We're officially off and rolling, all 580 strong! We had a seamless start with nothing unexpected coming our way with the exception of the installation of solar panels on our roof (noisy!). Both buses and lunch lines will begin running more quickly as everyone learns "the "systems."
Our Lion Walk assembly was a fun, pump-em-up, event to kick off the only fundraiser that students are involved in during the year. It's a "fun run" on Sept. 23rd with students walking/running a 20-25 minute session to get as many laps as possible. Pledges for laps are the fundraising component with prizes for all -- T-shirts and waterbottles, plus group prizes that the kids are crazy about. THANKS to Angela Bourne and Summer Neiss for their assembly enthusiasm, Sharon Johnston for being Maru with the able assistance of Ava Martin, Jeanne Schuback for all the print and prize work, Rhonda Comus for on-going advise, and Wendy Sanderson and Kim Lanier for measuring endless T-shirts. Our Parent Group is off to an incredible start!
I need to apologize for miscommunicating last spring that our auction dollars were going toward technology. -- this was incorrect. Parent Group auction funds had been planned for purchases to support our library and PE programs -- students are now enjoying the benefits of both!!
This summer an anonymous Mabel Rush donor provided funding to support struggling students. They targeted the purchase of the supplemental reading series that directly correlates with our reading adoption for teachers to use with students in grades 2-4. They additionally funded the purchase of 30 i-Pods to use with struggling students K-5. A team of teachers/parents will be traveling to Canby later this month to observe their successful i-Pod program. A warm and heartfelt THANK YOU to our donors.
We have new staff to welcome that you will immediately enjoy. Ray, our evening custodian and extreme duck fan retired and his shoes have been filled by a Phil Bartlett -- great guy!. We also welcome the return of Jill LaFave to our staff -- she trained with Lory Albright and is teaching 2nd grade. Lisa Adams joined us at the last minute from Edwards to teach our afternoon kindergarten as we created both a PM kindergarten and a K/1 classroom just hours before we opened for Supply Night. What a team!
I'll be meeting with the architect this month to discuss plans for the cafeteria enlargement, south playground move, and bulletin boards for the halls (finally!) -- all part of the bond project. This is a very exciting time.
Stop by, we love having volunteers in the building, and please know that we work really hard to make your kids feel as safe and loved at school as they are at home. 2011-2012 is going to be Grrrrrrrrrreat.
Shannon Stueckle
Principal
