Dear Virginia R. Boris Parents and Students,
It is an honor and privilege to begin my third year as the principal of Virginia R. Boris Elementary School. During the 2021-2022 school year, we went through so much TOGETHER and proved that we were “Mission Unstoppable.” As we began 2022-2023, we continued to exemplify what it means to be the best you can be in Mind, Body, and Spirit and demonstrated that “Success is a Team Sport”. TEAM meant that (Together Everyone Achieves More). Our focus this year continues to be on teamwork and innovation as we provide a school learning environment that continues the traditions of excellence and commitment to the core values of our Clovis Unified School District and demonstrates that: “We are BORIS, WE are FAMILY”. Boris Elementary has embedded and will continue a school culture where POSITIVITY is key, and we where we always do things “The Boris Way.”
I want to take this time to officially welcome you and your child and to formally introduce myself. I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and grew up in Oakland, as well as Fresno. I am the oldest of three children in my family and the only daughter of my parents who recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary. I graduated from San Joaquin Memorial High School and continued my college education at California State University, Fresno where I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science and Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, as well as, in Administration in Education. My husband and I met in high school and were blessed to celebrate our 33rd wedding anniversary this past June. We have also been blessed to have four children, two boys and two girls. Three of my children are products of Clovis Unified and I still have one child who will begin high school (10th grade year) at Clovis High School. I have worked in the educational system for over 30 years. I have had a multitude of experiences as a parent of four children who have and continue to benefit from a well-rounded education deeply rooted in a strong foundation of academic excellence, caring, and fairness for ALL students.
Since serving in this principal role at Boris Elementary, I learned a lot about the community our school serves, and I completely fell in love with the warm and welcoming atmosphere on our campus, and especially the teamwork and collaboration I have witnessed between the Boris staff, students and the community as a whole. WE ARE FAMILY! Everyone believes in the standards of excellence that Clovis Unified Schools offer to students. Through these collaborative efforts, we have demonstrated that the PBIS and Positivity Project character education programs within our school helps to ensure that no child is left behind and that all our students understand what it means to be BOLD (Believe in good character, Organized and Prepared, Leading the Way, and Determined to do our best). Our staff and students have been exemplary role models of this as they have established high expectations of themselves and held each other accountable.
No matter what our community has had to endure over the past few years, Boris Elementary has continued to show outstanding performance and achievement in academics, co-curricular participation, as well as parent and community support and involvement. We have won softball, football, wrestling, and track and field area and district championships. Our SBAC test scores increased in both ELA and Math for the 2022-2023 school year, and our current enrollment has sky-rocketed with an increase of over 200 new students. We will open the 2023-2024 school year with approximately 900 students! Boris Elementary School “ROCKS!.” We won area and district championships. We are certified as a Bonner Foundation Character Education and Civic Award recipient, as well as designated a Digital Citizenship School the past two years, we have been recognized as a Platinum PBIS school. These accolades support the vision of Boris Elementary being a 21st Century Learning School, where our students are supported in an environment that is interconnected in the 6 C’s: Critical Thinking, Communication, Creativity, Collaboration, Character, and Citizenship. It takes a village for all of these accomplishments to occur, and I want to celebrate the hard work of our students, the dedication of a phenomenal staff, and the continued support of our wonderful parents and community. Together, we will continue to embrace the “Boris Way”, set goals, and challenge each other to do our very best and to be the very best role models for others.
I look forward to watching our students, staff, and school community continue to excel during this 2023-2024 academic school year.
Sincerely,
Demetra Vincent-Walker (Mrs. Walker)