Dear SESO Families,
Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! As we prepare to embark on a new school year, I am excited to share with you some of the exciting developments and initiatives we have been working on to enhance our educational environment and continue our tradition of excellence at SESO.
This year, we are thrilled to introduce several new initiatives aimed at enriching our students’ learning experiences and fostering a more engaging and supportive school community:
1. Responsive Classroom Approach (Grades K-6): We are implementing the Responsive Classroom Approach in grades K-6 to create a positive, inclusive, and safe learning environment. This approach emphasizes social, emotional, and academic growth in a strong and safe school community. Teachers will participate in an immersive training during August to learn how to implement Responsive Classroom at SESO.
2. Cell-Phone Free School Policy: To maximize student engagement and minimize distractions during school hours, we are introducing a new cell-phone free school policy. This initiative is designed to encourage face-to-face interactions, enhance focus on academics, and promote a more cohesive and connected school community.
3. Standardized Testing: To help us assess our academic progress and ensure we are meeting our educational goals, we will be implementing standardized testing across various grade levels (3-8). This will provide valuable insights into our students’ strengths and areas for improvement, allowing us to tailor our instructional strategies to better support each student’s learning journey.
4. Increased academic offerings and contact time: To continue to build on our strengths and expand our academic offerings, we have both adjusted our schedule and increased course offerings. Our younger students will benefit from increased contact time in literacy, science, and technology. Our older students can take additional electives as we continue to expand our available electives. This year, we are adding new courses such as AP Research, AP Physics, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Italian, and Photography, among others.
Our school year will also undoubtedly be enriched with many wonderful experiences beyond the classroom, including extracurricular activities, athletic competitions, assemblies, field trips, and plays. Additionally, we eagerly anticipate our community events such as Grandparents’ Day, Holiday Carnival, and Talent Show. Together, we will create lasting memories as we nurture each student's growth.
As we anticipate the new school year, I am hopeful it will be marked by joyful learning, fresh experiences, and open communication. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Wishing you all a wonderful year ahead!
Warm regards,
Katrin Beinroth
School Director
Photo Credit: Mark Thielen,
National Geographic
