Welcome to Landmark Middle School.  I am excited to be here, and I look forward to a great school year.  As the new principal, it is a privilege to serve a wonderful and dedicated group of students, staff, and parents.  I am impressed by the students’ eagerness to learn and grow, but it is my goal to support teachers as they embark on the quest to facilitate more opportunities for students to gain knowledge and information.  I aim to provide new opportunities to explore and implement instruction that is purposeful, meaningful, and engaging.  One of my favorite quotations comes from the book Shepherd Leadership by Blaine McCormick and David Davenport.  The quotation states, “. . . shepherd leaders must learn to conceptualize a great deal of their activity in terms of making sure people’s needs are met.  Engaging not just people’s time but also their minds and hearts. . .”  It is my commitment to support a school culture that engages the hearts and minds of the educational community. The staff at Landmark cannot accomplish this alone.  We need support.  I encourage and welcome parents and community members to become involved in the educational lives of Landmark’s students. Research reveals that middle school presents some of the most challenging times in the lives of students.  Please be involved.  Ask your child questions about his or her school experiences and monitor progress.  The staff at Landmark understands the importance of implementing a relevant, challenging, and engaging academic program while addressing important emotional and social development.  The staff is committed to developing and implementing programs that promote the social, academic, and emotional growth of your child, but it takes a community effort to accomplish success.   I am excited to be at Landmark, and I am proud to be a Knight.  I remind all students that the attributes of a proud Knight are loyalty, honor, courage, respect, motivation, and courtesy.  Parents, please encourage students to display these characteristics every day. Sincerely, Doug Murphy Principal E-Mail: dmurphy@mvusd.net