August 4, 2009

A Message To All Kuumba Families

For the New School Year

          Welcome to each of you. Kuumba Academy staff members are delighted that you will be with us this year. If you are new to the school, please know that we are pleased to have you join our community, and if you are a returning parent, know that we are excited to have you here with us again this year.

            This promises to be an exciting school year with several great projects moving forward. To keep you up to date with our planning, I would like to outline several items of interest:

·         Our Singapore Math program will continue. This program has proven to be highly successful. Testing data has demonstrated that their are increased levels of proficiency for students’ in mathematics  school wide.

·         eMINTS Technology training for our staff members will continue. This year to eliminate the need for substitutes, all training will be held in the evening or on Saturday’s.

·         The Kuumba Website is being reorganized to provide all parents, staff and community members with an opportunity to be more engaged with the school. The website will feature:

1.       A link for parents to the eSchool Plus website, where parents can check their child’s grades on tests, and see their grades updated regularly. This secure website is password protected.

2.      Updated information regarding activities occurring in the school

3.      The school calendar with outstanding events highlighted

4.      Links to your child’s classroom teachers’ web page where you can check on the status of homework assignments, special projects and ongoing classroom activities.

·         The school PTA is growing. Please come and join so that you can be an active member of the Kuumba Academy Community in a number of constructive ways… volunteer services in all areas of the school, serve as a representative to the Charter School Network, serve on the Comer School Planning Team, and help to determine which seminars best meet the needs of you and your child so that they might be presented at a Parent Academy. The list of activities that you can be a part of grows daily. WE NEED YOU!! A nominal fee of $10.00 is required for you to join.

·         Come out and meet our new TEACH for America teachers. These two individuals come with enthusiasm and energy and have demonstrated their desire to work here at Kuumba. We are pleased to have them here with us.