E-News - Become a Part of the APS Team

August 15, 2007

Become a Part of the APS Team

Written by the APS Communication Department @ 12:25 pm

More than 32,000 APS students are back in the classroom for the 2007-08 school year. Superintendent John L. Barry spent the first day of school riding a school bus, serving breakfast to students and attending classes. While meeting with students, parents, staff members, city officials and community members at Hinkley High School, Barry shared his vision for the school year.

“It was great to have such a large turnout at our first day celebration. Mayor Ed Tauer was a featured speaker. The board of education and I are grateful to the other elected officials who joined us, including city council members Brad Pierce, Larry Beer, Molly Markert, Sue Sandstrom, Representative Morgan Carroll and members of the APS VISTA Guidance Council.”
- John L. Barry
APS Superintendent

With focus on the new theme “Trust and Teamwork,” Barry invited the entire community to once again accept the challenge of supporting teaching and learning in Aurora.

Here is how you can get involved and make a difference in the life of a student:

Community members: Help us keep students in school by supporting APS staff members who work with truant students. If you see students in your neighborhood during the day, take a few minutes to talk with them and encourage them to stay in school.
Parents: Volunteer at your child’s school for at least 20 hours during the school year. Staff will help you track your hours and your presence at school will show your children you care.
Business leaders: Our vision is to graduate every student with the choice to attend college. Help our students reach this goal by donating to a new scholarship fund through the Aurora Education Foundation. To donate online, visit www.auroraedfoundation.org.
Elected officials: Please continue to be “leaders who are readers” and share your love of reading by visiting at least one school and reading to students.
Aurora Education Association: AEA is challenging teachers to make one visit to the home of a student before the winter break. Teachers will give parents a Barnes & Noble gift card, courtesy of the Aurora Schools Federal Credit Union and the Aurora Education Foundation, to buy new books for their children.
Students: We encourage elementary students to accept the challenge of reading 25 books this year. Middle and high school students are encouraged to read 10 books. The first 100 elementary and the first 50 secondary classes who meet the challenge will earn “high five” prizes from local businesses.
Principals: The goal for APS principals is to increase the number of proficient students on all CSAP tests by 3 percent.
All APS staff members: Please commit to mentoring one child for the school year with the goal of keeping the student motivated to attend and succeed in school.

Print This Story