Happy School Year!

On behalf of the Selma City Schools Board of Education, I want to wish all the children of Selma and Dallas County a Happy School Year. 

We had an amazing back-to-school weekend as we played host to hundreds of runners, parents, scholars and friends at Bloch Park.  Thanks to everyone who participated in our Aim for Excellence events which included providing school uniforms and of course our second annual 5K and one-mile fun mile.

As we begin another year, our goal is to help every child have an excellent school year.  There are a number of ways that parents and families can partner with schools so that our children can achieve greater success.  Here are just a few.

·       If you have not yet, meet and get to know the teachers and staff.  Forming a positive relationship early in the year will go a long way.  Teachers need your support.  Find out when the PTO open house is being held and make plans to attend and to continue to support school events throughout the year.

·       Stay aware of how your child is performing in school.  Don’t wait until report card time to be alarmed.  It is important that we act early when students need help.  Let’s not risk having him/her fall behind.  Schedule an appointment with the teacher if you have any concerns about grades, attendance, behavior or social interactions.

·       Encourage your child to read every day!  Limit screen time (TV, cell phone, video games, and social media) and create balance that includes reading.  Reading for even 20 minutes a day can increase vocabulary and improve students’ grades in other subject areas. All Selma City schools have libraries and students also have access to MyOn, which has hundreds of ebooks. 

·       Be a positive role model.  You are your child’s first teacher and they will learn more from you than any lesson at school.  Show support with a positive attitude.  This will let your child see that you value their education and will go a long way towards them striving to succeed.

In the coming weeks, I will begin planning meetings and events for our new Parent Advisory Committee.  Think of it as a district-wide PTO.  This will serve as a way for our families to provide input and give feedback regarding the district direction.  If you are interested in participating, please let me know.

I look forward to seeing the smiling faces of our scholars this week.  Get plenty of rest boys and girls and let’s make this a truly happy school year!

For more information, please reach out to me at avis.williams@selmacityschools.org.