Dramatic events in our lives often leave an indelible mark on our mind and memory. For some it was the assassination of JFK; for others it was the explosion of the Challenger Shuttle; or more recently 9-11 terrorist attacks. The shooting at Columbine High School in Columbine Colorado was one of those moments for me. I was completing my 2nd year of teaching experiences at SDSU (they call it Professional Semester II, Northern refers to the same experience as Junior Field). It was the end of the semester so the 12 or so students in my class had just completed our work in area classrooms and we were meeting to discuss the experiences. The topic changed quickly as we wanted to discuss the national event as details were continuing to be dispersed. Media was different then, so information was not quite as quick as it is today; national news outlets were sharing some information but it would take some time for the story to unravel. Being a college student that was practicing to be a teacher you can understand my concern with such events; the much more recent events at Harrisburg makes those concerns even more real today. Monday's assembly, Rachel's Challenge, lead by Chris Mowery brought those memories back even more; watching the old news footage, seeing those same images from 16 1/2 years ago turns old memories into raw emotions once again. The grainy footage and broken video seems almost eerie and surreal; how could something so horrible happen at a school. Yet out of those circumstances comes something very positive and powerful, and our students had the opportunity to experience that first hand Monday.
Monday morning started out with a challenge for all students in Warner courtesy of Rachel's Challenge and the Aberdeen United Way. Thanks to the United Way of Aberdeen, Chris from Rachel's Challenge brought a message of hope and caring that began from those horrible acts. Rachel, you see, was the first victim in that tragic event (her brother was a fire sprinkler away from being another) and from her writings, practices and family comes her "Challenge", 5 to be exact. A simple, practical and powerful message that resonates with students and adults alike. She wanted to have an impact on the world and only in death did she accomplish that. If you get a moment over the weekend ask your kids about the assembly and message; encourage them to practice her challenges and encourage others to do the same. We know it isn't always easy or 'cool' but one person has 'the power to start a chain reaction'.
Thanks again to Aaron at the United Way of Aberdeen for including Warner in this great presentation. Also, thanks to Dana Oye for getting us on the list of interested schools.
Friday, October 23, 2015
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Cuff Links and Skid Steers
Several weeks ago (towards the beginning of school) I saw a photo of myself climbing out the school skid steer wearing my official "superintendent attire"--shirt (with cuff links), tie, dress pants and dress shoes. I guess that sums up my answer for those people who wonder what I do all day; the simple answer is: whatever needs to be done. Teachers have the advantage to "plan"; they literally have lesson plans to give them a guide (of sorts) to follow for the week. I remember teaching (I haven't been away from it that long) some days you stick to the plan and the days rolls by right on schedule. Other days, the plan is gone by 8:35 and you are looking to regroup and take an alternative course of action. Both options offer great learning opportunities for the students; some are more personal than curricular but a learning experience none the less. The point being, you get to plan.
An administrator's work life is full of the unexpected and the expected. I like to think I start everyday with a 'to-do' list and the 'to-do' list can either grow or shrink depending on the day. Some days feel super productive; I may cross off several items from the list. There are different forms to fill out, evaluations to complete, personnel to supervise, material to review, budgets to examine, etc, etc. We also have various meetings to prepare for, in-services to plan and coordinate, building and grounds to survey, and expense lists to prioritize. When a person heads home and can look at the 'to-do' list and see several items crossed off you feel good about your day and know you accomplished something.
There seems to be plenty of "management" activities for us to complete on a daily basis, but we also have plenty of "other" things to do that don't seem like management and are not always planned. (The event from Harrisburg a week ago was a stark reminder.) I think in general school administrators complete many of the tasks that we don't want to have teachers worry about or tasks that will take them away from the classroom. We run skid-steers, drive bus, clean up illnesses, fix drinking fountains/doors/bleachers, substitute (I once was sent to the Junior Kindergarten room, this HS History teacher was a bit out of his element), we help with health screenings and numerous items throughout the day. The unexpected (both good and bad) is part of the allure of the position; there is something motivational about the unknown and how prepared you are to handle it. Don't get me wrong, the smooth sailing, 'to-do' list completing, pleasant weather days are eagerly accepted and often sought after. At the same time the unknown elements keep us engaged and helpful for both students and staff. Those events often remind us of why we accepted the education calling in the first place--to help kids.
