Our primary instructional initiatives will be furthering of eCart implementation across the middle school four-core and selected high school courses, as well as, “AVIDizing” selected instructional programs. We will also continue to refine our use of Blackboard, Kagan, Turning Point, and begin the ASCA counseling model. Our School Improvement Plan this year will be focused on closing the achievement gap that exists in some of our NCLB-AYP student population subgroups in math and English, as well as strengthening our school-wide Positive Behavior Strategies.

In August, I had the pleasure of mailing 295 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 2009, the percentage of exams on which a score of 3 or higher was obtained (on a scale of 1 – 5) remained steady at 56 percent; however, we administered 73 more exams than in spring of 2008.

Hayfield Career and Technical Education (CTE) course teachers completed an exhausting central audit of their respective programs this past July. The technical education, family and consumer sciences, and cosmetology programs were each rated as “exemplary” in their implementation of instructional rigor, technology, and post-course opportunities. Many of our CTE courses also offer direct post-course career pathways and professional certifications and should be considered when reviewing course elective options for your child.

In other developments, our baseline personnel budget has been reduced by an assistant principal, two administrative assistants, and two custodial positions, and the pupil-teacher ratio allocation of teacher staffing was increased by 0.5 students per class for this year. However, our instructional funds look adequate due to some “belt-tightening” by department chairs last year. We have a new Kiss and Ride procedure in the afternoon. Please pull all the way up in double rows to the yellow-folding sign outside the middle school lecture hall. We will have extra staff on hand as we attempt to keep school traffic out of the thru-lanes on Old Telegraph Road. In the morning, please pull all the way up, single file, to the yellow folding sign in the middle traffic circle.

I recommend glancing at our 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!

William L. Oehrlein, Ph.D.
Principal