IN West Jefferson Hills Fall 2018 | Page 50

Jefferson Hills Intermediate School CHRISTOPHER VERY, PROUD PRINCIPAL NEW BEGINNINGS, NEW OPPORTUNITIES! T he summer days and months have once again passed us by and the excitement of ushering in another school year resonates throughout our entire community; however, this year’s anticipation feels a little different from previous years. Given the recent school reconfiguration and the many changes to the district, there is an overwhelming sense of optimism and positive energy. Our stakeholders have been committed to resolving anxiety and have focused on the positive impact these changes will have for ALL students, confirming our entire community’s steadfast commitment to our Core Values and Mission Statement. Over the past several months, our dedicated staff and faculty have been working tirelessly to ensure that we are aligning every aspect of our schools with our Core Values. Whether it was updates to the physical environment of our school/ campus, enhancing our safety/security measures and resources, securing additional technological resources to promote a 1:1 learning environment, providing professional development to our faculty in order to implement best practices, creating instructional schedules that foster individual growth and achievement, adding additional educational programs and resources, or hiring the very best educators to fill various vacancies, we continue to be guided first and foremost by our students and meeting their individual needs. While this year marks new beginnings for so many of us, I am continually impressed with our collaborative focus on our students and remain highly optimistic about the future of our school and our district. On behalf of our entire staff and 48 WEST JEFFERSON HILLS faculty, I am beyond excited to welcome over 700 students and families to our Jefferson Hills Intermediate School Family for the 2018-2019 school year. Whether you are a returning student or brand new to our school, I remain highly confident that you will find JHIS a very unique and special place. I am hopeful that you will experience an environment in which our students will feel safe and loved; a place where their accomplishments and efforts are recognized; a place where they will feel challenged and engaged; a place where they will form lasting memories and forever friendships; and a place where our families are welcomed and supported. Welcome to new beginnings at Jefferson Hills Intermediate School!