Principals Message

 

August 23, 2021

I am delighted to welcome everyone to the 2021-2022 school year! I would also like to personally thank everyone for their support and patience throughout the entire 2020-2021 school year. Author James Lane Allen stated that “Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.” What last year revealed to me was that our community, families, students, and teachers can be counted on to be selfless, supportive, and gracious regardless of how many times we changed the schedules, bus routes, times, and formats of school. The city of Quincy and its school district are filled with citizens and employees of the highest character and I am grateful to be associated with them.

 

Despite the pandemic and ever-changing school year, the staff at Monument Elementary School developed the following Student Learning Vision Statement as a means to unify and share their commitment to student learning: 

 

As educators, we meet the individual needs of our students by fostering relationships that center around the whole child. Together, we create an environment where learning is interactive, engaging, inquisitive, and collaborative. In partnership with the community, family, and school, we believe that our students will develop into competent and contributing members of their community.”

 

This vision statement drives everything that we do here at Monument. All of our interactions with students and their families are centered around these shared principles and they express our educational values and beliefs. I would like to assure everyone, that despite what the upcoming school year presents we remain committed to meeting all of the needs of your children.

 

The Monument staff looks forward to the opportunity to partnering with the families of our students in order to provide the education that our students deserve. This partnership with families is important to the educational process and we encourage everyone to participate in our Parent Volunteer Committee so that we can develop open communication and parents can have their voices heard in the school through proper channels. These meetings are tentatively scheduled for the third Thursday each month; your attendance and participation are greatly appreciated. I want to extend an invitation to all of our parents to contact us at any time and, when the opportunity becomes available, join us in the building to be an active participant in the learning that takes place in our classrooms. Your presence and endorsement of your child’s learning is vital to their academic growth.

 

I know that this letter is likely arriving at a time when there are a lot of questions about what this upcoming school year will look like regarding health and safety guidelines. The district is continuing to work closely with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and Grant County Health District to determine the healthiest and safest way for our students to return to a traditional school setting. The district will be releasing definitive information once it has been determined. Please check the district website and Facebook account for more information.

 

I am excited to start the school year and have students fill our building with laughter and learning. There will be great things happening in Monument Elementary School this year and I cannot wait for everyone to be a part of it. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, comments, or concerns that you may have. Please follow Monument Elementary on Facebook and check our school website at  www.qsd.wednet.edu/monument-elementary for updates as they become available. Additionally, you are always welcome to contact the office at 509.787.9826 weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 

I look forward to getting to know each and every student, as well as their families. I know that together our achievements will be monumental.

Best regards,

Phillip Averill
Principal, Monument Elementary