Dear Panther Family,
The month of May brings excitement to our school community, marking a time for both celebration and reflection. We honor the achievements and growth of our students and staff while looking back on the past school year to identify areas for continued improvement and focus in the future.
In line with our mission to Connect, Challenge, and Inspire Every Child to Reach Their Full Potential, we've expanded opportunities to nurture essential qualities outlined in our Portrait of a Graduate (cooperation, perseverance, empathy, problem-solving, self-awareness, confidence, and resilience). Collaborating with community partners, we've developed a comprehensive K-12 continuum of Career Awareness and Exploration, providing students with diverse experiences from field trips and work-based learning to career-focused courses. We have reaffirmed our commitment to early learning and intervention through the expansion of Pre-K programming, and will continue to do so. Our dedication to fine and performing arts programming has earned us recognition as an EFA "Focus District," distinguishing us as the sole district with a K-12 partnership with EFA in Kalamazoo County! More recently, the generous donation of a STEM Lab by our local Sunrise Kiwanis Club promises enhanced learning opportunities for students at all levels in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. There is much to celebrate!
May also prompts reflection, offering a chance to acknowledge successes and areas for growth as we prepare for the upcoming academic year. I would like to extend sincere gratitude to our board, administrative, and staff leadership teams for their commitment to this reflective process, as we continue to build bridges for our students and families. In a few short weeks, we'll celebrate alongside over 100 Panther Graduates, wishing them well as they embark on the next phase of their journey. It's a genuine celebration of the dedication and hard work demonstrated by these students, their families, and our remarkable staff. Congratulations, Class of 2024!