Welcome Back

A short story while wearing my parent hat: Friday afternoon I came home from school around 3:00. As is typical, I grabbed the mail from the box on my way up the driveway. While sorting through the pile, I saw two envelopes that stood out in the stack. One was addressed to Kearia, the other to Brayden. I tossed my school bag aside in the kitchen, washed my hands and called out the window, "Kearia, Bray, you have letters in the mail!" They came tearing through the woods and flew into the house with eager, outstretched hands. With big smiles of anticipation, they tore open their envelopes. Slowly while reading, they both turned and walked down the deck steps and sat on their swings, mesmerized by the words in front of them from their teacher. They pored over every word. With this welcome letter from Teacher, these two little hearts were establishing their new home. I watched as they conversed a little between the two of them, with pride, about the contents of their letters. A few minutes later, they both excitedly came inside to share what their teachers had written to them. As a parent, I THANK YOU for prepping, recreating, meeting, praying and loving your children already! Know that your children feel it and God is already using your strengths to prepare the hearts and minds of our littles (Sandy, Cameron had received his letter the day before...he often walks around with his letter tucked under his arm alongside his Captain Underpants book--two of his most prized possessions--the literary value of your letter is, of course, much higher than the Captain Underpants).

Let's walk through the finer points of the upcoming week, shall we? 

Tomorrow, as is reflected on our calendar, we will meet beginning at 7:30. Breakfast is served from 7:30-8:00. Dan Meester will begin devotions promptly at 8:00. Non-instructional staff may leave after snack time, around 10:30. For this any staff members involved in instructing students, please bring the following items:

• Teach with Your Strengths book

• Results of the survey (we're going to have fun learning about ourselves and our team)

• Writing utensil

• No laptops or iPads

• Bag or lawn chair (if weather permits we'll meet outside at certain points in the day)

• Optional: Fishing gear

Our retreat time should wrap up at 4:00. 

Wednesday's meetings begin in the high school auditorium at 8:30. A light breakfast will be served from 8:00-8:30. We'll be treated to a talk prepared by Neal Plantinga followed by Dan Meester. Lunch will be served at the high school after which we'll continue our work of inputting reading workshop lessons/units in Rubicon. Your team will continue where you left off last June. If you need reading workshop materials in order to continue your mapping, please bring those supplies for the afternoon portion of the day. 

Thursday we have VOWAC training in the media center at the high school from 8:00-10:00. Please bring your VOWAC materials to this meeting. Hourly staff members, please include this training on your time cards. When this meeting wraps up (approximately 10:30), we'll have a Happy New Year party (ehem...it's actually a staff meeting in disguise) at South Side. You'll receive your binders at this meeting. 

Our ice cream social will begin at 6:30 and roll out open house style until 8:00. As we did last year, I will invite parents, students and staff to meet at the flagpole at 6:30 to begin the year together in prayer. 

Friday we have running record training from 8:00-10:30 in the high school media center. If you're more comfortable learning this process with your F & P Kit at hand, they're delivered and waiting for your viewing pleasure on the table across the hall from the office (I just have no idea how you're going to lug that thing to the meeting. ;) 

Sunday our convocation service will be held in the high school auditorium this year beginning at 3:00. This is required for all staff members to attend as we stand side-by-side with our families and begin our spiritual growth journey together. Dan Meester will also be commissioned by the school board at this event.

Tuesday, August 26, parents will be attending our Parent Information NIght from 7:00-8:30. Please note that you are only expected to be in your classroom during these allotted times: 

7:00 pm            Kindergarten - Mrs. Johnson

            First grade  - Mrs. Van Meeteren

Second grade - Mrs. Ritsema

7:30 pm            General Assembly in the gym with me

                       

8:00 pm            Kindergarten – Mrs. Becksfort and Mrs. Strikwerda

            First grade - Mrs. Bohle

                        Second grade - Mrs. Hunderman

Please don't hesitate to ask questions, raise great ideas and alert me to conflicts. It's going to be a fun week to grow together as we're ramping up to the highway. Again, thank you for all the hard work, time and effort you are already putting in to make this 2014-2015 a stellar year for our children!