Labor Day is just around the corner and that means the first day of school is not far behind.
Throughout Edwardsburg Public Schools, teachers, staff and administrators are preparing for a new year with new and returning students and a new plan focused heavily on technology.
According to exiting assistant superintendent Deb Cripe and her incoming replacement Myra Munroe, behind the scenes readiness for the 2011-2012 school year includes various technological upgrades including:
• Infrastructure in the form of phone systems, student information database, wi-fi and a new website they say continues to evolve
• Hardware/software in the form of smartboard technology and iPads.
Cripe said a focus is being kept on academics and the district’s school improvement plan.
To combat the changing standards being passed down from the state, Cripe said school officials are working to “ensure our teachers are well-informed about the new common core (concepts) and we have had speakers (from within the state) who are presenting common core (to teachers).”
According to both Munroe and Cripe, formative and summative assessment workshop participants focused on adding to their repertoire of various assessments that inform instruction and ultimately impact student achievement and growth.
Teachers have been working through sessions of professional development in preparation for the new year.
“It’s very exciting,” Cripe said of the atmosphere around the district. “We have a great group of teachers. The mood here is they’re very excited and ready to do what’s best for kids … They’re very appreciative of the work that they’ve done this summer.”
Though enrollment figures are inconclusive until after the start of the school year, Cripe said the district is expecting to see growth.

Open houses

The following schedule outlines the open house schedule for   Edwardsburg Public Schools:

Intermediate School
Wednesday, Sept. 14
Multi-age/fourth grade — 6 to 7:15 p.m.
Looping/fifth grade — 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Middle School
Thursday, Sept. 15 — 6 p.m.

High School
Thursday, Sept. 15 — 7 p.m.

Eagle Lake Elementary
Tuesday, Sept. 20
Last name first letter L-Z — 6 to 7:15 p.m.
Last name first letter A-K — 6:45 to 8 p.m.

Edwardsburg Primary
Thursday Sept. 22
Kindergarten — 6 to 7:15 p.m.
First grade/multi-age — 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m.