Colby Public Schools September Update with Superintendent Dr. Warner

Hello, my name is Dr. Kevin Warner, and I am the new superintendent of Colby Public Schools USD 315. My family and I have really enjoyed our first few months in Colby. We have felt very welcomed by the community, and we have had a great start to the school year.

As a school system, we want parents and families to know that you are an important part of the team when it comes to your child’s education. Our teachers and staff work hard every day to provide students with great learning opportunities, but education does not begin and end at the schoolhouse doors. Families play one of the most important roles in a child’s success in school.

I want to take a little time to share some simple ways you can support your child’s education from home while also supporting the work happening in our schools. The good news is that parents do not have to become teachers at home. You do not need to know how to solve every math problem or remember everything you learned in school. Some of the most powerful things you can do are also some of the simplest.

Talk About School

One of the easiest things parents can do is simply talk with their children about school. Instead of asking, “How was school today?” - which often gets us the famous one-word answers, “Fine” or “Good” - try asking questions that encourage your child to tell you more.

Ask, “What made you laugh today?” “What was the best part of your day?” “What was something difficult today?” “What is something you learned today that you didn’t know yesterday?” or one of my favorites, “Teach me something you learned today.”

The goal is not to quiz your child. The goal is to show genuine interest in what they are learning and experiencing. When we ask about school, we send a simple but powerful message: Your education matters to me!

Make Attendance a Priority

One of the most important ways families can support student success is by making regular school attendance a priority. Simply put, students cannot benefit from great instruction if they are not in the classroom.

We certainly understand that children get sick and that there are times when students need to miss school. Establishing the expectation that being at school and being on time are important helps students develop habits that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Read, Read, Read

Reading is one of the most valuable things families can encourage at home. With younger children, read to them and have them read to you. With older children, ask about what they are reading or encourage them to find something that interests them.

Reading also does not have to mean sitting down with a novel every night. Children can read magazines, newspapers, recipes, instructions, or information about something that interests them. Just as importantly, let your children see you reading. Children notice what the adults around them value.

Make Everyday Life a Learning Opportunity

Learning happens everywhere, not just inside a classroom.

Cooking involves fractions, measurement, following directions, and chemistry. Shopping can involve addition, subtraction, percentages, comparison, and budgeting. A family road trip can become a geography lesson. Working on a vehicle, caring for animals, gardening, building something, or completing a home project all require problem-solving and critical thinking.

When your child asks, “When am I ever going to use this?” sometimes the best answer is to help them see that they are already using it.

Establish Routines and Protect Sleep

Children benefit from consistency. Having routines for homework, reading, meals, bedtime, and getting ready for school can help students know what is expected and be prepared to learn.

Sleep is also incredibly important. Students who come to school well-rested are better prepared to concentrate, learn, remember information, and manage the challenges that come with a busy school day. Remove devices from your child's bedroom.

Families can also help by limiting distractions during homework and reading time. Putting away phones, gaming systems, television, and other distractions, even for a short period, can make it much easier for students to focus.

Celebrate Effort, Not Just the Grade

Of course we want our children to earn good grades, but we also want them to develop persistence, responsibility, and the ability to work through difficult problems.

Try recognizing the effort behind the result. Tell your child, “I saw how hard you worked on that,” “I’m proud that you didn’t give up,” or “You really improved from the last time.”

It is also okay to let children struggle a little. When they immediately ask for help, we do not always have to give them the answer. Instead, we can ask, “What have you tried?” “What do you already know?” “What could you try next?” or “Where could you go to find help?”

Those questions help children become independent learners and problem-solvers.

Stay Connected With Us

Finally, stay connected with your child’s teachers and school. We want parents to know that we are on the same team.

If you have a question or concern, reach out. If something does not seem right academically, socially, or emotionally, communicating early gives us an opportunity to work together. At the same time, we want to hear about the good things, too!

Supporting your child’s education does not mean recreating the classroom at home. You do not have to know how to do your child’s math homework to make a difference in their education. Be interested. Be encouraging. Set expectations. Read together. Ask questions. Make attendance important. Celebrate effort. And stay connected with your child’s school.

Perhaps most importantly, remind your children that you believe in them and that their education matters.

At Colby Public Schools, we are fortunate to have dedicated teachers and staff who care deeply about our students. But we cannot do this work alone. When our schools, families, and community work together, we give our students the greatest opportunity to be successful.

Thank you for allowing us the privilege of educating and caring for your children. I am excited about the school year ahead and look forward to continuing to get to know the students, families, staff, and community that make Colby such a special place.

Dr. Kevin Warner
Superintendent
Colby Public Schools USD 315