Principal's Message - August 2008

posted Aug 12, 2008, 6:48 AM by HSS PTSA Webmaster   [ updated Oct 3, 2008, 9:51 PM ]
Dear Hayfield Secondary Families:
 
Welcome to the 2008-09 school year! We will begin our year with approximately 944 middle and 1764 high school students enrolled in our database. Our primary instructional initiative will be eCart implementation across the middle school four-core and high school Biology and Algebra.  Additionally, we will continue to refine our use of Blackboard, Kagan (instructional strategies), Turning Point software (interactive PowerPoints for student electronic participation), and other course-specific strategies. 
 
We have expanded our AVID program into eleventh grade; written and received several instructional grants, one of which will continue to fund our College Board SAT Online initiative which is free for all of our high school students (coordinated by English teachers); we will be streaming Arabic instruction to students throughout FCPS and the Commonwealth of Virginia via our high-tech classroom broadcast center; Hayfield has just hosted the FCPS system-wide Leadership Conference once again; and we will continue to serve as one of the main FCPS conference centers.
 
I just had the pleasure of mailing 293 perfect SOL certificates to students to recognize their achievements in content knowledge acquisition this past year. Once again, our College Board Advanced Placement (AP) students have done very well. AP course offerings are our signature instructional program. In spring 2008, the percentage of exams on which a score of 3 or higher was obtained (scale of 1 – 5) remained steady at 56 percent; however, we administered 118 more exams than in spring of 2007.
 
A fourth lunch has been added to our school schedule in order to facilitate the movement of middle school students in the lunch lines. Last spring, the department chairs took this schedule adjustment opportunity to examine the position of the constant period. They voted to move our constant period from third period to first period thus, first period will meet everyday. The department chairs and teachers came to the general conclusion that the instructional positives of a first period constant outweighed any negatives. The new schedule can be seen on our website under the "School Wide" pull down menu at the top of the page. 
 
We are continuing to expand our middle school after school program. Monday late buses, 3:30 p.m., will begin on September 15 and Wednesday late buses, 3:45 p.m., will begin October 15. More information will be forthcoming once school begins as we develop our available resources into clubs and activities. 
 
I have encumbered facility community use funds for two projects: the conversion of the stairwell landing by exit 2 into another enclosed gallery showcase and the addition of another building perimeter camera which will watch over the exit one entrance. Neither of these initiatives will impact instructional funds.
 
There is a new and improved Keep in Touch (KIT) email system in FCPS. All families are entered by default via the student SASI database. However, emails and data maintenance are entered through the WeCare initiative. Please sign-up for WeCare at the Hawk Fly-By packet pickup on August 13, 14, or 15; at Back-to-School Night; or at the Touching Base activity in November. KIT will be used to communicate with you during emergencies and other special times throughout the year. 
 
The fall sports teams have begun their initial practices, the marching band is practicing on the field, ROTC cadets have returned from their summer experience, and the building has been thoroughly cleaned. With all teachers returning by August 25, we are primed to have a terrific and positive school year. I recommend glancing at Hayfield Secondary's home page, www.fcps.edu/HayfieldSS, to note upcoming events, to obtain staff email addresses, and to gather other pertinent information throughout the year. All the best to you and your families as you enjoy the remaining summer days.

Go Hawks!

Dr. Bill Oehrlein
Principal

Comments