Dr. Mark Wenzel, Superintendent
Dear Anacortes Families,
Welcome to the 2016-17 school year! I hope you have had a fabulous summer with the warm weather, time for family and friends, and an opportunity to enjoy all that Anacortes has to offer. We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful place!
School starts September 7 for grades 1-12 and September 12 for kindergarten. Our staff has been gearing up: getting classrooms ready, reviewing curriculum, and planning those first few days of school. We are eager to welcome our 2,700 students to a vibrant year of learning and growing.
Over my last three years as superintendent, it has become abundantly clear to me that Anacortes School District is a very special place. From a school board that sets a very strong vision for the success of every child, to an administrative team that is deeply committed to carrying out that vision, to school staff who work incredibly hard each day to build connections and spark learning, to families who partner with us to achieve opportunities for children … it is a team effort!
One of the foundations for student success in recent education research is what is known as the “4 Cs.” These “Cs” represent communication, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration – skills that students must master to be successful in the working world and in life. Our goal is to create opportunities where students can achieve the 4 Cs; where they think deeply, work well together, express themselves effectively, and use their imagination.
Another important component of student learning is social and emotional well-being. This summer, the district leadership team attended the statewide school leadership conference in Spokane. One of the themes of the conference was how to build hope and motivation in students.
As a team, we were quite struck by one of the speakers, Dr. Russ Quaglia, who has done significant research regarding student achievement. Not surprisingly, a huge factor in motivation and achievement is the quality of relationships that students have with teachers. Quaglia’s research shows that students excel when they feel known and valued by teachers; when they are engaged in high quality classroom learning; and when they see the connections between school and life. These are district values that we will continue to reflect upon and promote.
We’re very excited for school to begin and to welcome your children to a great year together. We appreciate your partnership. Thank you for your support of our schools.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mark Wenzel
Superintendent
Dr. Mark Wenzel
Phone: (360) 293-1211
mwenzel@asd103.org
Torhil Ramsay, Assistant to the Superintendent
Phone: (360) 293-1211
tramsay@asd103.org