No matter if the day is good for the 'to-do' list or shaken due to the unexpected; any day we get to help kids learn and grow is a good day. I often remind myself to not judge my day by the length of 'to-do' list but by the length of the accomplished list. We get lots of things accomplished that seem small in the grand scheme of things, but every management issue and surprise event that we can handle and allow our staff and kids to have a good day is productive for everyone. Plus, who doesn't love driving a skid steer--cuff links or coveralls, it doesn't care what you are wearing.
An administrator's work life is full of the unexpected and the expected. I like to think I start everyday with a 'to-do' list and the 'to-do' list can either grow or shrink depending on the day. Some days feel super productive; I may cross off several items from the list. There are different forms to fill out, evaluations to complete, personnel to supervise, material to review, budgets to examine, etc, etc. We also have various meetings to prepare for, in-services to plan and coordinate, building and grounds to survey, and expense lists to prioritize. When a person heads home and can look at the 'to-do' list and see several items crossed off you feel good about your day and know you accomplished something.
There seems to be plenty of "management" activities for us to complete on a daily basis, but we also have plenty of "other" things to do that don't seem like management and are not always planned. (The event from Harrisburg a week ago was a stark reminder.) I think in general school administrators complete many of the tasks that we don't want to have teachers worry about or tasks that will take them away from the classroom. We run skid-steers, drive bus, clean up illnesses, fix drinking fountains/doors/bleachers, substitute (I once was sent to the Junior Kindergarten room, this HS History teacher was a bit out of his element), we help with health screenings and numerous items throughout the day. The unexpected (both good and bad) is part of the allure of the position; there is something motivational about the unknown and how prepared you are to handle it. Don't get me wrong, the smooth sailing, 'to-do' list completing, pleasant weather days are eagerly accepted and often sought after. At the same time the unknown elements keep us engaged and helpful for both students and staff. Those events often remind us of why we accepted the education calling in the first place--to help kids.
No matter if the day is good for the 'to-do' list or shaken due to the unexpected; any day we get to help kids learn and grow is a good day. I often remind myself to not judge my day by the length of 'to-do' list but by the length of the accomplished list. We get lots of things accomplished that seem small in the grand scheme of things, but every management issue and surprise event that we can handle and allow our staff and kids to have a good day is productive for everyone. Plus, who doesn't love driving a skid steer--cuff links or coveralls, it doesn't care what you are wearing.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Blue Ribbon Task Force
Good wonderful evening everyone; it is days like today that make you really like living in South Dakota. Plenty of sunshine, nice temperatures, and light breezes; combine that with harvest season, leaves changing colors and seeing your breath in the morning--now that is what I call a fantastic day. Those are the types of days that get people to move to South Dakota. I hope everyone got to enjoy it in some way or another. Tomorrow promises to be different and so does Thursday and so on and so on for the days to follow; as we all know; SD Weather never stays the same for too long.
One thing that has been consistent over the last several years in SD has been funding for public education and the decreasing teacher pool. Thursday (October 1st) will bring those things back into the public's attention as the famed "Blue Ribbon Task Force" meets (for what might be the final time) in Pierre to discuss a number of different issues. Two items on the agenda that will garner major attention will be the school funding model and school revenue sources. Being an educator my opinion is clearly bias; being a South Dakotan my opinion only represents one vote; being a parent of school age children my opinion only becomes more bias but I have an opinion that I want to share, even if it only allows me to vent.
My opinion is very simple: "Something different needs to be done for public schools in South Dakota". Data indicates we are clearly behind in state funding and that gap will only continue to grow if we remain status quo; fewer and fewer young adults are choosing to become teachers (not that I can blame them). We are becoming a state that seems to value education less every year; our state policy makers are more concerned about saving money (often at the cost of education) than finding ways to increase opportunities for education. Maybe we need to look at education as an investment instead of an expense. It is a well accepted fact that students who complete a high school diploma make more money than those who do not, and making more money means spending more money, which means more money for the state to collect in sales tax. Maybe we should blame the educators in South Dakota; how dare they continue to do more work for the same (or less) pay and still have high achieving students. What are they thinking; no wonder the state policy makers still push to take advantage of them and their merits. There a lot of different places to look to when trying find excuses but let's stay positive and focus on the future.
