I hope you all are enjoying your summer and taking time to rest, relax, recharge and have some family fun! At Clarence Center, we are working hard to prepare for an exciting school year ahead. I feel privileged to serve as your principal at a school full of rich traditions, talented students, supportive families and a hard-working staff. 

My favorite part about leadership is connecting with others. I believe bringing people together in meaningful ways and forming a sense of belonging is an essential part of my work as a principal. Doing so creates a nurturing and equitable environment where members of our learning community can grow and thrive. The ways you can count on me to support this culture of care is greeting young people each day with a bright smile, letting them know how much I believe in their abilities, listening closely to what they have to say, and creating opportunities for them to feel valued. You can also expect some dancing and singing along the way! I surely have found in my leadership journey that a major ingredient in creating an inclusive learning environment is having fun with kids.

Looking ahead to a summer event, Popsicles with the Principal is on Tuesday, August 1st from 5-7pm on our Clarence Center playground. A tremendous thank you to our PTO for planning this evening for us all to connect. As an alternative for any families unable to attend the in-person event, I am offering a virtual meet & greet on Wednesday, August 9th from 3-4pm in Google Meet. More details to follow. Lastly, there will be many more opportunities in the coming months to get to know one another, such as our open house and morning programs.

Look to hear from me again in August about essential items for back to school.
 
In Partnership,
Heidie Buffomante