Start of School

My sincere apologies for the lack of communication during the start of school.  We are integrating several new forms of technology, and how we communicate with parents and the community is no exception.  This blog will be the primary means for communicating going forward, and I can assure you that communication will be more consistent as the year progresses.  

For many, the first day of school and the Labor Day holiday mark the unofficial end of summer.  This time of year is greeted with mixed emotions as the excitement surrounding the start of school clashes with the end of the summer sun. It is with great anticipation and optimism that we open our doors for the 2013-2014 school year.

The list of highlights from last year are many, too many to list, and we intend to build on those successes, as we continue to strive to keep GDRHS near the top of the list of best schools in the state.  We look forward to greeting our incoming freshmen and welcoming back our returning sophomore and junior classes. Also, we look with great anticipation to our Class of 2014 to provide the leadership necessary to make every student’s high school experience a positive and memorable one.  

A considerable amount of work has been completed over the summer. Specifically, if you visit our website you will find not only a new, sleek design, but you will also discover a website with a wealth of useful information that is easily accessible for both parents and students.  In addition, new communication technology is being implemented which will enable us to keep parents, students, and community members informed via email, voicemail, and text message.  Furthermore, we continue to make significant strides in terms of integrating technology.  The wireless infrastructure installed last year was built with an eye to the future, and we intend to expand on that capacity with the addition 250 Google Chromebook computers.  Google Apps for Education is live at GDRSD, and the new Chromebooks will allow students and staff to fully utilize the Google educational platform.

The year ahead brings many challenges for both students and staff, and those challenges spawn goals. The implementation of the Common Core State Standards remains a priority.  Continuing our work on the NEASC recommendations, and successfully integrating new technologies are also vitally important.  A school-wide emphasis on improving student writing, building a strong engineering program, and continuing to expand our Advanced Placement program are but a few goals for the upcoming year.

All goals support the overarching objective of preparing Groton-Dunstable Regional High School students for the future.  Preparing our students to compete in the 21^st Century is a monumental task that requires a hardworking, dedicated staff committed to student achievement.  I am confident that the faculty and staff here at GDRHS are worthy of the challenge.

The three basic ingredients of every good school are safety, strong organization, and high expectations for learning.  You have my utmost assurance that these three factors will guide our daily decision-making in the months and years ahead.