Spring is most assuredly in the air in Henderson and Las Vegas. The chill of winter mornings and the pall cast by early darkness during those months has now lifted, and I hope that seasonal shift lifts our spirits as well. It has been a difficult fall and winter for our country in so many ways, even despite the optimism that comes every four years with Presidential election time.
 

One of the great things about working in schools is that no gloom lasts for very long: the energy of youth will not allow for pessimism or defeated spirits. Every day is new, all possibilities are endless and every opportunity brings a new challenge. Working with youngsters is in itself a tonic if not necessarily a panacea. Our kids have been working hard at Henderson International School: each of the three campus locations has its own style, its own culture, its own “feel” but each is part of a greater whole, just as the entire school is itself part of the Meritas international network (soon to include a sister school in China!). That student work reveals itself in our great success at the State of Nevada Academic Olympics, where we finished second a the high school level, a major achievement: it has been evident in the fact that three of our middle school students finished first second and third in the Boulder City Daughters of the American Revolution essay context back in early February, and one high school girl won the state level contest!

Our athletics teams are prospering, particularly in softball, volleyball and both girls and boys basketball. The boys of summer are now wandering the state to play baseball against anyone with a glove, bat and ball! In our arts program, we are beginning the process of developing a piano laboratory, complete with a dozen keyboards to foster new talents and develop those we already have here. We are creating new programs in language, in English, in Science, programs that will be advanced and intellectually challenging for our students. In the elementary levels, I see evidence every day of skills progress, of social cohesion, of children loving their environments because they know they receive the love from us and from their families that is the bedrock of good education.

We are, at Henderson International, a school with a mission and a vision: our goal is to create a learning environment devoted to academic skills, to developing critical thinking and problem-solving. As we grow, as we create new programs, welcome new teachers and more students, we will remain committed to a vision that promotes strong learning habits, an ambitious college preparation program and a commitment to excellence in everything we do. We hope that you will consider, as you ponder the educational needs of the future, joining us as partners in a global education initiative. As the world grows smaller and more connected, our students will need increasing understanding of diversity, an appreciation for what unites us and a genuine dedication to life-long learning. We promise to be partners of integrity in that process.

 

Best wishes,