Welcome Letter 2019-2020 School Year
Dear Andersen Families,
Welcome back to what should be another fun and successful school year! DEANs mission is to provide the best education for our kids by providing resources that would otherwise not be available from the district. DEANs can only make this happen with your donations and we encourage you to invest in your child(ren)’s education by donating at www.andersendeans.org. DEANs spends over $1000 per student to enhance their education. Below is a an overview of the several high value programs we hope to support this school year with your help.
Credentialed Teachers
DEANs has once again hired 8 credentialed teachers and aids. This has drastically reduced the student/teacher ratio and given your child(ren) a more intimate learning experience. Dr. Bray knows she has our support and we do everything in our power to bring the best teachers to Andersen. Nearly 70% of the money raised by DEANs goes towards hiring these teachers.
Andersen DEANs “Think Tank”
We believe we are on the forefront with this idea by providing our students with a “think tank” which is in essence a computer lounge. This room will allow our children to work on their chromebooks in a comfortable and suitable environment to best fit their learning needs. We have equipped this room and the teachers with the environment and tools they need to stay on the cutting edge of technology use in an academic setting.
Maker Space
Our children have access to some of the best technology and state-of-the-art equipment in the country. This includes 3D printing and green screen technology. The maker space allows students to reach their imaginative and creative potential. Andersen is one of the only public schools in the state to benefit from this type of technology. This year we will provide a broadcasting studio to the students to utilize and learn from the technology inside Maker Space.
After-School Activities
DEANs also continues to provide support to after-school activities such as robotics, Spanish, After School Scholars, and rock band, to name a few. We believe there is a wide enough variety to suit every child. We do, however, rely on your input and are open to suggestions if you feel there is an activity you would like to see at Andersen.
Speaker Series
Children today are exposed to more pressures and stresses that we experienced in our youth. It is DEANs mission to help bring an understanding and awareness to help develop a healthy emotional and mental state of mind for our children. Continuing what we started last year, DEANs and PTA will provide Andersen with a speaker series featuring Dr. Jerry Weichman, a renowned clinical psychologist and adolescent specialist. He will discuss with students the issues they are dealing with and make it fun and interesting for them at the same time. The lower grades will focus on social issues (i.e. making friends, bullying, etc.). The upper grades will focus on everyday pressures (i.e. social media, peer pressure, etc.). He also works directly with the faculty to ensure they understand the issues facing our children and most importantly, give them the tools to help.
Again, we are appreciative of your support and grateful that we are surrounded by such generous families. I hope this gives you some clarity as to where the money goes. DEANs is a collaborative effort and we welcome your feedback/suggestions. Please email me at almurray91@hotmail.com if you have suggestions or comments. When Andersen families come together for a cause, it’s a powerful thing.
Sincerely,
Alex Murray
Andersen DEANs President