This has been a busy week at the Staples-Motley School District! From our first positive case of COVID-19 that was handled quickly and carefully at the Elementary School, to the announcement from the MN State High School League that football and volleyball are back in action this fall. Our buildings have been a buzz of hard work and collaboration by our administration and secretarial staff as they organize and communicate all the details – and that was just Monday!
Throughout the week we’ve continued to see our educators think outside the box. Isaac Novak has taken advantage of the nice weather and has his CTE classes fishing in preparation for making their own fishing poles, and Annie Capistrant has reinvented the library – putting it on wheels to bring the love of reading to each class at the elementary school.
Beyond academics, Kesha Holst’s REACH classes at the middle/high school have focused on goal setting and community building; and Success Interventionist Kim Prestridge has been working with students to manage their emotions with the Zones of Regulation curriculum.
I am proud of our staff and students for meeting the challenges that come with this school year, and grateful for the support of our families and communities as we continue striving to provide the best education for our students.
Though the district has had to spend significant time planning for and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in our schools, we continue to reflect on the long-term goals of the district in the context of our Continuous Improvement Plan. Our facilities planning committee has been reviewing a variety of ways we can improve our facilities – from critical maintenance projects, to exploring the benefits of new buildings.
While the committee continues to review facility improvements and investments that best support the Continuous Improvement Plan developed with the collaboration of over 100 community members, parents, students and staff members, we want to make sure your voice is heard. Next week we will release a survey on our website, with hard copies available at the district office, that you can complete to provide input for the facilities committee and the school board as they navigate the decisions ahead. I urge you to participate in this survey so we can make facility decisions that best serve the students and families in our district.
Thanks to all our families for your continued trust this school year.
With Gratitude,
Shane Tappe
Superintendent