A Message from Al
Harper:
We begin the 2007-2008 school year with tremendous excitement and anticipation. The fun-filled days of summer are behind us, and the focus of the entire District is dedicated to its mission of "Reaching and Teaching for Excellence."
Throughout the summer, your Board of Education, Central Office Administrators, and Building Principals have been working hard to ensure the start of school was successful for all students.
Several new programs and initiatives will enhance the delivery of our educational services. First, we are extremely excited about the new Harcourt School Publishers reading series that will be implemented in the District for grades Kindergarten to Six. Harcourt's Storytown emphasizes robust vocabulary, critical thinking skills, and differentiation of instruction. This program is a research based reading series aligned with New York State standards and assessments. Also, in keeping with the District’s philosophy of remaining on the cutting edge in technological education, all of our fifth and sixth grade classrooms will be equipped with interactive SMART Board technology. These presentation whiteboards enable teachers and students to participate in hands-on experiments, video conferencing, virtual field trips, and advanced research.
Additionally, we look forward to expanding and enhancing the District's highly acclaimed enrichment program to include the Model United Nations, advanced mathematics and science research, music, athletics, world languages, and drama.
We welcomed 26 new faculty members, all of whom went through a vigorous selection process and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our District.
The members of the Board of Education and I look forward to partnering with you, the Elmont Community, in what, we are sure, will be a productive school year centered around the best interests of our children.
Sincerely,
Al Harper
Superintendent of Schools
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