Let's have a SMART year!

Welcome to Pierce Downer School where we cooperate and support each other as we work toward success.   In fact, we have actually been so successful that the Blue Ribbon Award for Academic Excellence was awarded to the school in 2008 by the U.S. Department of Education! Our noteworthy success at Pierce Downer School derives from hard work, sincere support, and careful planning.  Fortunately, we have a very dedicated School Improvement Team to establish and guide our curricular emphasis.  For instance, throughout this school year, we will continue our school improvement goals of reading, writing, differentiated instruction, in addition to social and emotional learning.  We aspire to demonstrate sustained and continuous improvement here at Pierce Downer School. 

The students are truly the vital key to Pierce Downer School’s excellent reputation on the local, state, and national levels.  In fact, Pierce Downer students are absolutely amazing.  I can honestly state that I have never worked in a better school during my career.  A large part of my job satisfaction derives from the people with whom I work:  students, their parents, and the staff.  While new opportunities and challenges arrive each school year, this staff’s steadfast goal is assisting with each student’s success.   As the principal of Pierce Downer, I share in the excitement, high expectations, and careful planning for a successful and beneficial year of learning for each and every student here.

Each year as a faculty we focus on a theme to help guide us as a school community.  As teachers, we discussed how important our words and actions are as we interact with students, their parents, colleagues, and community members.  We also emphasize the significance of being responsible with our students as they make SMART choices and when they speak or interact with others.  Therefore, we felt that “Let's have a SMART year!” is a reminder to each of us how important it is to be responsible for what we say and do.  Each of us is accountable for our successes and friendships. In fact, “Let's have a SMART year!” is our theme this year because it captures the very essence of this school community’s commitment to make careful and thoughtful choices as we support each student’s academic and social growth.  It truly takes all of us working together as a team to make Pierce Downer such a special learning and caring place.

Please review our school’s calendar since we welcome our community members to join us at our special events.  In fact, we wish to express our sincere gratitude for the support and guidance that the parents and community members provide in and outside the school environment.  Our students experience many unique school and community opportunities that greatly enrich their lives due to the efforts of the school’s staff and local adults.  We at Pierce Downer School  recognize that all of us working together toward important goals and committing ourselves to being the best we can be are the main ingredients to creating a winning team!

Respectfully,

Dr. Lisa Mondale  

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