The state of South Dakota needs approximately $100 million in new money for education just to drew even in regional salaries, that does not count any new increases regional states will add the upcoming fiscal year. That doesn't count any normal increases in other school expenses, it only counts salaries. Those dollars need to be ongoing and sustainable, not one time money that only provide short term relief. In order to make this happen state policy makers need to make conscious and thoughtful decisions about the formula and the revenue sources. To add that large amount a minor fix or small tweak to the current formula and/or revenue will not provide the needed relief. Education needs a forceful effort from all policy makers/decisions makers in Pierre to make that happen. The upcoming legislative season is a prime opportunity to push for those changes.
The Blue Ribbon Task Force will present something after their final meeting; I just hope they are willing to take the huge leap and purpose significant changes to both the formula and revenue options. I then hope the governor, legislators and other policy makers follow suit and push for legislative action during the upcoming session to make those changes real. My biggest worry is what it will "cost" education to get those dollars. Everyone needs to forget about who wins and who loses and focus on what is best for our kids. They need to be the winners.
Good luck to all the BRTF members and don't be afraid to be bold, be decisive and think big. Legislators and government officials don't allow the two months after the BRTF ends to cloud your judgement and draw your attention to other venues. This is something that needs to be dealt with now while it is at the forefront of public attention.
Your in education,
Michael Kroll
One thing that has been consistent over the last several years in SD has been funding for public education and the decreasing teacher pool. Thursday (October 1st) will bring those things back into the public's attention as the famed "Blue Ribbon Task Force" meets (for what might be the final time) in Pierre to discuss a number of different issues. Two items on the agenda that will garner major attention will be the school funding model and school revenue sources. Being an educator my opinion is clearly bias; being a South Dakotan my opinion only represents one vote; being a parent of school age children my opinion only becomes more bias but I have an opinion that I want to share, even if it only allows me to vent.
My opinion is very simple: "Something different needs to be done for public schools in South Dakota". Data indicates we are clearly behind in state funding and that gap will only continue to grow if we remain status quo; fewer and fewer young adults are choosing to become teachers (not that I can blame them). We are becoming a state that seems to value education less every year; our state policy makers are more concerned about saving money (often at the cost of education) than finding ways to increase opportunities for education. Maybe we need to look at education as an investment instead of an expense. It is a well accepted fact that students who complete a high school diploma make more money than those who do not, and making more money means spending more money, which means more money for the state to collect in sales tax. Maybe we should blame the educators in South Dakota; how dare they continue to do more work for the same (or less) pay and still have high achieving students. What are they thinking; no wonder the state policy makers still push to take advantage of them and their merits. There a lot of different places to look to when trying find excuses but let's stay positive and focus on the future.
The state of South Dakota needs approximately $100 million in new money for education just to drew even in regional salaries, that does not count any new increases regional states will add the upcoming fiscal year. That doesn't count any normal increases in other school expenses, it only counts salaries. Those dollars need to be ongoing and sustainable, not one time money that only provide short term relief. In order to make this happen state policy makers need to make conscious and thoughtful decisions about the formula and the revenue sources. To add that large amount a minor fix or small tweak to the current formula and/or revenue will not provide the needed relief. Education needs a forceful effort from all policy makers/decisions makers in Pierre to make that happen. The upcoming legislative season is a prime opportunity to push for those changes.
The Blue Ribbon Task Force will present something after their final meeting; I just hope they are willing to take the huge leap and purpose significant changes to both the formula and revenue options. I then hope the governor, legislators and other policy makers follow suit and push for legislative action during the upcoming session to make those changes real. My biggest worry is what it will "cost" education to get those dollars. Everyone needs to forget about who wins and who loses and focus on what is best for our kids. They need to be the winners.
