Dear Parents:
During the
2005-2006 school year, Brevard Public Schools
developed the Secondary Schools of National Prominence (SSNP) initiative to
enhance the rigor, relevance and relationships of our students in the secondary
school experience. Although our secondary schools are already performing at
high levels, I believe there is more that can be done. Enhancing not only the rigor but also the
relevance of the secondary school experience for students through the SSNP
initiative may be the most important initiative of the district for the next
ten years. Our goal is for every
student to graduate from high school prepared to enter and be successful in the
workplace, in further career education, and/or in postsecondary degree
opportunities.
The next few
months will be a particularly exciting time for our sixth graders, the Class of
2013, as they prepare to enter middle school. During March I will send the
following letter to the parents of all current six graders.
Dear Sixth Grade Students and Parents,
During the 2005-2006 school year,
Brevard Public Schools developed the Secondary Schools of National Prominence
(SSNP) initiative to enhance the rigor, relevance and relationships of our
students in the secondary school experience. Along
with extensive engagement from the educational community, the initiative was
shared with parents, students, and community. Input from all these sources
created Brevard’s SSNP Plan. Our goal is
for every student to graduate from high school prepared to enter and be successful
in the workplace, in further career education, and/or in postsecondary degree
opportunities.
Although students who enter 9th grade in
2007-2008 will be involved in some aspects of SSNP, it is the students who are
currently 6th graders, the Class of 2013, who will be the first
students to experience all aspects of the SSNP initiative. The individualized
program of study is one of the most important elements of the
initiative. Current 6th
graders will be the first group of students who, along with their parents, will
be engaged in developing the plan to map their educational future. This individualized program of study will be
developed through a face-to face meeting with the student, parents, and the
school guidance counselor. The meeting
will take place sometime between June 1, 2007 and October 15, 2007. During each
year in middle and high school, students, parents and counselors will have an
opportunity to review and revise the plan as future goals become clearer. In effect, you and your child will have a
face-to-face meeting with your assigned guidance counselor at least once per
year for the next six years.
The first step in developing the individualized program of
study is the completion of the attached form.
The form will be used by your student’s counselor as you meet to explore
available options and opportunities and to develop the individualized program
of study. I encourage parents and
students to discuss the completion of the form together and to return the
signed form along with your pre-registration materials so that counselors and
teachers at your middle school will have important information about your
student’s goals and dreams for these very important years. The resulting individualized program of study
will be the foundation for the middle and high school experience of our
students. Additional information to
guide you through this process will be provided in meetings held at each middle
school during the month of April.
For our students, life after secondary school offers a
multitude of opportunities and challenges. There
are well-paying, high skilled jobs offered in the global marketplace. The challenge is to acquire the education,
expertise and experiences to get and keep those jobs. Brevard’s Secondary Schools of National
Prominence initiative sets the stage for every student to leave high school
with a solid foundation in academic, social and workplace skills needed for the
next step, whether it is postsecondary education, an apprenticeship, or a
career.
Sincerely,
Richard A. DiPatri, Ed.D.
Superintendent
If you are the
parent of a sixth grade student, I encourage you to return the form referred to
in the letter above and to attend the meeting at your child’s middle school so
that you may learn more about courses and programs, the registration process,
and the educational opportunities that will be available through the SSNP
initiative. As your child enters seventh
grade, you, your child and your child's school counselor will sit down together
and plan a path that will prepare your child to succeed in postsecondary
education and the world of work.
In next
month’s Mark of Excellence I will be sharing with you more important
information about the School Board’s SSNP initiative. We will do our best to keep you informed
about SSNP and the decision points that will impact your child, particularly
those students at levels other than grade six.
Of course, if you have specific questions, please contact your student’s
assigned secondary school or the district’s