It seems unbelievable that the final month of 2012 is here; it feels like it was yesterday that we were welcoming students and faculty back into the building and the weather was beautiful! As I am sure you are aware we have many special events and activities going on as the holidays approach and December is filled with wonderful opportunities for families and the community to join us. Our annual Christmas Luncheon is scheduled for December 21st as we look forward to welcoming community members and other special guests. We also invite students and their families to“The Grinch Who Stole Caroga Lake” on December 17th at 6:00 pm. Mr. Anker,our music teacher, will lead our students at our annual Holiday Music Program at 6:30 on December 19th. We look forward to having our community come together for this special evening.

As the holidays are approaching, I would like to thank all of you for your continued support of the Wheelerville Union Free School. Our school is the “excellent” school it is because of all of you—students, parents, staff, and friends. This is truly a special and unique place because the care and commitment that everyone shows while providing a positive learning environment for our students.

This is a year of change in education across the state and the country. As I have stated previously the implementation of the Common Core Standards and the new evaluation system for teachers and administrators has required many changes to what was previously taught in the classroom. The Common Core Learning Standards are rigorous and challenging for students as the curriculum and timelines have changed dramatically; however our dedicated staff continues to find innovative ways to ensure that students are exposed to, and more importantly understand, the required material. With the many initiatives this year it is vitally important that you check your child’s progress regularly and keep in touch with your child’s teacher if you have concerns about how he/she is performing at school. Our staff show true commitment to the social, emotional and academic well-being of our students on a daily basis and they always want to be made aware of any concerns you may have. One of my core beliefs as a parent, and educator, is that in order for our children to get the most out of the world around them we need to work together - the home and the school. Your involvement in your child's school sends a powerful message that education is important. Please make sure that you visit our updated and informative website at . We appreciate the time that Mrs. Frank has put into creating this wonderful resource for our school community.

I would like to thank all of the families who joined us for the fourth grade Talent Show that Mrs. Douglass coordinated with the help of many volunteers. This was a great programthat was a reward for all of the hard work the fourth grade students have put forth during the year. The students all did a great job showing their many and varied talents. One last reminder as we enter into colder months, please dress your children according to temperatures and outdoor conditions. Whenever possible, we want to get students outdoors to breathe fresh air and run off some energy.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the many upcoming events and hope that you have a wonderful holiday with your family.

Sincerely,
Richard Ruberti, Jr.

Superintendent/Principal