St. Mary’s School
September 2015
I think my computer hates me. My first clue was when I came to school
on Teacher Work Day, ready to run off my class lists and my epic
three-page parent letter, and found that none of my files were on the
computer. Can you say “PANIC!!!”? It turned out that in the process of
upgrading our technology our computer guru had forgotten to download
the files he had saved from my old computer. He jokingly told me he
really wasn’t holding my files for ransom. Little did he know I would
have given a month’s salary for that three page letter! I have since
fought with various programs, including my email. I know the computer
people just love upgrades, but speaking for the rest of us, couldn’t we
just leave well enough alone!
All joking aside, we had a major technological upgrade this year. All
the work was done over the summer thanks to Rich Hadden, Chris Pope,
Tim Kramer and their junior assistants Cole Kramer, Carson Pope,
Justin, Chris, and Alex Hadden. We have five new servers with a server
rack to hold and organize them. Five new network switches and the
high-speed (fibre) cabling between them were installed. We now have a
significant storage upgrade. As far as new technology we now have
twenty new laptops with a mobile charging cart for them, a 60” mobile
SmartBoard and nine new faculty/student workstations. All of the
school’s pcs were reimaged. In the near future, we plan to have online
course information available, student online storage (like Dropbox or
Google Drive), and internal student email, faculty computer backups, an
electronic library catalog/check in & check out system, and online
digital library materials for the students.
Classes began on September 1 this year. The last time I remember school
starting in September was when I was a student here and we won’t even
go into how long ago that was! I really liked starting in September. As
part of my math curriculum I set up a calendar. Each day we staple a
date tag on it. Every year I have had to put up an August calendar
which is good for a day or two and then begin a new calendar. It was
nice to put up one calendar that was going to be good for thirty days.
Friday was “Talk Like a Pirate” Day. As usual we turned the school
topsy-turvy as we deciphered clues and sought the treasure. I have to
tell you as captain of these pirates, I am exhausted at the end of the
day. My favorite part of the day is overhearing the “big kids” (anyone
older than a second grader) reminiscing about how much fun they had on
Pirate Day.
On September 22 the staff will attend an in-service about the Reading
Renaissance, STAR testing and Math Renaissance programs. The in-service
will be given by Susan Kueber. Ms. Kueber is from Renaissance. We have
been using Reading Renaissance and STAR tests for many years as part of
our reading curriculum. Math Renaissance is a new program and we are
looking forward to learning about it. This program would supplement our
Saxon Math program. On September 29 the sixth graders are leaving for
Glen Helen. Glen Helen is an outdoor educational learning experience
that is an annual tradition for our sixth graders.
I usually like to end my letters on a cheery note. However this summer
our school family suffered several losses. On Tuesday the father of
Mrs. Robbie Foster, one of our teachers, passed away. In early August,
Sam Barga a former student of St. Mary’s was killed in an accident. Our
good friend from the Humane Society, Georgia Wills passed away the same
week. On August 25, Mary Wetzel died from complications from her
injuries in an accident. I read in her obituary that she was a long
time teacher and volunteer at St. Mary’s School. Although accurate,
that description doesn’t even scratch the surface of who Mary was and
what she meant to us. Mary poured so much of herself into this school.
We were blessed by her love and laughter. When she announced her
retirement several years ago, I was saddened thinking of how much I
would miss her. I shouldn’t have worried. Mary spent so much time as a
volunteer that I saw as much of her as when she was on staff. And now I
am saddened by her passing and like everyone I miss her. But it
wouldn’t surprise me if some evening when I am sprinting to the office
to run off “just one more worksheet” I encounter a warm presence full
of love and laughter in the hall. If I do, I’ll just say, “Hey Mary.
How’s it going?” Rest in peace, Mary.
|
|
|
|
