Laura VanDuyn
Dear Cedar Springs Public Schools Families:
It is my hope you are enjoying our transition to the early days of fall. I was born and raised in the great state of Michigan and I’ve always LOVED this time of year. We especially love this time of year at my father’s house in the U.P. as the crisp weather means great bonfires, preparing for deer season and generally loving being outside in the peaceful surroundings. This is a wonderful time of year for children, especially after getting into the routine of the school year and enjoying the traditional Cedar Springs Red Flannel Festival…not to mention the thrill of Halloween!
As we head into this refreshing season at the start of our year together, it’s important to share the ways in which we communicate with all of our constituent groups. It is greatly important to me and to our Board of Education that we keep you apprised of happenings in the district. Following are just some of the many ways we communicate with our staff, students, parents and community:
• Our new website
• Board of Education meetings (recorded and uploaded to YouTube)
• Newsletters
• Phone calls
• Emails
• The Red Hawk Review (electronic and sent via email to every CSPS family and any community members who request it as well as it being posted on our new website)
• The Cedar Springs Post articles and school pages
• Parent-Teacher conferences
• Open Houses
• Weekly folders
• Meetings with the superintendent at our local cafes (10/7 is the next opportunity)
• Teacher Web pages
• Progress Reports and Report cards
• Office announcements
• Face-to-Face meetings with the superintendent
• Annual State-of-the-School-District address
• Michigan Association of School Board workshops (November, 2015 and April, 2016)
• Strategic Planning Process
• School improvement process
I am grateful to all who ask the questions about what is happening in our district. I continue to extend an opportunity to meet with anyone wishing to meet so that any and all questions about our district, our Board of Education, etc. can be answered. Furthermore, it’s an opportunity to share some of the great work that has been shared at Board meetings, as we know not everyone can attend…which is one reason we publish them on YouTube. It’s been refreshing to have so many staff, students, parents and community members meet with me to ascertain how we are progressing as a district.
As you know, especially from the many ways we communicate with our staff, families and community, I want every citizen, staff member and parent of Cedar Springs to ask questions and to be well educated about all that is happening in this great district. We are proud of the forward motion we’ve made and will continue that trajectory. I would love an opportunity to get to know you, to learn how I might support your wishes or to answer any questions you may have. I encourage you to schedule a meeting, call or drop by for a visit as I enjoy getting to know our students, families and community members. I can assure you, you’ll be enlightened to hear about the terrific progress we are making to serve our students well!
It is an honor to serve as your CSPS superintendent. I take great pleasure in knowing that at CSPS, students come first and that this great district is moving along in an excellent way, with a lot of support, to serve students and families. On behalf of the CSPS Board of Education, administration, teachers and support staff, thank you for partnering with us to provide the very best education for our students.
Warmly,
Laura VanDuyn, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
