Principal’s Message August 5, 2021

August 5, 2021

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:

Welcome back to another school year at BKW Secondary School. The last year and a half have imposed numerous challenges on every one of us, but especially on our students. However, we have also learned a lot from the ordeal in which we had to function. To this end, as we plan for the opening of another school year, we will draw on some of the knowledge gain as to what worked and what hurt our students.

Our primary focus for the 2021-2022 school year is on having all students back in the building every day receiving in-person instruction if possible. We have learned that students learn best when they are directly in front of their teachers. The vast majority of our remote students struggled academically over the last year. We aim to fix this by bringing all our students back to the building if possible. However, to safely bring all students back, we will have to continue utilizing some of the practices that have so far kept us safe and resulted in no transmission of the virus in the secondary school last year. We are relying on the support of you, our parents and guardians, as partners in helping us to encourage all students to continue adhering to all the safety procedures.

For the 2021-2022 school year, we will be emphasizing social distancing of all students throughout the day. This will be more critical with the possible increase in the number of students who will be in the building, especially when they are in the hallways. Students will be expected to move expeditiously from one classroom to the next without loitering in the hallways. Lockers will not be available to students due to the fact that we do not have enough lockers to safely space students apart from each other. In addition, we will be asking everyone in the building to utilize face masks at all times when it is not possible to social distance from each other.

In an effort to address some of the learning deficits that may have occurred over the last year, we will be having a “Homework Club” for middle school students. Homework Club will be from approximately 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Students who attend Homework Club may ride the 5:00 p.m. bus home. More details will be shared with you during the first week of school.

We are eagerly awaiting the return of our students and our parents’ continued support and input in how we can make BKW an even better school community. Please contact us on how you may become a part of our Shared Decision Making Committee.

Respectfully,
Mark A. Pitterson, Ed.D.
Secondary School Principal

Information about the Shared Decision Making Committee
Dr. Pitterson is looking for a few parents/guardians and students to volunteer to serve on the Shared Decision Making Committee (SDM) for the 2021-22 school year. This committee meets once monthly to make decisions on how to improve the school. SDM Committee volunteers will need to be a part of a school opening discussion at a Google Meet meeting in late August. If you are interested in serving on the committee, please contact the main office with your name, phone number and email address.