Greetings John Kerr School Community!! 

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!!  It is hard to believe a new school year is here!  We have spent most of the summer preparing for an amazing school year, filled with awesome learning opportunities for our students.  Administrators and teachers have engaged in multiple training sessions to ensure we have the latest best practices to reach all students. 

It is our desire for our students to have ownership in their learning by knowing their data, setting goals, working collaboratively with their peers and teachers, and practicing good citizenship skills each day!  We desire all students to experience success and growth throughout the school year.  As a school community, we will provide learning resources, rigorous instruction, coupled with high standards and expectations, and tiered instruction, so all students receive what they need.  We truly believe in "Learning for all, whatever it takes!" 

You will see a few new eager and excited faces (along with lots of familiar faces) around John Kerr.  We are also fortunate to welcome three Pre-K classes from Frederick Douglass Elementary School, as their school is undergoing some renovations.  As a Dream Team, we have bonded and are excited, prepared, and awaiting our students!  The level of positive energy is amazing!

I am honored to continue to serve this wonderful community and am very fortunate to welcome our new Assistant Principal, Dr. Elanyna Clokes!  We are so excited and cannot wait to enjoy every moment, experience, opportunity for growth, and celebration the year will unfold for our teachers and students.  We will serve right alongside them.

Our desire is that every single person, parent or visitor, to experience an unwavering sense of peace, kindness, joy, and great customer service.  It is our mission to ensure our students and teachers learn and work in the most nurturing, safe environment.  That is our highest priority as JKES leaders.

In addition to an incredible and safe school environment, JKES will continue to be a school that will demonstrate GREATNESS as we continue to move “Full Steam Ahead”!  This means, every single adult in our building, will lend their time and talent, in whatever capacity they serve, to ensure our school operates on the next level of greatness!

John Kerr is fortunate to continue with the METRICs grant, which is on the cutting edge of computer science and STEAM education (and students and teachers LOVE it).  The PEDLE and MakerSpace programs, which focus on personalized learning, digital learning experiences, as well as collaborative projects, allow students to have tailored learning opportunities that extend beyond what is happening in classrooms.  John Kerr has a plethora of resources that enhance the curriculum, while making teaching and learning fun for students and teachers. The House System also allows us to create school-wide connections, while participating in house lunches, competitions, and other fun activities. 

In addition to the many resources afforded to our school, we will continue to grow as educators, pushing the limits and boundaries of our academic world and finding new ways to address student achievement, as well as, ensuring we address the social and emotional needs of our students.  We will continue to focus on building meaningful relationships, teaching with rigor, maintaining high expectations, and building a climate and school culture that is unmatched!

Our goal is to create passionate, creative, lifelong learners at John Kerr.  We strive to foster the curiosity and spirit of all our students, implementing learning that focuses on critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, communication, and global citizenship.  We want all our students to be college and career-ready!  There are jobs and opportunities, not yet created, in which they will soar! 

Parents, I look forward to working with you to provide the best school experience for your children.  I will offer sit-down coffee hours and other opportunities to dialogue.  Our desire is to become partners and unite in our greatest purpose, our children!  We invite you to join us by volunteering and helping JKES to continue to soar!  Get involved!  This year will be EPIC!  Let's work together! for our children.  We are #bettertogether!  

Sincerely,

Dr. Gail Brady, Principal 

bradyg@wps.k12.va.us