We have finished the first couple weeks of school here at Becker Public Schools.  It is very refreshing to see all of the students back in our classrooms and excited to be here.  As this current situation continues to throw curve balls at us, it is important for our district students and residents to understand the amount of care and thought that went into making this school year get off to as successful of a start as possible.  We have had countless meetings, long, tiring days, and so many internal struggles trying to answer questions without an answer to find a solution that works for all of us. 

Becker Public School District as a community has shown their pride in supporting our school.  We have one of the highest rates of in-person attendance throughout the state.  We have an extraordinarily high amount of support for following Executive Order 20-81 Face Covering Mandate, even though everyone understands it is not the preference in typical times to wear face coverings.  We have families who are helping with transportation to keep our buses running at under 50% capacity.  We have a staff and student body who are extremely flexible every single day.  We have a number of people who have shared positive messages or support of the school on social media or in public.  All of these things show the pride our community has in our school and why we are the best school in Sherburne County.

Since the beginning of this worldwide issue, Becker Public School District, which includes staff, students, and community, has shown what it takes to ensure success for our students.  We have so much to be thankful for from our entire school district and these are only a few of the examples of who and what we should be grateful for. 

Becker Public Schools has provided options for our students with in-person, hybrid, and distance learning options.  Becker Public Schools has clearly improved the processes that take place within the school.  Becker Public Schools has been able to provide these opportunities with the support and resources our community has provided for us. 

Schools perform many more roles than just learning.  We are the location where children shape their personalities.  We are the place that provides structure, routines, and procedures.  We are the place that provides the only daily meal for our children.  We are the place that provides mental and emotional support for students who are struggling within their lives.  We are the place that provides an ability to interact with peers.  We are the place where so much more takes place than ABC’s and 123’s.  School is a community and within Becker Public School District, we are a direct reflection of the community.  This means we are proud, we are competitive, we are the place where so many needs are met for our children. 

I wish to thank everyone for their support and flexibility of Becker Public Schools at this time.  I want to assure you that our staff from transportation to food service to office personnel to teachers truly want what is best for OUR children.  We are doing everything we can to meet needs that have not necessarily been met over the last six months.  If you see a school district employee or someone who is making sacrifices to make our new system work, please don’t hesitate to thank them for the wonderful work they are doing and will continue to do to make Becker Public Schools, the City of Becker, and surrounding communities the premiere location in Minnesota to raise a family and ensure a well-rounded education to our children.  Becker Public School District mission statement reads, “Preparing Self-Directed Learners to Thrive in a Changing Global Community!”  This changing global community is now and Becker Public Schools is up for the challenge of continuing to prepare our learners to thrive in this environment.  Becker Public Schools will continue to shine and adapt to meet our community needs.  Thank you all for your support and we look forward to continuing to grow through successes and mistakes as we take on this venture.  If you are a Becker Public School District resident, student, or staff member, you have so much to appreciate. Let’s continue to shine, strive for excellence, work as a team, and grow as a school and community.