IT WON'T BE LONG

 by Superintendent Robert "Bob" Lewandowski 

 School is just around the corner, as summer draws to an end. My summer here in central office has been busy. The district has hired several individuals in response to resignations. We have hired an elementary principal, elementary teacher and a middle & high school counselor. We are excited about the talents as well as the passion that each of our new employees bring to Mission.

• Elementary Principal: Tammy Demien
• Elementary Teacher: Maria Stultz (Maria will be teaching Title I & Kirsten Hawkaluk as been reassigned to the 3rd grade)
• Middle School & High School Counselor: Shannon Redman

Be sure to give them a warm Mission welcome if you happen to come across these individuals in our community.

2013-2014 SELECTED CALENDAR

 by Superintendent Robert "Bob" Lewandowski 

 On April 21, 2013 at its regular meeting, the St. Ignatius School Board #28 selected OPTION #2 as the 2013-2014 CALENDAR.

Special thanks to the Calendar Committee for developing, surveying and providing valuable input and options for this selection process. The Calendar Committee  recommended the following calendar prioritization based upon their interpretation of the survey results: Calendar #3, #2, #1 and #4. The Board selected Calendar #2 as the most viable option noting there were more "dislikes" and "strongly dislikes" on Calendar #3 that #2.  If you would like to see the results go to: 2013-2014 Calendar Survey.

I would like to thank everyone for their input and time spent reviewing and filling out the Calendar Survey.

St. Ignatius School District #28

2013 -2014  School Calendar

 

DESCRIPTION:

170 Student Days; 183 Staff Days; Day Start 8:15 AM; Day End 3:30 PM; Calendar Start Day Aug 28; Calendar End Day June 6; Graduation June 7; 10 PIR Days; 9 School Improvement Half Days; 18 Partial Days; 3 Duty Free Day after each Quarter. 

DEFINITIONS:

Partial Days: These days are scheduled on Fridays and dismissal is at 2:15 PM.

School Improvement Half Days: On these days students will attend school until 12:30 PM. Staff will remain in school and continue with their professional responsibilities meeting with parents, school improvement teams, data collection and planning and preparation. These days will focus on school improvement through communication and collaboration efforts.

Duty Free Day: There is no school on these days for either staff or students; however, the time provides the opportunity for the professional staff to complete required documentation and paperwork at the end of each quarter.

Student Days: Days students will be in attendance at school.

Staff Days: Days scheduled for the professional staff.

PIR Days: Pupil Instruction Related professional development/training days. No school is scheduled for students.

Optional PIR Days: Days scheduled for the professional staff that may be substituted for State Professional Development on October 18-19. 

First Friday BBQ: TRADITION!

As tradition holds, the first Friday of each school year is celebrated with a high school and a middle school barbecue. It is just one of many events hosted by the school to provide home court advantage for our students. Somehow, a meal really pulls a family together. This school is no different and this activity sets the tone for safety, support and belonging that is afforded to every student at Mission.


Special thanks to all of the parents and community members who brought in their barbecue grills and cooked for the student-body!
This is Mission HCA Baby! Tradition!

Back In School - Enrollment Up

The first day of school was as exciting for the teachers and staff as it was for the students. School buses arrived and school was underway. Students participated in building assemblies, class officer elections, a great hot-lunch program and a follow-up K-12 all-student assembly at the end of the day.

The big news is that ENROLLMENT IS UP! Last year we ended with 486 students K-12. Today, the enrollment is 526 Mission Bulldogs kindergarten through twelfth grade. There are 246 in the elementary, 125 in the middle school and 155 in the high school. We are having to make a few adjustments to say the least, but am confident that school will continue to run smoothly and effectively.

After all, 

WE ARE MISSION POSSIBLE!

Faculty Professional Development 2011

St. Ignatius School District #28 Staff 2011-2012

The faculty and staff started their first day back to school with professional development.The first day focused on reviewing student data and setting academic goals for the 2011-2012 school year. It was a great day. After being served breakfast by the board and kitchen staff everyone was welcomed and new staff members introduced.

We didn't waste a lot of time before reviewing student data from the Mont CAS and MAP assessments. Data was reviewed in terms of all students, building level outcomes as well as representational subgroups.

We set goals that specifically describe percentage increases in Reading, Math and Language Arts for the 2011-2012 school year. Both the Reading and Math included goals for subgroup where there are achievement gaps.

Video segments from the new professional development tool PD 360 were viewed: 1) The Interdependence of Teamwork, Goals and Data; 2) Raising Expectations to Close the Achievement Gap; and 3) Identifying the Achievement Gap with Data.

