A MESSAGE FROM
Dr. Randal A. Lutz
Superintendent of Schools, Baldwin-Whitehall School District
Dear Baldwin-Whitehall Community Members,
As I reflect on another year of lessons, tests, sporting events, science labs, concerts, performances, school dances, and graduations, I can’ t help but notice something special about our District: Connectivity. It’ s what happens when people with different perspectives, beliefs, skills, and interests all come together in pursuit of a shared goal. By forming new bonds between people and ideas, our students and teachers are able to make new connections and create results that would be impossible to achieve alone.
This connectivity is one of the most underrated aspects of public education. In our case, because the community of our
schools is so diverse, the vast number of possible connections and new ideas is a huge benefit that truly makes our district stand out.
As you read through the stories in this issue, you’ ll see evidence of this connectivity in almost every story.
For example, our brand new Mobile Fab Lab and One Button Studio connect science and art in surprising new ways.
Our new student-run cafe, The Baldwin Bean, is a product of our Partners program that connects students with and without disabilities, and will help them accomplish great things by working together.
Our Day of Caring initiative connected many of us with the senior citizens in our community who need help around the home, which instills the timeless values of service and gratitude for the next generation.
And our Transportation Department literally connects our students with our schools, door-to-door, over thousands of miles every day.
As always, thank you for connecting with us this month, and for supporting our students and teachers throughout the year. Your encouragement and shared joy in the success of our students embodies the true spirit of connectivity— and our community wouldn’ t be what it is without you.
Sincerely, Dr. Randal A. Lutz Superintendent of Schools Baldwin-Whitehall School District aldwin-Whitehall BALDWIN-WHITEHALL SCHOOL DISTRICT News
Letter from
David J. Solenday
Dear Baldwin-Whitehall Families,
For our students and teachers, summer is a welcome break filled with beaches and barbeques.
But for our school board and district administration, summer is also a time for another b-word that’ s a bit less enjoyable, but even more important: Budgets. I’ m extremely grateful for the innovation and insight of our board members and our administrators during the creation of this year’ s budget. We are all dedicated to fiscal responsibility, and ensuring that our community’ s tax dollars can stretch as far as possible while still providing a quality education for every child.
One example of this creative innovation is our new Mobile Fabrication Lab.
As you may know, our District mission statement includes,“ the promotion of excellence through a system of traditional values, a quality educational program, and a world of opportunities.” The Fab Lab joins these three elements of our mission statement together into one conducive whole.
Unique to our region, the Fab Lab is a 28-foot mobile unit that’ s equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, milling machines, and more. By
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School Board President using the Lab’ s features, students will have new opportunities to explore the hands-on maker movement that is defining their generation.
The Fab Lab is a true game-changer for the future of our STEM( science, technology, engineering, and math) education, with a healthy dose of creativity included. By allowing students from each of our schools to access these critical concepts and skills from the same equipment, indoors and out, it gives our students a new and boundless freedom to learn. This matches the expectations they ' ll grow up with of how our world should work: mobile, customizable, hands-on, communal, and endlessly fascinating.
I look forward to seeing all the wondrous things our students will imagine and create, now that the power to do so is right in their hands. Finally, I would like to extend a special thank you and a warm welcome. Our outgoing school board member, Tracy Macek, has loyally served this community for the past seven years, and I thank her for investing so much of her time and energy in the best interests of our students. Her seat will be filled by our newest board member, Robert Achtzehn, whom we are all looking forward to working with in the new school year, as we strive to provide our students with the world-class educational experience that we’ ve come to expect from our teachers, administrators, and community. Congratulations to all of this year’ s graduates, thank you to all of our teachers and staff, and best wishes to our entire District for a summer that I hope will be restful and relaxing for all. And don’ t forget the sunscreen.
David J. Solenday School Board President Baldwin-Whitehall School District