Superintendent's Message - January 26, 2024

Greetings North Marion Families and Community,

As we move with purpose through the first weeks of 2024 we extend our warmest wishes to you and your families. It has been wonderful to welcome our students back from the winter break (and the ice storm break), and we look forward to engaging in the possibilities for moving our mission “North Marion, learning together to cultivate lifelong growth” forward in this new year.

Thank you North Marion School Board of Directors! January is National School Board Appreciation Month and we want to encourage you to join us in sharing special recognition and thanks to Glenn Holum, Crystal Rostocil, Heidi Toran, Richard Goddard, Kelsey Newkirk, Merle Stutzman, and Jenny Scott for their leadership and outstanding volunteer service.

I wanted to thank you all for your response to the recent challenges and impacts of the ice storm. We appreciate your patience and support during those days. I am grateful for the wonderful communication and cooperation among our families and schools that kept safety as a priority while also attending to the variety of needs that arise for children and families in the community during challenging weather events.

We continue to be inspired by our purpose- the mission and vision we collectively work towards—the education and well-being of our students. Thank you for doing what you can to attend your student’s performances and demonstrations at our various school activities and events. It is always great to see you. Your presence demonstrates your support for our students and your active engagement in their learning.

And thank you for your participation in our parent nights, where we have the opportunity to collaborate, share information, and hear how we can improve our work together to support our students. Your insights and feedback are important, and they strengthen the partnership between our schools and families. A special thanks to those of you who attended our middle school community session focused on the impacts of social media.

“When in doubt choose kindness.” Thank you for encouraging your students to participate in the kindness challenges at our buildings. It is heartening to see the positive impact of those initiatives on our school community, and we know our models as adults are critically important in building a culture of kindness, care, and compassion.

We are excited about the potential for greatness that 2024 holds for our students, educators, and families. Your support is clearly causing our vision “Communities engaged and unified in providing all students equitable access to their chosen path” to come to life and your support helps to create an environment where every student can thrive.  Thank you.

With Spirit,
Bill