Here we go again… the collision of the culminating end-of-the-year events, and the exciting, intensive planning for the next year. As I go through a day, it is sometimes confusing to know which world I am living in at the moment. In the midst of submitting some final budget reports, Mr. Mueller and I sat and discussed some of his ideas for next year.
I am sure teachers feel this crossing of the worlds, too. In all of our minds, we take mental inventory of how the year is ending, what could we do to make it better for next year, and how we can be more efficient to get the most out of a day with students. Two of our teachers are moving to kindergarten, and they have started making plans and materials for next year.
One teacher at the beginning of this year was having her students compose a book about “I like...” One little kindergarten girl came up to her and asked how to spell “coosines”. (She knew the teacher liked Lean Cusines and was going to put this in her “I Like” book as something she liked.) Another teacher heard her ask this, and questioned her what she thought a coosine was. The little girl said she thought it had marshmallows in it.
I think a goal of mine for next year is to make more classroom visits. A kindergarten boy was by the office the other day and another student said something about me being one of the principals. The boy looked a little confused and said, “I thought she was my teacher’s principal, I didn’t know she was mine.”
It is sometimes staggering to consider the number of staff we have (a total of 87 now), to consider the increasing number of students we serve (now 822 strong), and to take some time to think of all the accomplishments for the school year.
We have survived a difficult fall with many students and staff contracting the various number of viruses that were spread in the building. With so many students absent, it has been a challenge for teachers to keep students from lagging behind. But in spite of all of this, we charged our way into the testing season in April with the Benchmark Blast and feel that we had prepared our students to be successful.
Our Sumer Activities Fair was last week, with many groups coming in to the elementary school and setting up tables in our hallways promoting summer activities for children. Hopefully, many children will benefit from the activities offered by our community members.
As we wind down for the 2009-2010 school year, our kids will be participating in kickball tournaments, track and field days, water days (You might see us out front with waters slides, etc.), field trips to the parks, Blanchard Springs trip for 5th, talent shows, and choir presentations. Oh yes, there is still some reading, writing and arithmetic as part of our day.
What have we learned for the year? We have been challenged by new technology and have faced new challenges to meet state standards. But I think as a staff, we have learned the most from Janet Willis, our art teacher. She has taught us to keep fighting no matter what the odds. After spending this year battling cancer, she is in Louisiana for her last round of treatments. She is winning against all of the odds presented to her. Her determination and positive spirit have inspired all of us. I have enjoyed sharing this year with you through the column. See you next year!
Cheryl Orr is the assistant principal at the Heber Springs Elementary School. Her column will appear the third Wednesday of each month.
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Here we go again… the collision of the culminating end-of-the-year events, and the exciting, intensive planning for the next year. As I go through a day, it is sometimes confusing to know which world I am living in at the moment. In the midst of submitting some final budget reports, Mr. Mueller and I sat and discussed some of his ideas for next year.
I am sure teachers feel this crossing of the worlds, too. In all of our minds, we take mental inventory of how the year is ending, what could we do to make it better for next year, and how we can be more efficient to get the most out of a day with students. Two of our teachers are moving to kindergarten, and they have started making plans and materials for next year.
One teacher at the beginning of this year was having her students compose a book about “I like...” One little kindergarten girl came up to her and asked how to spell “coosines”. (She knew the teacher liked Lean Cusines and was going to put this in her “I Like” book as something she liked.) Another teacher heard her ask this, and questioned her what she thought a coosine was. The little girl said she thought it had marshmallows in it.
I think a goal of mine for next year is to make more classroom visits. A kindergarten boy was by the office the other day and another student said something about me being one of the principals. The boy looked a little confused and said, “I thought she was my teacher’s principal, I didn’t know she was mine.”
It is sometimes staggering to consider the number of staff we have (a total of 87 now), to consider the increasing number of students we serve (now 822 strong), and to take some time to think of all the accomplishments for the school year.
We have survived a difficult fall with many students and staff contracting the various number of viruses that were spread in the building. With so many students absent, it has been a challenge for teachers to keep students from lagging behind. But in spite of all of this, we charged our way into the testing season in April with the Benchmark Blast and feel that we had prepared our students to be successful.
Our Sumer Activities Fair was last week, with many groups coming in to the elementary school and setting up tables in our hallways promoting summer activities for children. Hopefully, many children will benefit from the activities offered by our community members.
As we wind down for the 2009-2010 school year, our kids will be participating in kickball tournaments, track and field days, water days (You might see us out front with waters slides, etc.), field trips to the parks, Blanchard Springs trip for 5th, talent shows, and choir presentations. Oh yes, there is still some reading, writing and arithmetic as part of our day.
What have we learned for the year? We have been challenged by new technology and have faced new challenges to meet state standards. But I think as a staff, we have learned the most from Janet Willis, our art teacher. She has taught us to keep fighting no matter what the odds. After spending this year battling cancer, she is in Louisiana for her last round of treatments. She is winning against all of the odds presented to her. Her determination and positive spirit have inspired all of us. I have enjoyed sharing this year with you through the column. See you next year!
Cheryl Orr is the assistant principal at the Heber Springs Elementary School. Her column will appear the third Wednesday of each month.
