Larger View Kimberle A. Ward

                                              Union Springs High School

                                                239 Cayuga Street

                                              Union Springs, New York 13160

                                                  (315) 889-4110

There is no more powerful engine driving an organization toward excellence and long-range success than an attractive, worthwhile, and achievable vision of the future, widely shared. 

~Burt Nanus (1992, p.3)

Welcome!

Involving parents/guardians and the community in the education of their children is highly desirable. Through current research the findings are conclusive. Student learning and achievement in school occurs when the home and school collaborate in creating an educational environment that encourages learning; communicates high, yet reasonable expectations for achievement; works together; and has an invested interest in the education of our communities children.

The following are National Standards that have been endorsed by many National Educational Associations. (Richard DuFour, 1998, pp. 252-253) These standards represent a strong partnership between schools and parents/guardians, and the community:

Standard One-Communicating: Communication is frequent and meaningful.

Standard Two-Parenting: Parenting skills are promoted and supported.

Standard Three-Student Learning: Parents play an important role in student learning. 

Standard Four-Volunteering: Parents are welcome, their support is valued.

Standard Five-Making Decisions:  Parents are an integral part in decision making.

Standard Six-Collaborationg with the Community: Community resources are valuable.

This is an invitation to explore our High School and the Professional Learning Community.  Together we can provide an education for our Union Springs High School students that is rich in meaningful relationships, knowledge and understanding, and relevant experiences that will give them the courage to choose journeys that will help them exceed their potential for success and happiness. 

     Communication seems to work best when it is so direct and so simple that it has a sort of elegance.   

~John Kotter (1996, p89)

     Technology has certainly changed how we do things. This website is designed to communicate with our school community. Our students, parents/guardians, faculty and staff, administrators, and the community are encouraged to visit this site frequently.

     This will be a place to get updates on High School events and activities; to read about what is NEWS in our High School; and to visit "teacher pages" for weekly updates regarding homework, notes, messages, and due dates. The ability to communicate often and quickly will be a key to our success in providing the Union Springs community with important information, answers to questions, and feedback concerning our High School and how it impacts student learning and acheivement in grades 9-12.

     Using the electronic mail system (e-mail) will help parents/guardians and staff communicate efficiently and effectively. It is our expectation that these communication efforts will strengthen and maintain a School-Community partnership that believes in providing our High School students with a Professional Learning Community that accepts nothing less than academic, emotional, and social excellence.

Thank you for visiting!

Kimberle A. Ward/Principal

The research is abundantly clear: nothing motivates a child more than when learning is valued by schools and families/community working together in partnership... These forms of involvement do not happen by accident or even by invitation. They happen by explicit strategic intervention.

~Michael Fullan (1997a, pp. 42-43)