Letter from the Principal

Greetings from the Middle School, Fall 2008
We have much to look forward to as we start the 2008-2009 school year. If you have been anywhere near our South Campus during the last two years, you would have seen an incredible transition taking place. An older “tired” building built in the 1950’s has been transformed into a beautiful functional “new” building that will meet our educational needs for years to come. We have been living in construction dust and pounding for two years, so now we celebrate the hard work, the generosity of donors, and the many, many people who have made this facility a reality.

The first day of school is August 25, 2008. We have orientation events planned for new students and parents to get everyone ready for the first day. Teachers have been busy this summer learning and/or improving their skills using the interactive boards that most of them have in their new classrooms. These boards, called Promethean Boards, have brought a whole new way of instruction into the classroom. This fall we are also introducing a new program called STAT (Students assisting teachers) A group of 8th grade students have been trained over the summer to assist teachers (and principals) in using some of our new technologies. In our attempts to be a more “green” school, we are beginning a program to recycle organic wastes in our lunchroom this fall. This year we are also involved in a school wide evaluation program for our Isacs (Independent Schools Association of the Central States) accreditation as well as embarking on developing another five year long range plan. Homecoming will be the first weekend in October and the dedication or our new South Campus Chapel will be taking place as part of the homecoming weekend on October 5th.

An exciting year ahead. We look forward to the new beginnings that a school year brings. Come see what an exciting place Minnehaha’s Middle school is to learn and grow.