Chester Upland School District - CUSD Welcome 2009-2010

United States Census 2010

The 2010 Census — a count of everyone living in the United States — is fast approaching! Census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to every household in the United States in March 2010. Please click the icon below to obtain informational materials to help teachers and students learn about the importance of the Census.

For more detailed information about the 2010 Census, click here.

Cyber Academy RFP

The Chester Upland School District seeks proposals from qualified vendors to develop and, if approved by the Education Empowerment Board, to implement a comprehensive cyber learning academy for students in grades K-12 in the Chester Upland School District. It is anticipated that the successful vendor will be prepared to begin work on or around July 1, 2010, pending approval of the District’s budget for the 2010-2011 school year, with services to students to begin in September 1, 2010. Click here to view full Cyber Academy RFP.

Haiti Relief

Dear Chester Upland Family,

There are moments in our lives when we are confronted with circumstances that are out of our human control. It is how we respond to our fellow man during these times that define us as individuals and as people who care about our fellow man.

Recently such a moment occurred when our brothers and sisters in Haiti experienced the worst disaster in the history of their country. The earthquake lasted for less than one minute – 60 seconds, but the pain and loss of family members, friends and the ability to conduct a day to day existence will exist for many years to come. At a time such as this, it is incumbent upon each of us to step forward and extend our support and assistance. I was especially proud that within 24 hours, the students of CUSD had approached their principals seeking ways to support the relief efforts for the victims of this disaster.

Please allow me to share with you our preliminary plans.

The administration has reached out to all of our Haitian students and their families, to offer our support and to identify ways that our school family can help them during this time.
Although this is a catastrophic event, it does create several teachable moments. Our Curriculum and Instruction team has prepared a packet of appropriate materials, which will be delivered to schools during the week of January 26, 2010 for integration into our curriculum. It is important that our students deepen their understanding of the Country of Haiti.
During the month of February each school will launch a fund drive to provide monetary support to the citizens of Haiti. Each school should create a team consisting of staff and students to plan and implement the campaign.
The EEB and central administration pledge to match funds raised by schools.

Additionally, as Superintendent, I pledge to work closely with our City and Faith Community to support a citywide relief effort. Please keep our brethren in Haiti in your thoughts and in your hearts.

Sincerely,

Gregory E. Thornton

Superintendent

Superintendent’s Message

In Africa, the Masai people evaluate the quality of a village with the question,

“So, how are the children?” We need to ask this same question of ourselves.

We have a moral imperative to the children in Chester Upland. To realize our vision, there must be a shared sense of moral responsibility and unified action for the children’s well-being. The people of Chester must feel accountable for the children’s success and work to ensure their basic rights to education, safety, health, and nurturing. The district, through its actions and achievements, must show that poverty and academic success are not mutually exclusive.

Know that I am committed to providing a quality education for all students and I am honored to be a part of the Chester legacy. My mission is to improve the learning environment, the quality of education and academic rigor in all schools. It is my further desire to prepare our children for scholarship, leadership, and good citizenship. As the chief administrator in the Chester Upland School District, my goal is to provide a network of support around our children, our families, and our district staff. A support system designed to assist our students for a better today and sustain them through a brighter tomorrow.

Gregory E. Thornton, Ed. D.
Superintendent

Message from Senior Leadership Team

The Senior Leadership Team is committed to providing a quality education for all students. Our mission is to improve the learning environment, the quality of education and academic rigor in all schools. As educators, our obligation is to prepare our children for scholarship, leadership, and citizenship and provide a network of support to our students, our families, and our district staffs. It is our hope to prepare our students for a better today so that they will have a brighter tomorrow. The Senior Team is excited about these new initiatives and we look forward to a promising school year.

So, How are the Children?

Chester Upland’s Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan: Mission and Vision

We must facilitate optimal learning for all students to enable them to lead fulfilling and productive lives in a rapidly changing and increasingly complex society. We will strive to create a community that joins together to ensure a high-quality, rigorous, and relevant education for every Chester Upland student, leading to academic achievement, choices for higher education, and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully as citizens and workers in the global economy.

Strategic Plan: Goals

Goal 1 Articulate the Moral Imperative
Goal 2 Create Conditions for Success
Goal 3 Provide an Effective Instructional Program as the Centerpiece of Change
Goal 4 Invest in Partnerships as Engineers of Sustainability
Goal 5 Construct Infrastructure to Support Learning

**Click here to view Chester Upland School District's DRAFT Strategic Plan**