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August 1, 2024
Dear Academy Family,
I hope your summer is filled with all that makes you happy! For me it certainly has been great to spend more time with family and friends. I have gotten a chance to read more, cheer on the New York Liberty, spend time at the beach, watch the incredible Olympic athletes on TV and happily plan for the exciting 140th upcoming school year.
To begin our 140th celebrations, we are having theme parties throughout the year. We are thrilled to be kicking off Phase One of our Reimagine Renaissance Campaign with renovations beginning in a few weeks on our Haugen Hall Auditorium. Once that work is complete, we will start the installation of our brand-new Innovation Lab and updated 2D Art room. Additionally, we will relocate our Library and incorporate a Multicultural Center in a newly designed space. I have been working closely with our Administrative Team and Board of Trustees to implement Master and Strategic Plans to enhance physical spaces and programs not just this year, but in the years to come.
The Academy is not the only one going through some exciting changes this fall. As a nation we are embarking on a presidential election. In the words of John Dewey "Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife." As educators at Staten Island Academy, not only are we delivering this baby, but we are caring for everyone in our community after its arrival. It is vital that we promote respectful dialogue, engage in civil discourse, actively listen to others’ views and express our own opinions respectfully. We must continue to foster a safe and inclusive environment by creating a culture where all community members feel safe to share their opinions and ask questions without fear of judgment or ridicule. It is my goal that all Staten Island Academy community members are respectful and courteous in all conversations. We will not tolerate any hateful or dehumanizing language and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. We will find ways to make space within the classroom to challenge dominant narratives and include marginalized voices or unpopular opinions. I am a firm believer that at Staten Island Academy, we teach students to think, not what to think! This should be no different in an election year.
I am grateful to our DEIB Leadership team and the readings they have assigned our employees this summer. I feel these books will open the doors for us as a community to have great conversations around conflict and discourse. Feel free to engage with us on any of the books we are reading; I Never Thought of It That Way by Mónica Guzmán, I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue, Language Shock: Understanding the Culture of Conversation by Michael Agar and The Lemon Tree (young readers' edition) by Sandy Tolan. As educators, we believe conversation through literature is always helpful to grapple with important, thought provoking topics.
I would be remiss if I didn’t update you on our furry, four-legged friend, Tigger! Tigger has grown so much, wait until you see him. He is still attending behavior classes and is doing really well for his age. He too is celebrating a big birthday this year. On September 12th he will be ONE. As you know, Tigger is in training to be our school therapy dog, it is not an easy process, but one we are committed to completing. I also understand that dogs are not for everyone. People have valid worries; including allergies and fears. We will do everything we can to respect these genuine concerns. I know it is important to address these apprehensions and have open communication within our school community. We have created individualized plans for people who have these trepidations. No one will be forced to interact with Tigger at any time. We ask them to be respectful of him and we respect their need to not be near him. Allergies are also an important issue to address because even though some dogs shed less than others, no dog is allergy free for everyone. Although Tigger has brought nothing but joy to our community, we ask that you refrain from bringing your dogs to campus. Pick up and drop off can be crazy enough, pets sometimes bring greater apprehensions during these times.
Everything we do at Staten Island Academy is through the lens of our Mission Statement. Please take the time to read the Mission Statement and know that all Academy community members are expected to respect and abide by these words.
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