As is always the case between school years, there will be many changes at North Branch Area Public Schools this summer. Some of those changes are budget related and others are simply to improve the delivery of services and make the district more effective.
One change that will directly affect families is the change from the Skyward student information system to the TIES student information system. We are very excited about this change and we hope that you will see the benefits as you familiarize yourself with the system.
For the school district, switching to TIES has many benefits. Perhaps most important, it will allow us to streamline student data and make it immediately available for teachers, who can compare it to other students not just at NBAPS but in surrounding districts as well. It will allow teachers to better and more quickly react to educational red flags, and should improve the educational experience altogether.
Switching to TIES means the school district will be able to better serve families in a variety of ways. As we move through the process of changing systems, we will provide additional details on how the system can make life easier and provide opportunities to be more involved in your child’s education.
I strongly encourage families to sign up for the service when it becomes available. One important reason to do so is that the district will switch to paperless report cards to save money. Report cards will be available through the TIES information system. Of course, paper copies will be made available for those without internet service.
A letter should be received by families in the near future announcing the change. There will be more information passed along as the summer progresses. As always, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.
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Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The reasons why
Over my many years as an educator and administrator I have been asked why I am so passionate about my job on numerous occasions.
For all of us there are times when we struggle with our decisions, but if we look closely it is not hard to find the reasons we do the things we do. For me, graduation is one of those reminders.
North Branch Area Public Schools sent the class of 2011 into the world last Wednesday. I watched as Principal McDonough conducted his first such ceremony as a principal; I watched as the school board proudly handed out diplomas, I watched as staff worked so hard to make the occasion memorable, and I watched with pride as a group of young adults ended one chapter of their lives and began another.
Few feelings are felt more strongly in education than the pride in sending a group of people into the world knowing you have done everything you can to give them the tools to pursue their dreams and make the most of their opportunities.
Soon enough, these graduates will embark on careers of their own, start families, and become responsible for the education of another generation of young minds. It is an awesome responsibility and one I have no doubt these graduates will take very seriously.
We often hear what is “wrong” with education. There are about as many thoughts on that as there are people to express those thoughts. Unfortunately, most don’t know and may never seek to find what is “right” in education. I would suggest you look no further than our students. Despite the challenges they face they received a top-notch education provided by district staff and the taxpayers who support the district.
Creating generations of adults – ready to carry on and nurture the American dream – is something we can all be proud of.
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Read more!
For all of us there are times when we struggle with our decisions, but if we look closely it is not hard to find the reasons we do the things we do. For me, graduation is one of those reminders.
North Branch Area Public Schools sent the class of 2011 into the world last Wednesday. I watched as Principal McDonough conducted his first such ceremony as a principal; I watched as the school board proudly handed out diplomas, I watched as staff worked so hard to make the occasion memorable, and I watched with pride as a group of young adults ended one chapter of their lives and began another.
Few feelings are felt more strongly in education than the pride in sending a group of people into the world knowing you have done everything you can to give them the tools to pursue their dreams and make the most of their opportunities.
Soon enough, these graduates will embark on careers of their own, start families, and become responsible for the education of another generation of young minds. It is an awesome responsibility and one I have no doubt these graduates will take very seriously.
We often hear what is “wrong” with education. There are about as many thoughts on that as there are people to express those thoughts. Unfortunately, most don’t know and may never seek to find what is “right” in education. I would suggest you look no further than our students. Despite the challenges they face they received a top-notch education provided by district staff and the taxpayers who support the district.
Creating generations of adults – ready to carry on and nurture the American dream – is something we can all be proud of.
(end)
Read more!
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