This is the transcript of Dr. Costa's opening remarks this year at the beginning year convocation:

...With all that said, I want to share a small portion of my vision for our district...

First, WE must return to the three R's of education- not reading writing and arithmetic , but the 3 R's that underline all curriculum and all that we do- these 3 R's are: Respect, Responsibility and Readiness.

For our students, the first of these R’s mean Respecting one's self first and foremost- students with self respect don't do drugs or chemicals, they don’t do harm to themselves, and they practice respect.

For our staff - this means that we all will help students learn respect.- to respect themselves and others, to respect their teachers, support staff and administrators, and to respect learning- that it is life long and that knowledge is power in today's society - not violence.

The second R is Responsibility. This means our students have a responsibility to attend school, be prepared to learn, contribute in class, put school before all else and to give back to our community.

For all staff and administrators, responsibility means that we educate tomorrow's leaders of east Longmeadow. We must practice responsibility in all we do too. In our attendance, our attitudes, our work ethics and our teaching. As teachers we start everything. No other profession in the world can make this claim. We start every occupation- every doctor, lawyer, NASA  scientist, Nobel winner, every business owner and every entrepreneur. They all start in OUR classrooms. Ours is the greatest responsibility! Site-based participatory management allows all teachers, staff and administrators to be responsive to the needs  of our students and responsible to our community and parents.

And finally, the third R is Readiness. For our students, this means that by the time they graduate as seniors of East Longmeadow High- they must be ready for what 21st century has for them. Their education and learning must be such that they will handle whatever comes their way. MCAS testing is nothing more than check points along the way.

For educators - readiness means that we too must never stop learning. Total knowledge on earth is doubling every two years,  and the wealth of the internet is doubling every 9 months. As educators we must continue to present the most up-to-date, relevant instruction as possible- this starts with professional development.

The state of Mass. is targeting professional development as never before. The curriculum frameworks, recertification standards and technology will all be focal points as we enter this year. We will be our best- to give our students the best.

All of this begins in the classroom- and all the classroom starts with high expectations... by now you've probably wondered what I'm doing with this guitar.- the expectation has been set since you walked in the room and saw it here on the floor- WE create the expectation for learning in our classrooms- it starts with us- we spark the kindling of knowledge in our students. As we work with all students and all Parents, I’d like you to remember that: -

Character has no color

Integrity has no age.

Honesty has no gender.

Compassion has no height or weight.

Caring has no handicap.

Relationships have no degrees or certificates.

Character Builds Quality

Respect, Responsibility and Readiness Builds our foundation from which our towers of learning will last a lifetime.