Welcome Letter

August 2018

Dear Students and Families:

Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year!  It is with great pleasure and excitement that I introduce myself as the Proud Principal of Grover Washington, Jr. Middle School this year.  I look forward to being a member of our educational community. I moved to Philadelphia when I started my undergraduate degree at Temple University, and I never left.  Since my arrival to the “City of Brotherly Love,” I engulfed myself into the children of the city. I have had various positions in and out of the School District of Philadelphia including: Principal, Special Education Teacher, Special Education Liaison, School-based Teacher Leader, and Instructional Coach.

The staff and I are eager to continue the progress of this middle school in the heart of the city is making.  It is with great pride that we carry the torch of pride of our city and students at Grover Washington, Jr. Middle School.  Our plan is to use our unique perspectives and talents to enhance the learning experience. Our small family can create the most successful leaders with collaboration and celebration of learning. We are all here for the betterment of our students. To that end, it is Children First at Grover.

I have an “Open Door” policy and look forward to working with the members of the Grover family. I believe in transparency. It is the building block for positive relationships between the school, families, and the community.  My core values focus on the safety of all students (physical, mental, and emotional) as well as ensuring that all students are engaged in rigorous learning. I am eager to earn your trust and forge the relationships necessary to do the hard work of educating our children and instilling in them the desire to achieve.  I have come to learn that your slogan is #GroversGotGRIT (Guts. Resilience. Intuition. Tenacity.). This is the reason our students will be our future leaders. These middle years are critical in their development to be successful in their future academics. Our expectation at Grover Washington, Jr. Middle School is that all students will acquire the academic and personal skills needed to succeed in their education, a global society, and the pursuit of their dreams.  We invite families to become actively involved in our school because every parent/guardian has something to contribute. You know your children best. Parents/guardians may be asked at times to complete a survey, serve on a committee, or attend an assembly program. We hope you will become an active partner and frequently commit to Grover Washington, Jr. Middle School. Collaboration is key, hence, our new slogan of #OneMindOneBand.

This handbook offers suggestions on how parents/guardians can help to support our goal of success for every student.  Please review this handbook to become more familiar with our school, and keep it handy for reference throughout the school year. Regular and open communication is important to us. Please contact us immediately whenever you have a question or concern.

Respectfully,

Ms. T. Joi Blunt

PROUD Principal