Parents,

 

It is a pleasure to welcome your children and you back for the 2012 - 2013 school year. A special welcome to the 124 new students joining All Saints this fall, a record number! This new group of students is eager, talented, and probably just a bit anxious. So please join me in warmly welcoming the newest members of the All Saints family. We are a school of 708 students this fall!

 

As you might expect, the school is a beehive of activity with classes now underway for a week and fall sports for longer than that. I wish to acquaint you with some of what is new this year and also ask for your help. The Cafeteria and Student Center have a new look and FRESH is here! Judging from the long lines of students and faculty lots of people are trying out what is new and morale is high. I personally witnessed two Middle School boys chatting in line. "Sister2Sister Cookies for dessert!" followed by a high five. Students like what they are finding, but lines are long. FRESH is working hard to smooth out their lunchroom procedures and has been very receptive to our advice. Please join me in welcoming FRESH! If you would like to pass along thoughts or accolades about the food service, you may do so through division offices or the business office.

 

Similarly, the drop-off and pick-up lines for your children are long and slow to start, but usually smooth out nicely over several days. Our primary concern is ensuring students are safely moved to and from vehicles. I ask that you please adhere to posted signs while in these lanes. We are working to make them efficient as possible.

 

I am pleased to report that during this school year, All Saints will undertake an important strategic planning process to determine the goals and priorities for the school for the next three to five years. We are very fortunate to be working with Dr. William Weary of Fieldstone Consulting, a highly regarded institutional planner, and one who has worked with All Saints before. Over the fall, we will be seeking input from the schools' constituency, so I hope many of our parents will choose to offer thoughts to make All Saints even better.

 

Finally, technology at All Saints remains very exciting. I wish to reiterate some key features for 2012 - 2013. We will continue to embrace BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) for grades 5 - 12, while in the Lower School technology will be classroom based and students should not bring a device. There is no requirement for older students to have a device, but they are encouraged to bring them. If a teacher plans for students to work wirelessly on devices, All Saints maintains a large number of iPads to ensure all students have a device for any project a teacher may direct. Students with personal iPads may find some of their text books are now available for that device. Of note, our state of the art wireless system filters out most inappropriate content, but does not address devices running on the 3G/4G cellular networks. We are developing policies in this area. Click here to read a short excellent article on BYOD.

 

Again, it is a pleasure to open school with such good news and to wish everyone a great year!

 

Sincerely,