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District Administrator's Message

 

Welcome to the 2022-23 school year! It is a great pleasure to welcome both our returning families and those who are new to our district. As projected, our enrollment continues to grow as we expect approximately 1200 students in our building this year.

The 2022-23 school year will be like no other. Construction on the facility additions and renovations are in full swing. When you visit the building, you will see many changes that include, but are not limited to:

  • The old Principal’s Office area has been demolished; construction is underway to rebuild this area. This will be the new home for our Student Services Team (Counselors, Social Worker, School Psychologist, and Registrar).

  • Our new principal, Mr. Kitslaar; two assistant principals, Mr. Haubrich and Mr. Neave; and our building level secretaries, Mrs. Switalla and Mrs. Swearingen, will be located in offices in the main hallway.

  • Speaking of the main hallway, this area saw major construction this summer. Lockers, flooring, and ceiling tiles were removed; this was done to expedite work during the summer of 2023.

  • The old cafeteria will begin its transformation into a brand new auditorium in September. This means that lunch will be served and students will eat on the far west side of the gym. Although not ideal, this will allow for the new auditorium to be ready for the 2023-24 school year.

  • Construction of the new Commons, Art Wing, and Competition Gym will begin in August; these additions are all located off of the back of the building. 

A few things that have not changed for 2022-23 include:

  • Parent drop-off and pick-up will still occur on the west side of the building.

  • Bus drop-off and pick-up will remain in the front of the building.

  • All visitors entering the building from 7 a.m to 3:30 p.m. are asked to check-in at the Attendance Office (same location as in the past).

A detailed reminder letter will be sent to all families and students in mid-August by the Building Administrative Team.

While much of our time this summer has been spent with facility work, we have spent concentrated time hiring a number of new and exceptional staff. While we were sad to see a number of staff retire or move to new careers, our new staff will build on the rich traditions of Westosha Central and bring innovative ideas to help move our district forward. We will send a complete list of new staff out to parents in preparation for the school year.

Summer is also a time for our faculty members to focus on their own learning – something they do not have as much time for during the school year when the emphasis is on teaching our students. This summer, staff engaged in multiple sources of professional development. This enriches their knowledge base and helps us to bring new strategies to our school and students.

August and September are a wonderful time for those of us involved in education because it allows us to develop new goals, build new relationships, and embark upon new challenges. The roadmap of our newly created Strategic Plan will guide our work over the next three years. An overview of the plan is located on our website, but the overarching goals include:

  • Improving Student Achievement

  • Social Emotional Learning and Needs of Students

  • Attracting, Retention, and Social Emotional Needs of Staff

  • Communication 

  • Finance and Facility 

  • Partnerships with Community and K-8s

While improving student achievement is an important part of our mission, we know it is essential to focus on the social and emotional needs of our students as well.

A few key dates to remember:

  • Monday, August 29 Freshmen Only Day 
  • Tuesday, August 30 First Day for All Students
  • Wednesday, September 7 Family Night/Open House

One of the most important parts of my job is connecting with teachers and students. I also look forward to engaging with parents in the coming year. We welcome the chance to both share our opportunities and challenges and to address any questions or concerns that you may have.

As we begin again, please accept my best wishes for a wonderful school year.

With Excitement,

John Gendron

District Administrator