Welcome back to school.  The 2010-2011 school year offers wonder and excitement for all of our prekindergarten-grade 12 and technical education students.  Schools in Essex Junction, Westford, and the Essex Community Educational Center have been busy this summer preparing for the return of students.

The district web-site remains the primary information source about our schools.  One important piece of information on the website is the Parent/Student Handbook.  As we get underway with the new school year, we ask that all families and students take the time to carefully review the Handbook.  Additionally, each school will send home forms to complete and return.  The information on these forms makes up the foundation of our student information system and helps us ensure parent interests and student safety needs are met.

There are many important decisions that will be made this year affecting the future and direction of our schools.  “I urge all citizens to be aware of these conversations, but more importantly to participate and help inform the decisions.  The school boards and I look forward to expanding our communication and public engagement opportunities this year,” Chittenden Central Supervisory Union (CCSU) Superintendent Michael Deweese said.

We are reminded of the children’s book It Takes a Village (Jane Cowen-Fletcher, Scholastic, 1994), drawn from the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.”  Our community’s children are our greatest asset, and the success of our schools hinges in part on strong home-school and school-community partnerships.  Please know your schools welcome your involvement.