Labor Day marks an important day in history when, on May 11, 1894, workers in Illinois organized a strike that targeted the Pullman Company and the federal government due to major wage cuts. According to Newsweek, the strike involved 250,000 workers in more than 25 states; this strike led to the creation of the first “Labor Day,” now a legal national holiday and usually marks the “end of summer” for most students and signals the beginning of another year of hard work for students.

Over the summer VBCPS administration made some proposals about how they would like to see that work administered by its staff and faculty. The focus of the initiative is to create “future ready” learners.

“We no longer work in a time where our job as educators is to help students memorize a few things they might need some day,” said Dr. Claire LeBlanc in a staff newsletter in early August.

This plan focuses on student agency that promotes skills they can carry with them into their lives not only after high school, but after college as well. It helps students become a part of their own learning process and recognizes them as active participants.

“We need to encourage, coach, and otherwise manage student behavior to help them focus on their goals,” said LeBlanc.