|
Dear Families of GDS,
Welcome to the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year. We hope this message finds you well. As we embark on the second half of the academic year, we have both good news and bad news to share. On the positive side, your students are that much closer to completing their middle school experience. However, on the flip side, they are also that much closer to transitioning to high school, which can be a daunting prospect for some.
Middle school is a time of significant growth and challenges for students. It's a period where they discover more about themselves, try new things, and navigate the complexities of social relationships. While the social aspects are crucial, we want to emphasize the importance of the academic foundation being laid during these years. Middle school is about building connections in their brains, understanding their strengths and interests, embracing challenges, and fostering a belief that they can achieve anything through hard work.
If we could use a magic wand, we would wish for every student to possess self-confidence, hope, and curiosity. So, while we acknowledge the excitement of their presence here, we understand the concerns some of you may have about their impending transition to high school. It's a mix of good news and bad news.
We need your support in a couple of areas. One challenge we've noticed is students struggling to get to class on time. Teaching them the importance of punctuality is a lesson that extends beyond school and is a valuable life skill. Additionally, we encourage you to engage your student in meaningful conversations about their school day. Asking specific questions that prompt more than a one-word response helps them reflect on their experiences and enhances their communication skills.
As we dive into the second semester, the registration process is underway. Creating schedules can be a complex task, and we prioritize offering a variety of classes to allow students to explore their interests. While we aim to accommodate their preferences, it's not always possible for every student to get their first choice for all classes. We also want to clarify that, unlike the high school, we do not have a drop/add policy, and schedule changes are not feasible.
A special thanks to our PTO for their continuous support. Their recent contribution helped provide scholarship funds for our ski club, making the trip a huge success. We eagerly anticipate our upcoming
Silver Eagle Showcase on April 30th and will share more details soon.
Please feel free to reach out to any of us here at GDS if you have any questions or concerns. Your partnership is invaluable, and together, we can make this second semester a rewarding experience for your students.
Best regards,
Kris Langer
| 
