sampling of the many ways we are “Empowering the Positive” this year.  We have so much to be thankful for this holiday season…including all of our parents and community members who partner with us every day to make our school a positive place for all who work and learn here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dr. A