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Shaps' letter is titled "Engage, Empower, Inspire: Setting High Expectations for Every Student" and covers a range of topics related to local schools.
All "instructional spaces" will have wireless ability, and teachers Michael Sammartano and Jesse Dancy will be instructors for everyone to utilize in the middle school and high school. Shaps mentions that this is all part of "our goal to use technology as a critical tool for teaching and learning."
Shaps also says the district's desire to advance STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) standards, starting students off in kindergarten with what he refers to as "Make Space environments."
He also lays out what the district's plans are for science programs. Sheldrake Environmental Center will continue to aid in teaching elementary students science, while grades three through five will begin coding programs.
Middle school students will begin learning about drones and robotics on top of their current 3-D printing standards, and new teacher Gwynne Bettencourt will begin a four-year design program at the high school.
“I expect the 2015-2016 school year to be filled with wonderfully rich, relevant and rigorous experiences for children as a result of hard work, solid preparation, and commitment by administrators, teachers, and support staff and of course students themselves,” Shaps adds.
The letter closes with a thank-you to parents and a call to action
The school district will begin classes on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
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