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Dear Whitman Community,
You may already be aware of the impact the pandemic has had on the academic progress of students across the nation. While our school and the division have made real gains in our COVID recovery efforts, our road to recovery continues.
Like many schools, Whitman has seen some recent drops in our achievement data. One of the areas impacting all students at Whitman is a decline in science scores. Students in grade 8 take a comprehensive SOL science assessment that covers content from grades 6-8. The pandemic presented challenges in providing hands-on experiences necessary for quality science instruction.
This year, teachers are working hard to create engaging, inquiry-based lessons and labs to support deeper learning. Students complete standards-based assessments to help teachers check progress. When teachers see gaps in student understanding, they provide specific interventions. I’ll be sharing more about these intentional efforts and our strategies as the year progresses.
We recognize that the pandemic affected some student groups more than others. We know that students such as our English Learners and Students with Disabilities need more support in reading and math. We have developed targeted supports for these students and contacted families directly. We will also be hosting community meetings to create school-family partnerships.
One thing we have learned over the past several years is the importance of resiliency. Whitman students are resilient. As we partner together to increase achievement, I know our students will rise to the challenge. We must work together to encourage, support, and show these students that they can achieve these goals. Our entire Whitman community is here to support them. I look forward to continuing this discussion at our next virtual PTSA Community Conversation scheduled for Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Meeting details, including Zoom link, are being shared via the school website.
In addition, please take note of our Community Engagement Meetings https://whitmanms.fcps.edu/index.php/announcements/join-us-our-community-engagement-meetings. All families are invited to attend to learn more about how to support academic success at home. We know that our best way forward is to strengthen our connections to our families, and we appreciate your support and input. The partnerships we forge now as we address these challenges will serve the school and community this year and for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Dr. Craig Herring, Principal
 
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