Dear Swanson Families,
Welcome to the 2020-21 school year. In my 21 years as an educator, never have I faced the unique challenges of today, but I feel confident our Swanson team is poised to take on these challenges with grace, skill, and determination. Our talented staff is committed to ensuring a school year in which we are Empowering Students with the Skills and Character to Succeed, which is our school’s mission statement. As I begin my sixth year as Swanson’s principal, I feel honored and excited to embark on this journey alongside all of you.
Our priorities for the upcoming year include:
1. Swanson Community Health and Wellness
- As we move into the year, it is important to me that families understand our commitment to our Swanson community’s safety and wellness. This is our top priority. We define our community as our students, their families and caregivers, staff and their families, as well as our community partners. We will adhere to safety measures identified to protect against COVID-19, as well as elevate wellness and support through our 7 Mindsets curriculum and additional social emotional resources.
2. Equity
- With a diverse community of learners, engaging in both remote and in person environments, we will examine our practices to ensure equitable experiences for ALL students.
3. Engaging Learning Experiences
- At Swanson, we utilize problem-based learning, as well as emphasize STEM, to create engaging learning opportunities for students. We will work to make certain ALL of our students have access to these types of rich experiences. As a 1:1 device school for eight years, our team has utilized technology as a tool for learning for some time. This year we will continue to deepen our understanding of best practices for remote learning in order to support students learning outside the school environment.
4. Family Partnerships
- Our entire staff, and especially our Family Engagement Liaison, Zenaida Ramirez, will identify methods for supporting families with resources related to academics and social emotional learning. We are also here to help solve unique family needs such as access to housing and food. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.
In closing, I want to share the slogan you will see on our Swanson gear this year. It states what I believe will help us be successful in these unprecedented times...
Yes, we are stronger together! With a committed team effort from all our stakeholders, I’m certain we can make Swanson a place every child will thrive. Let’s go get ‘em, COLTS!
Best
Kristina Carothers
Principal, Swanson Elementary
Kristina Carothers
kcarothe@jeffco.k12.co.us
303.982.0891