Equity Statement in TP's back-to-school email to community

 In regards to our focus on equity, we know that we cannot create an environment that is welcoming and inclusive for all if our words and actions divide those we are striving to bring together. We also know that we cannot provide our students of color with access to increased opportunities without the help and support of their classmates. With that said, a number of our current students, staff and alumni have recently shared stories with us about the isolation, degradation and discrimination they have witnessed or experienced in our schools. These stories have shed light on the critical issues in our district that have served as barriers to equity for far too long. They have underscored the need for us to delve deeper into the root causes of these issues so we can better understand their impact and begin to identify solutions. They have also shown us that we will never be able to truly empower our students to reach their ideal future if we don’t recognize that doing so requires actual change. It is these stories and the countless others that remain untold that will continue to motivate us and inspire our efforts to create an environment in our schools, district and community where everyone is treated with compassion, dignity and respect. 

Model Teacher Communication to Home

 From AP Lang

It has been wonderful getting to know your students during our first full week of school! I wanted to reach out with a little greeting and a window into how we are progressing in 3AP Language and Composition. 

We begin the year with a 3-week unit on rhetoric, where the students learn key terms and lenses relevant to the study of rhetorical analysis. Their first summative assessment will be a unit test on the terms and their applications (Sept 10). From there, we move on to our first novel study, Into the Wild, a favorite of many students! Throughout the course of the novel, they will maintain a journal called "Into my Wild" in which they explore their own interior and concrete experiences that inspire their inner voices. Quarter one will end with a rhetorical analysis essay (summative). 

Like my colleagues, I am overjoyed to have my students in person, and no day goes by without my gratitude for them. I also look forward to meeting you at the NC Open House this Thursday! See you in room 118. 

Please reach out to me with any questions.