Next Tuesday, Oct. 11. I will speak to the community during the fifth annual State of the District Address. This year, in addition to providing an update on the state of the Racine Unified School District, I have invited Mayor John Dickert as well as other RUSD staff members to speak about the importance of Focusing on Children.
The future of our community lies in our youth. Everyone who lives in the Racine community shares responsibility for the success of our children. It is critical that we make efforts to support the education of our children together.
This school year, RUSD will work with the community to focus on the needs of children. We will work to do more to connect with parents and community members. The State of the District Address next Tuesday will serve as a starting point for this effort. That evening, we will open the doors of our new administrative building to welcome the community in. At the same time, we will symbolically open the doors of our schools to all who are willing to walk through and provide support.
RUSD staff work hard every day to create positive learning environments for students, engage students in appropriate learning activities, establish positive working relationships with students and parents and to improve student achievement. The reality is that schools cannot do this work alone. We recognize that we must reach out to the community. We hope you will consider offering your support.
There are many ways you can support Racine children. You can visit a school to learn about the positive things going on there. You can offer your time to serve as a mentor or classroom volunteer. You can create positive conversations in the community about RUSD students and schools. You can volunteer in the community at one of the many organizations that supports kids and their families. You can attend the State of the District Address next Tuesday to learn more about how you can help. You can believe in our children.
There are many positive events and agencies in our community that focus on the needs of children. The Racine Reads: Dream Big! event last Saturday is one example of the good things that are happening for Racine children. Many community groups like John XXIII Educational Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Way, YMCA and the Urban League provide tutoring, mentoring, homework assistance, moral support and counseling to our children.
In addition to engaging community members, we must also work to find new ways to engage parents in their children’s education. Parents can support their children by getting them to school in the morning every day, talking to them, listening to their concerns and needs, checking their backpacks to see what is happening at school, reading to them, listening to them read and providing a quiet place to do homework.
This year, RUSD will work harder to help the community know the great things that are happening in our schools every day. We will also work to help the community understand the needs of students who require more help and support to achieve at higher levels. Through open and honest communication and dialogue, we hope to reach out to all of you for your support.
It is imperative that the entire Racine community embrace Racine children and focus our energy and passion on working together to ensure that they succeed. They are our children. They are our future.
The fifth annual State of the District Address is Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the new RUSD administrative service center – 3109 Mt. Pleasant St., Building #1. Follow signs for parking. The event is free and open to the public. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. for tours of the new building.
