As the summer is winding down, it is important to reflect back on the 2011-2012 school year and acknowledge our successes. I would like to congratulate our recent graduates; this was an excellent class to begin my administrative experience here at Antwerp. I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors and always promote our Archer pride. 

I would also like to congratulate the staff and students for their accomplishments on our state report card. We met all 26 indicators and earned a performance index score of 104.4. This is a reflection of the continued quality education Antwerp has and will continue to provide the students in our community. This school district provides the Antwerp community with many accomplishments to be proud of and the district will continue to investigate ways to improve. As a district, we are proud of our accomplishments but will never be content. Continual improvement is a philosophy we truly believe in and will continue to set the standards for others to measure themselves upon.   

In preparing for the 2012 – 2013 school year, it is important to focus on the essentials in education. This will allow us to create a solid foundation for developing the skills necessary for a successful future. To be successful in our global society, we must promote and challenge our students to develop their critical thinking skills and their ability to effectively communicate. These are important skills that must be developed to help our students remain competitive in their lives after high school. As our students go off to college or enter the workforce, they are competing against others from around the world. This motivates us to continue to improve how we prepare our students for this competition. 

As we begin the 2012-2013 school year, I know there will be new challenges/opportunities for us to address. They will provide us an opportunity to grow and we will take full advantage of them. We have an excellent staff that will meet these challenges/opportunities head on and assure they will be beneficial for our students.       

Once again, I will be emphasizing the importance of “ACCOUNTABILITY” to our students. The students understanding the philosophy of taking responsibility for his/her actions is vital for their future success.  There are a few policies that will be emphasized to the students and I ask for your help/support in these areas as well: wireless communication devices, dress code, bullying, public display of affection and attendance. Working together, we can provide a structured learning environment that promotes student success.    

I am truly proud to be a member of this community and the middle/high school principal of Antwerp Local. I will conclude by saying, “Isn’t great to be an Archer!”