News Item
Monticello Schools: Networking for Student Success
September 2008
Opening Day Ceremony filled with positive energy and focus
On Sept. 2, Superintendent of
Schools Dr. Patrick Michel opened Monticello's 2008-09 school
year with a recap of the many successes of the previous year.
With Monticello's test scores and graduation rates rising, Dr.
Michel thanked the hundreds of faculty and staff present for
their unwavering support of the vast changes the district is
undergoing.
"We're a human organization so we can't expect perfection," said
Dr. Michel. "But we're moving in the right direction."
Two years ago, Dr. Michel began a reorganization of the district
schools in an effort to provide students with an education that
will help prepare them for tomorrow's working world. As part of
the foundation for change, Dr. Michel implemented a variety of
programs to ensure students were getting a safe environment in
which they could learn, grow and excel. The high school is now
structured into Academies that allow students to streamline
their education and focus their interests. They also offer more
college-level courses for juniors and seniors. Some of the
changes at the district elementary schools have allowed for
adjustments in curriculum aimed at more adequately preparing
students for success in the upper grades. Part of the district’s
restructuring plan is to strengthen its relationships with
community organizations as a way to get more people involved as
personal stakeholders in the success of its students.
As an added way to reach out to community members and parents,
this year’s Opening Day Ceremony was streamed live via the
internet (an archive of that file can be viewed below). The
event also included commentary from guest speakers about the
district's new recycling initiative and the expansion of the
Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) program.
Photo: from left, Monticello Superintendent of Schools Dr.
Patrick Michel with Board of Education member Liza Glick.
Click here to view an array of photos from the event (.wmv
file).
Click here to watch the archived event which was streamed
live via the internet. This includes piano performances by
Monticello High School students Jessica Nesin and Ruby Hong.
Click here to read Dr. Michel's presentation outline titled,
"Networking for Student Success" (PDF document).
Click here to read the invitation letter sent to parents and
the community by Dr. Michel (PDF document).