Superintendent's Message
December 2018
Dear Community,
This edition of our newsletter focuses on the critically important topics of Social Emotional Learning and safety. The ongoing support of the Shoreham-Wading River community has allowed continued growth in both those areas. Strong SEL skills correlate to better conduct, higher academic outcomes, increased perceptions of self-worth, and happier, successful lives. As a District, we have a strong SEL foundation that supports our students. Programs such as Empowering Minds, Character Counts, Natural Helpers and Best Buddies create opportunities for our students to feel connected, capable and to be able to contribute to each other and their community. The addition of two psychologists over the last two years has increased our capacity to deliver pro-active mental health services for our students and has provided additional support for our classrooms to help all students be successful. Each building has a team of professionals that consider students in need of additional supports and interventions to make sure we identify and meet their needs.
Safety and security remain our most important priority. Over the last few years, the District has steadily strengthened our ability to detect, deter and delay any potential threats to our students and staff. All of our buildings have security vestibules, a new system is in place to monitor visitors, an anonymous reporting tool has been implemented, additional security vehicles and guards have been added, and enhanced training for security protocols is ongoing.
For more information on safety and security in our District, please visit this link on our webpage to view the public presentation from November 13, 2018: http://www.swrschools.org/Assets/Meeting_ and_Presentations/111418_Safety_and_Security_111318. pdf?t=636777914857630000
Finally, our Board of Education is undertaking a multi-year strategic planning process which will help develop a plan to guide our District into the future. It is important that all of our community members share their voice by taking the Strategic Planning Survey which can be found on the home page of our website: www.swrschools.org
Sincerely,
Gerard W. Poole
Superintendent of Schools