Good luck to all the BRTF members and don't be afraid to be bold, be decisive and think big. Legislators and government officials don't allow the two months after the BRTF ends to cloud your judgement and draw your attention to other venues. This is something that needs to be dealt with now while it is at the forefront of public attention.
Your in education,
Michael Kroll
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Wow 1st Quarter Mid-term is Friday and by the way it is Homecoming Week
I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed but we will be 1/8 finished with the school year on Friday (1st Quarter Mid-term date); it still amazes me how fast the days go by but with all the activities going on I shouldn't be surprised. Obviously this week is homecoming and we have numerous items keeping us busy; Volleyball last night in Hitchcock, Volleyball tonight versus Ipswich, Coronation on Thursday and Football on Friday. We have so many things going on this week, we have to play football during football (3rd-6th graders will play at halftime of the varsity game). Friday's are so meant for football that even the 1st Graders have a flag football game on Friday; 5:00pm at Manor Park if anyone wants to watch future Monarchs mix it up.
I hope everyone can come out and support our students this week as we go through the homecoming festivities; large crowds are always appreciated. If you have any interest in entering a float in the homecoming parade, please contact Pam Lane or myself at the school and we will get you on the list of entries. We are always looking for entries, so the more the merrier.
Happy Homecoming Week; Good luck to all of our Monarchs; thanks to all our supporters, we appreciate everyone's encouragement throughout the seasons.
I hope everyone can come out and support our students this week as we go through the homecoming festivities; large crowds are always appreciated. If you have any interest in entering a float in the homecoming parade, please contact Pam Lane or myself at the school and we will get you on the list of entries. We are always looking for entries, so the more the merrier.
Happy Homecoming Week; Good luck to all of our Monarchs; thanks to all our supporters, we appreciate everyone's encouragement throughout the seasons.
Monday, August 24, 2015
School has Begun
As I am sure all of you have noticed, but school started here at WHS last Wednesday. The day snuck up on me so quickly that I wasn't able to publish a new blog entry until 3 school days later. (I am not entirely sure how to explain my 3 week hiatus prior to school starting.) The summer ended very abruptly and before I realized it school was in full swing. Thankfully the staff and school personnel pay better attention to the calendar then I do and everyone was more than ready when the student body arrived last Wednesday morning.
We are off to a good start and this week will provide an additional mental and physical test for all our students as they get settled in to the regular school routine. For parents of younger students, this may have been clearly apparent last week; sitting in class and focusing on academics for an extended period of time can be fatiguing on the brain, body and emotions. It is probably not be as apparent for the older students but it may manifest itself over the next week or so as everyone gets themselves reconditioned to the school atmosphere. Trust me, it too will pass and everyone will get acclimated to school life soon enough.
We do have some new faces in the building this year, so don't be alarmed if your child mentions the name: Mr. Johnson (new JK-8 Principal) or Ms. Eisenbeisz (Elementary Aide) or Ms. Waddle (Elementary Music/Art/Aide) or Mr. Roso (JK-5 PE) or Mrs. Ryckman (Elementary Aide) or Mrs. Hoglund (MS/HS Science). We are excited to have all of these new people in the building helping us engage the students and enhance learning in all areas.
Transportation Director's PSA: Buses arrive between 8:00am and 8:05 so be on the lookout for them in town, also remember to pay attention for flashing lights, students boarding and getting dropped off at home. Everyone please respect the rules of the road and stop for buses; we would all hate for a senseless accident to occur. Bus routes are up and running but may take some fine tuning on times as we get settled in to our slightly altered routes. Please have kids ready to get picked up 5 minutes ahead of the scheduled time so no one has to wait.
I hope everyone has a good start to the year; I know I am happy to see everyone back in the building for another great year.
We are off to a good start and this week will provide an additional mental and physical test for all our students as they get settled in to the regular school routine. For parents of younger students, this may have been clearly apparent last week; sitting in class and focusing on academics for an extended period of time can be fatiguing on the brain, body and emotions. It is probably not be as apparent for the older students but it may manifest itself over the next week or so as everyone gets themselves reconditioned to the school atmosphere. Trust me, it too will pass and everyone will get acclimated to school life soon enough.
