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Dear Kenwood Parents,

Welcome to the Kenwood Website! The Kenwood Staff have been working so hard at making sure our facility is ready for your child(ren) and that all of us are ready to deliver a world class education. If that sounds ambitious, WE ARE!

As noted in the Kenwood Parent Handbook, we have adopted a NO EXCUSES policy for ourselves, our students, and for you! We will only accept genuine effort toward high standards of work from both staff and students. Likewise, we expect parents (YOU) to be the primary supported of students by helping with homework and staying involved with our child's progress at school.

What will help us to eliminate excuses? Besides the right attitude, the Kenwood Staff will continue to implement "The Student Success Process." We will be systematically filling in learning gaps all year- while teaching Indiana grade level standards! At the end of each week, students will take a "mini-assessment," if students master that particular skill/ standard, they will be assigned a week of "Enrichment" class for 30 minutes each day. I realize this is hard to envision-just know that we are going to more quickly and systematically identify students needs; but, the best part is that we will be getting them the help they need RIGHT AWAY! I promise to explain more and more about the Student Success Process- I just didn't want to overwhelm anyone! If you're intrigued, don't hesitate to call me.

What will this all mean for Kenwood School? First, it is a change we are still getting good at- so be patient! Next, it will mean more specific information to YOU about your child's learning progress. Finally, and the most important change will be IMPROVED STUDENT LEARNING! This improvement may be measured by ISTEP scores, classroom assessments - and, hopefully, you will NOTICE that your child is becoming a more proficient READER, WRITER, AND PROBLEM SOLVER! We don't want students to become (ONLY) good test takers, we want them to be successful in LIFE! We know that means success in school.

Do I seem a bit excited about all this? I AM! I have never been motivated by state or federal mandates like Public Law 221 or No Child Left BEhind. I embrace them as public accountability - but not as motivation. Our motivation is to be A REALLY GREAT SCHOOL - SO STUDENTS LEAVE KENWOOD AS SUCCESSFUL LEARNERS AND EXCELLENT PEOPLE. We know that's our goal as parents!

I look forward to working with you and your children this school year. Your involvement is critical. WHenever and wherever we can improve our communication with you, don't hesitate to let us know.

The best really is yet to come,

Ms. Nickolaou, Principal