Good Afternoon,

I trust you’re well and that you’re enjoying some cooler weather.  Here are a few highlights from the week!

National Arts in Education Week and National Hispanic Heritage Month

We started this week with our Board of Trustees’ Committee of the Whole meeting during which the district’s 2020-2021 student data outcomes (presentation link) were presented along with fantastic information about our mental health supports available to students and staff. At the meeting, it was exciting to see the level of engagement teachers had about the reading curriculum being used in our classrooms and the positive impact they’ve seen on teaching and learning. 

This week we celebrated National Arts in Education Week by highlighting dance programs across the district; we also kicked-off the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month which runs from September 15 - October 15. 

Next week, I’ll be engaging in our monthly Q&A with Lydia Cotton of Charleston Aqui Estamos via Facebook Live to discuss the district’s Newcomer Center at R.B. Stall High School and other exciting news around the district. I encourage you to tune in to the conversation on September 21, 2022, at 6:00 PM on CCSD’s Facebook page.

Student Outcomes Governance Community Engagement Sessions

This week also marked the beginning of the Board of Trustees’ Student Outcomes Governance Engagement Sessions around the County. Over the next two weeks, the Board will be hosting and leading sessions with all district stakeholders to get feedback on developing shared goals for students. The purpose of these meetings is to listen to the community’s vision (what do you want students to know and be able to do?) and values (what absolutes must be honored during the journey to accomplish the vision?) to help focus the work of the district over the next five years. The input received will allow the Board to create goals and guardrails to help create a system that allows the board to routinely monitor progress on student achievement during every school board meeting.

The series of 24 sessions started yesterday with Board members conducting a Zoom session with the CCSD Teacher Roundtable and the leaders of local teacher organizations, as well as with two Board-led in-person sessions in the District 9 community (Johns Island and Wadmalaw area) at Mt. Zion Elementary and St. John’s High School. Thank you to all those that were able to attend and participate. I encourage you to attend any of the in-person sessions or Zoom sessions over the next two weeks to share your thoughts, ideas, and input that will help our system support all students read on grade level by grade five and become college and career ready upon graduation. Your feedback and input in your various roles as an educator/community member/parent/aunt/uncle/grandparent, etc. are integral to helping us define and achieve our shared goals for students. 

If you are unable to attend a session, a survey is available where you can share your feedback. Both the survey and the engagement schedule are linked in this message and are also available on the district’s website and social media accounts (@ccsdconnects). 

Thank you for all you are doing in support of our students and families. I hope you have a great weekend.

Regards,

Don