We do have some new faces in the building this year, so don't be alarmed if your child mentions the name: Mr. Johnson (new JK-8 Principal) or Ms. Eisenbeisz (Elementary Aide) or Ms. Waddle (Elementary Music/Art/Aide) or Mr. Roso (JK-5 PE) or Mrs. Ryckman (Elementary Aide) or Mrs. Hoglund (MS/HS Science). We are excited to have all of these new people in the building helping us engage the students and enhance learning in all areas.
Transportation Director's PSA: Buses arrive between 8:00am and 8:05 so be on the lookout for them in town, also remember to pay attention for flashing lights, students boarding and getting dropped off at home. Everyone please respect the rules of the road and stop for buses; we would all hate for a senseless accident to occur. Bus routes are up and running but may take some fine tuning on times as we get settled in to our slightly altered routes. Please have kids ready to get picked up 5 minutes ahead of the scheduled time so no one has to wait.
I hope everyone has a good start to the year; I know I am happy to see everyone back in the building for another great year.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Thank You and Playground
A couple of quick notes for today's version:
1) Thanks to Brad Oye for his 4 years of service to the Warner School District as a Board of Education member. Serving on any public board is generally a very thankless position and education boards are no different; you tend to hear only complaints and few compliments, even when you do something for the greater community good. School Boards are typically an undesirable office and often garner little interest from candidates or voters but those who are willing provide a significant service to the communities they serve. They ensure a quality education for all attendees while maintaining fiscal responsibility to the local taxpayers while under duress from lack of financial or political support from state offices. Brad provided a certain levity to our board and an open mind to what new possibilities were available for Warner students.
Thanks again Brad for your commitment to the Warner School District
2) Playground Remodel Project--Step 1: Extraction of Old Equipment
Saturday, July 18th at 9:00am, we will begin the playground remodel by removing the "Twin Tower Slide" and "Two Person" Swing set immediately north of the slide to make room for the new pieces. If you are able to help, bring some tools for dismantling, gloves and willingness to take part; we are going to preserve the pieces the best we can for possible resale.
1) Thanks to Brad Oye for his 4 years of service to the Warner School District as a Board of Education member. Serving on any public board is generally a very thankless position and education boards are no different; you tend to hear only complaints and few compliments, even when you do something for the greater community good. School Boards are typically an undesirable office and often garner little interest from candidates or voters but those who are willing provide a significant service to the communities they serve. They ensure a quality education for all attendees while maintaining fiscal responsibility to the local taxpayers while under duress from lack of financial or political support from state offices. Brad provided a certain levity to our board and an open mind to what new possibilities were available for Warner students.
Thanks again Brad for your commitment to the Warner School District
2) Playground Remodel Project--Step 1: Extraction of Old Equipment
Saturday, July 18th at 9:00am, we will begin the playground remodel by removing the "Twin Tower Slide" and "Two Person" Swing set immediately north of the slide to make room for the new pieces. If you are able to help, bring some tools for dismantling, gloves and willingness to take part; we are going to preserve the pieces the best we can for possible resale.
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Year 2
I started working in Warner 366 days ago, I was well aware of the 'leap' I was taking by accepting the new position and was looking forward to the challenge and change. The new responsibilities didn't scare me, the move didn't worry me, neither did the new co-workers; the scary part revolves around the impression you leave on the district.
When I was teaching, the classroom was my central focus, but more important than the room was the students. Was I leaving a good impression on them, was I a positive influence, a strong supporter of their efforts and an individual who challenged them to be more than they thought was possible? I didn't worry much about things outside of the classroom; property taxes or boundary changes or student population; I was aware but not overly concerned. When I accepted my first administrative job as an Athletic Director; my focus changed from the classroom to the sports' facilities; I focused on arenas our students competed in. Doing my best to support students, coaches, and staff with all of their extracurricular passions. I became more aware of taxes as we made facility improvements; I also paid more attention to student populations, as it impacted our classification and competition, but the focus was limited to a certain population. Both environments were great learning experiences and helped shape my views on education. I would like to believe I left a quality impression at both places of employment; I'm not sure how you measure that but when I return to those places people still talk to me (so I'll take that as a good sign).
