August 14, 2025
Dear Mandela Families and Community,
Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! I am thrilled to begin another year together—especially one as special as this, our 10th Anniversary year. The words of legendary coach Phil Jackson inspire our theme this year:
"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team."
This message reflects who we are and who we aspire to be. At Mandela, we know that every scholar, every staff member, every family, and every community partner is an essential part of our success. When we work together, our collective strength grows, and so does the achievement of our scholars.
This year, as we celebrate a decade of learning, growth, and community, we’ll honor the staff members who have been with us since the beginning with “Decade of Dedication” plaques, which will be proudly displayed on the bookshelves in our Dr. Susan Toohey Media Center. And that’s just the beginning, be prepared for fun and engaging celebrations all year long to commemorate our 10 years of success!
We are also asking families to recommit to the habits that set our scholars up for success:
- Daily attendance and on-time arrival – Each morning begins with announcements to set the tone for the day, followed by classroom Community Circles that help scholars connect, share, and prepare for learning.
- Full uniform and preparedness(good night’s rest) – A strong start each day leads to a stronger finish.
- Daily reading – Scholars should read their DIBS book every night to help us continue to raise the bar for literacy achievement.
Last year’s academic gains showed the power of our collective efforts:
- Our 5th graders graduated with every scholar scoring proficient or higher—no one was below grade level.
- We are getting closer to our 3-year Strategic Plan goal of every scholar scoring 100 or more on the Woodcock-Johnson tests.
- These results were fueled by our unique school approach of violin instruction, daily social-emotional lessons, recess every 90 minutes, dedicated and highly skilled team members, and strong family engagement, among other factors.
We have so much to celebrate, but we also recognize that we cannot do this work alone. We need each of you, our parents, guardians, and community members, to walk alongside us. Together, we will continue to build a school where every scholar is supported, challenged, and inspired to be their best.
Here’s to a fantastic school year filled with growth, joy, and the strength of our team!
In partnership and with great pride,
Mrs. Genevive Core
Principal
Nelson Mandela Elementary School