Teachers and staff were given the following materials: Employee Handbook, Supervision of Instruction Manual; Five Year Strategic Planning Handbook and the Mission Possible Data document. The book Good to Great by Jim Collins was also distributed to everyone for review before the October 28 district professional development day. It was a full day of work and discussions that should lead to school improvement and higher student outcomes. Learning takes work and our team here at Mission is doing what it takes to be the best.

I am very proud of our staff and look forward to the students on Wednesday, August 24.

See everyone soon!

High School building level professional development.

Elementary building level staff development.

Fall Sports Begin

Ready or not, school is right around the corner. Fall sports began this last week and I had the opportunity to get away from my desk and take a couple photos to share with everyone. As many of you know, I try to post as many pictures as possible on my blog.

Please enjoy the photos and we will look forward to seeing the students on the first day of school: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 8:20 AM.

Setting The Pace!

by Superintendent Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Welcome to MISSION!

It was great to be back from vacation and see the fantastic job done on the gym floor. The pictures I have posted do not do the floor justice. It really is a spectacle to see. You walk in the new entry in the high school and are greeted by a renovated gym facility that oozes school spirit and pride. There is a 20 foot bulldog in the center of the floor surrounded by thick blue boundary lines with MISSION on both ends. I can't wait until our students and fans have their first experience on it.

This next school year holds a lot of promise. Our academic focus on student success is becoming more acute. Our activity programs have high expectations after having very successful seasons this last year. As the facilities are being readied for the start of school, it's hard not to get excited.  HCA (Home Court Advantage) will be well supported by clean, well kept facilities! Well done building and grounds crew! Things are looking real good!

At Mission, we have "HCA Baby!"

First Day 2010-2011

by Superintendent Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

With temperatures in the 90's the 2010-2011 school year got off to a HOT start! Despite the weather, students and staff were enthusiastic about getting back to school. It is always an exciting time for everyone. The first day offers a fresh start and new beginnings whether you are a senior or a kindergartner.

I had the opportunity to meet the student-body at the 2:00 PM assembly in the gym. We had 227 students in the elementary, 117 in the middle school and 156in the high school.

That is 500 students, 22 middle & high school teachers, 23 elementary teachers, 11 paraprofessionals, 3 administrators and 3 secretaries in the heat of the day in one warm gym, but as you can see from the picture (second from the bottom), it didn't effect our school spirit.

During the assembly, board members, administrators, teachers and staff were introduced. I presented the concept of Home Court Advantage or HCA to the students providing safety, support and belonging to every student every day on the court, field, hallway and in the classroom.


The student-body also practiced our "call to arms" cheer that will give our teams the support and confidence when most needed. ANY student (K-12) or parent can start the "call to arms" cheer and our student-body and crowd will join in. That's what we call "HCA Baby!"

The chant of "BULLDOGS" by our staff, elementary, middle and high school set the hair up on the back of my head. It was a great assembly! We've got spirit! Yes we do!

The day ended as it began, with everyone looking forward to a great school year.

Photos: (Top to bottom) Mr. Ligas communicating his classroom expectations; Mrs. Mikkelsen starting instruction; Students at the K-12 Assembly; and Loading the buses for home.

District-Wide Goals Provide Focus

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Back to school is how the teachers spent their first day of the 2010-2011 school year. On August 24, 2010 teachers and staff attended District In-services. Yes, teachers go to school too! Learning is a life long process. After the staff was welcomed back by Board Vice Chairman Gene Posivio, a heartwarming introduction by Board Chairman, Maxine Whitman and support from attending Board Member, Michael Esslinger, I had the opportunity to meet many of the staff members for the first time and talk to them about a "Balanced Score Card" and unveil District Goals.

The Balanced Score Card will be made up of strategic plans that address the needs of our students district wide. Within these strategic plans, our District will focus on the following student goals:

1. Maintain safety, support and belonging for all students.
2. Increase the percentage of students scoring proficient or higher on the Mont CAS in Reading by 10% from 78% to 88% (proficient or above district-wide).
3. Increase the percentage of students scoring proficient or higher on the Mont CAS in Math by 10% from 59% to 69% (proficient or above district-wide).

I am confident that this staff will meet these goals. They were eager to learn and just as eager to start on the work at hand. I think they will embrace the outlined changes and initiatives with fidelity and enthusiasm. I believe this school district can become the standard by which all other districts in the state are measured. Welcome back and best of luck to the staff this 2010-2011 school year! It has begun!