Stu's News: November 18, 2008

To see the crowds at Tates Creek High School on Saturday, you might have thought there was an athletic tournament going on. But no – I’m thrilled to tell you it was an ACADEMIC competition that drew more than 5,000 people on that chilly and dreary morning.

The Invitational was the first of three districtwide Academic Challenge meets this school year. The program was conceived by the One Community, One Voice citizens group in 2002 as a way of replicating the enthusiasm and family involvement for athletics in the academic arena. At the first Academic Challenge, about 54 kids competed.

The event has grown exponentially as more and more schools have joined and more and more families have gotten involved. The hard work of the One Community, One Voice organization, coupled with support from the Fayette County Public Schools, has helped the Academic Challenge to thrive.

Last weekend, more than 1,800 students competed on 302 teams representing every elementary school in the district. (See the results below, underneath my column.) What a great way to kick off Parent and Family Involvement Week! Our families are involved in every step of the way – working to help their kids prepare for the Challenge at home and school practices, volunteering as coaches, serving as moderators during the competition and, of course, attending in droves to cheer their kids on. Win or lose, the original goals of the Academic Challenge have certainly become a reality. Families are excited about academics in a way rarely seen outside a sporting arena.

You hear so much talk about the importance of families getting involved in their children’s education – it was awesome to see it in action on Saturday. This is Parent and Family Involvement Week in the Fayette County Public Schools, where we celebrate all of the contributions that our hardworking families make to support student achievement. From helping with homework in the evening, to serving on SBDM committees, to reading with their children or participating in PTA or booster club groups, our families play an integral role in helping our kids succeed.

How appropriate that Thanksgiving is next week. As we take time to reflect on our blessings, I just want to say how thankful I am to be a part of this school district. Our teachers and staff are working at warp speed to ensure that our kids get a great education. Our community and families are supporting our schools and our kids at unbelievable levels. And our kids will certainly be the beneficiaries. Thank you for all you do.

P.S. Cold weather has moved in very quickly. In the next few weeks, we will be sending you information about snow day procedures in case we are hit with a bad spell. In the meantime, please begin thinking about your family’s contingency plans for times that we might have to close school, have a delayed start or dismiss early. Winter is a very difficult time for us because we cannot meet the demands of everyone. Some people want us to go to school, while others want us to close. Please know that we will make the decisions based upon what is best for our kids.

Nearly 2,000 kids compete in Academic Challenge Invitational

Hundreds of students and supporters rolled out of bed early on a dreary, drizzly Saturday morning because they were excited about the Academic Challenge Invitational. Read more