Dear parents and community members,

New carpet, fresh paint, new textbooks, oh my! We have been very busy during the past few months preparing our schools, classrooms and playgrounds for the 2007-2008 school year. All we need now are you and your kids!

As a parent, you are your child’s first and most important teacher. That role continues, even as you entrust your precious children to us during the day. With parental involvement, encouragement, and support, we can achieve our mutual goal — that of preparing every child for a bright future.

Here are just a few things you can do from the home front that will help your child be successful in school:

• Make sure your child arrives at school each day on time, well-fed and rested.
• Ensure that your child’s attire complies with school dress codes (i.e. uniform dress at elementary and middle school; neat and modest attire at high school).
• Set aside a time and place for homework and check to make sure it is done.
• Review papers and notes that come home from school.
• Mark coming events on a family calendar (i.e. picture day, PTC meetings, field trips, etc.)
• Attend school meetings, parent-teacher conferences and events.
• Check in regularly with your child’s teachers.
• Schedule a meeting with your child’s teacher(s) or principal if you have a concern.
• Limit television, video games, etc., and encourage your child to read, read, read.
• Insist on courteous, respectful behavior at school as well as regular daily attendance.

For those of you who do not have children in our school system, I would like to encourage you to support our schools in some way. An hour of tutoring or mentoring each week can make a huge difference in the life of a child. Or, simply attend a sporting event or theatrical performance to cheer on our students and staff.

It takes a caring community to educate a child. I look forward to partnering with you, the caring community of Santa Fe, in making 2007-2008 a great year for the students of Santa Fe Public Schools.

Educationally yours,

Leslie Carpenter,
superintendent of schools