Dear Members of our School Community:

I’d like to invite you to a community meeting on Tuesday evening, January 17, at Monticello High School to talk about the future of Albemarle County’s high schools.

We will provide a brief overview of state-mandated graduation requirement changes on the horizon, as well as our designs. In addition, we will host a viewing of the film, Most Likely to Succeed. During an intermission of the film, we will have brief information sessions in the theater foyer as well as opportunities for you to share your ideas. We want you to be a part of this important ongoing conversation, one that will lead to changes in the high school experiences of all students, beginning with those who will be freshmen in 2018.

With our School Board, we have been focusing on how we can better prepare our students for college and career success at a time when the world they will enter upon graduation is becoming more challenging and competitive every day. We think the solution lies in what and how our students learn and their opportunities to apply their learning to authentic experiences.

It’s our belief there needs to be more emphasis on developing real-world skills that cross professional boundaries as well as more opportunities for students to gain skills and knowledge, both in the classroom and in the community.

A vital part of our planning process is the conversation we are having with school staff, students, parents, and community members. Before any decisions are made, we want to hear your thoughts and suggestions. We would like to know about those skills you believe are important to your child’s future and about the value you place on learning beyond the classroom—through, for example, internships, job shadowing, mentors, and independent study projects.

I hope you can join us on the 17th at 6:30 p.m. in Monticello’s auditorium to experience one high school’s approach to contemporary learning and to discuss and share your ideas with other community members.

Sincerely,

Dr. Matt Haas
Deputy Superintendent
Albemarle County Public Schools