Hopkins School District #270

What a winter! Need I say more?!! My oldest daughter has a newfound love of snow following the discovery of downhill skiing this year. My youngest daughter continues to climb the mountains of snow throughout the neighborhood. And I have a new appreciation the work that went into creating the 2010-11 school year calendar - although we are approaching a record snowfall for the season, I have not had to make the dreaded decision of closing or delaying schools as every snow event has occurred on a non-school day! I wonder if we might be able to replicate that for the 2011-12 school year?

As of January 14, we are officially half-way through the school year!! And although it may be it bit juvenile for me to exclaim this, please note that it is worth repeating as it signifies to me that we are - more importantly - half-way through winter! I cannot recall a winter that has been so filled with snow and frigid temperatures. That being said, it does not seem to deter the time our girls spend playing outside. I remain amazed how resilient young Minnesotans are in the winter.

As Superintendent, I have the opportunity to work side-by-side with several talented administrators. Orchestrating a district of approximately 7,000 students requires leadership at every turn, ensuring that the day-to-day operations are smooth and supportive for learning. Throughout this year, I want to introduce some of these leaders to the community.

One quarter of the school year is completed and a lot has happened! My two daughters have settled into the routine of the school year, occasionally skipping piano practice and rushing through homework to enjoy some beautiful late-fall afternoons and evenings. Our schools are in the middle of fall sports tournaments, and the Hopkins Royals are competing for some extra end-of-season play.

The school year is off to a great start! Our schools are teeming with kids, teachers, and other adults engaged in learning. Even in our students' homes there are new schedules, and moms and dads are brushing up on some content areas as their children are already completing homework assignments and progressing through the curriculum.

As I pondered what to write as I welcome you to the 2010-11 school year, I had a big "ah-hah!" When summers are this nice, the start of the school year sneaks up far too quickly! I have always thought about the summer months as that of a weekend, with June being Friday, July being Saturday, and August being Sunday. And here we are, already embarking on the second week of school.