[Ma-pta-enotes] VISIONING is coming to the SUHSD

[ma-pta-enotes at listserv.seq.org]

VISIONING is coming to the SUHSD 

You may already be aware that the Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD) community will engage in a "visioning" process over the next few months to establish a new District Vision Statement.  Our definition and purpose of a vision statement can be found in the quotations at the end of this message. 

This visioning plan was born from the Graduation Task Force (GTF) of last year who requested a vision for the district before they could finish their work.   Even before this request from the GTF, the District held community forums in 2000 and 2001 that started an investigation into the core values and strategic directions desired by stakeholders.  A vision statement will bring more closure to the efforts of the forums participants. 

The district has hired two consultants, Ruth Miller and Kathie Sinor, who will guide us through the entire process.  To get started the district will host five separate vision sessions throughout the district.  You are invited to attend any one of the five sessions. 

In order to plan for the correct number of people at each of these sessions we need you to send an email RSVP to Pat Gemma, Superintendent, letting him know which session you plan to attend.  His email address is pgemma at seq.org. 

The date, time and location of each session is listed below: 

February 26th  4:00PM to 6:15PM at Woodside HS in their Student Union Building. (This session is especially for the Menlo- Atherton HS, Woodside HS and Adult school educational community stakeholders however others are welcome.) 


March 1st 3:45PM to 6:00PM at Sequoia HS in their multi-purpose room. (This session is especially for the Sequoia HS, Carlmont HS and Redwood HS educational community stakeholders however others are welcome.) 


March 1st 6:30PM to 8:15PM at Sequoia HS in their Multi Purpose room. (This session is especially for the broader community in the northern region of the SUHSD however all are welcome.) 


March 20th 6:00PM until 8:15PM at the Sequoia USHD Office at 480 James St. RWC in the boardroom. (This session is especially for students who will be invited from each of our high schools yet others are welcome.) 


March 24th from 9:30 AM until 11:45 AM at a location in East Palo Alto or Menlo Park [If you send in an RSVP for this session we will reply with the exact location also when the location for this session is known it will be posted on the SUHSD web site] (This session is especially for the broader community in the southern region of the SUHSD however all are welcome.) 


We want you to know that we need and appreciate your voice.  Your input is vital to our process.

"There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." (Margaret Wheatly) You are part of that community and we hope you will participate in one of the sessions. 
 

Definition and Purpose of a Vision Statement: 

"Right now with the rate of change and the unpredictability of change, the only thing that can really keep people galvanized around the journey they're on is having a clear and shared vision of success and of the picture they're all working for collaboratively in their minds, in their hearts, in their spirit so that regardless of when the weather and the temperature change and the situation change, together folks can adapt to those changes without losing sight of what they're trying to accomplish.  

*. so vision then acts as a North Star, if it shines bright enough for people. And then values act as their rudder, meaning, on that journey, you want to collectively define and know and feel and touch where you want to go.  However, you want to make sure how you get there on the journey is consistent with how you want to be. (Michelle Hunt, national consultant in leadership development)