October, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
“These are the times that try men’s souls” are the opening words to a pamphlet series written by eighteenth-century Enlightenment philosopher and author, Thomas Paine, in his work entitled The American Crisis, or simply The Crisis, originally published from 1776 to 1783 during the American Revolution.
The winter of 1776 was a time of need in the colonies, considering the entire patriotic American cause was still viewed as an unsteady prospect. Paine wanted to enable the distraught patriots to stand, to preserve and to fight for an American victory. Paine brought together diverse colonies and encouraged them to stay motivated through the harsh conditions of the winter of 1776. The pamphlet, read aloud to the Continental Army on December 23, 1776, three days before the Battle of Trenton, attempted to bolster morale and resistance among patriots, as well as shame neutrals and loyalists to support the cause.
So, here we are, nearly 244 years later, in the fall of 2020, and it is fair to share, one could safely say regarding our schools and the teaching and learning process for students, parents, guardians, teachers, secretaries, custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers,…. the list can go on….. “These are the times that try each and every one of Lounsberry Hollow School’s stakeholders’ souls in this new era of public education.
The great majority of our LH students have worked amazingly hard during the opening weeks of the 2020-21 school year, under very challenging and trying times. I want to personally thank you, as parents and guardians, of these hard working students, for overseeing the numerous tasks that go along with in-person, virtual and, or, hybrid models of teaching and learning.
For those students whom have worked hard to date and continue to do so, the dividends will pay off greatly in the form of end of the first making period grades come November, 2020. For those students whom have not been conscientious in completing their assigned work, or in studying for tests and quizzes and participating in class discussions and activities, whether these be in-person or virtual, there will likely be disappointment at the end of the first quarter in November, when Marking Period 1 grades are finalized and realized.
As LH’s building principal, I am reaching out to you in this month’s communique’, and asking you to please take the time to check and monitor your child’s Grade 4 and, or, Grade 5 progress to date. If your child is doing well thus far, great!; if not, please make it a point to reach out to your child’s teachers to seek clarity on what your son or daughter can do to raise his or her grades.
There are so many of the 440 plus students in Grades 4 & 5 who currently attend LH who continue to put the time and effort in it takes to be “the best student they can be.” I am hopeful you will partner with our teachers and with me to see to it your child(ren) are among this hard working group of academic achievers.
All the best to you and to our students for a rewarding month of October and much success!
Sincerely,
Dennis J. Mudrick
Principal