Rewind 366 days: I was going to make it a learning year, I wasn't worried about making a bunch of changes, I was going to spend more time observing and less time dictating. I was going to see what made things 'tick' around here and as importantly I had to learn to pay attention to the district as a whole. I needed to expand my view and see the whole picture (the whole district and all the patrons). I also needed to understand my actions left more than an impression on students and staff. The year was what I thought/hoped it would be and much more. I was able to collect tons of information about the district and gather a great appreciation for the staff and community. This information will make moving forward easier and hopefully more successful for the district and myself.
So on day 366: I know I still have a lot to learn about the role; I am beginning to comprehend the impact I can have and how it is different than previous positions. I am still making sure I pay attention to the details of the office and properly carrying out the duties of the position. Moving forward, I hope I can make an impression that everyone across the district respects. I know we won't always agree or even understand everyone's point of view but I want patrons to understand I make decisions that are in the best interest of the district as a whole, even if they aren't always the most popular.
I look forward to continually representing the district in the days and months to come, but also plan on doing everything we can to help the students grow and develop into quality adults and continual learners. Life is about learning, learning is about being open to new ideas and how they can impact you as a person. Be open to new ideas, you never know what you will learn.
I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their summer.
Michael Kroll
Superintendent/9-12 Principal
When I was teaching, the classroom was my central focus, but more important than the room was the students. Was I leaving a good impression on them, was I a positive influence, a strong supporter of their efforts and an individual who challenged them to be more than they thought was possible? I didn't worry much about things outside of the classroom; property taxes or boundary changes or student population; I was aware but not overly concerned. When I accepted my first administrative job as an Athletic Director; my focus changed from the classroom to the sports' facilities; I focused on arenas our students competed in. Doing my best to support students, coaches, and staff with all of their extracurricular passions. I became more aware of taxes as we made facility improvements; I also paid more attention to student populations, as it impacted our classification and competition, but the focus was limited to a certain population. Both environments were great learning experiences and helped shape my views on education. I would like to believe I left a quality impression at both places of employment; I'm not sure how you measure that but when I return to those places people still talk to me (so I'll take that as a good sign).
Rewind 366 days: I was going to make it a learning year, I wasn't worried about making a bunch of changes, I was going to spend more time observing and less time dictating. I was going to see what made things 'tick' around here and as importantly I had to learn to pay attention to the district as a whole. I needed to expand my view and see the whole picture (the whole district and all the patrons). I also needed to understand my actions left more than an impression on students and staff. The year was what I thought/hoped it would be and much more. I was able to collect tons of information about the district and gather a great appreciation for the staff and community. This information will make moving forward easier and hopefully more successful for the district and myself.
So on day 366: I know I still have a lot to learn about the role; I am beginning to comprehend the impact I can have and how it is different than previous positions. I am still making sure I pay attention to the details of the office and properly carrying out the duties of the position. Moving forward, I hope I can make an impression that everyone across the district respects. I know we won't always agree or even understand everyone's point of view but I want patrons to understand I make decisions that are in the best interest of the district as a whole, even if they aren't always the most popular.
I look forward to continually representing the district in the days and months to come, but also plan on doing everything we can to help the students grow and develop into quality adults and continual learners. Life is about learning, learning is about being open to new ideas and how they can impact you as a person. Be open to new ideas, you never know what you will learn.
I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their summer.
Michael Kroll
Superintendent/9-12 Principal
Monday, June 15, 2015
Elections and Voting
Getting out and Voting at Local Elections:
I must first apologize for not getting many posts put together over the last couple of weeks; not sure if I needed the break or I just got busy with other things. Either way, it has been a couple of weeks since I have visited the blog and I apologize for the delay.
Important business tomorrow at the school:
2015 School Board Election with three people seeking two seats. Incumbents Wade Young and Brad Oye along with Stan Jung are seeking positions on the Warner School Board.
Local elections generally receive little or no media coverage, and most candidates do little, if any, campaigning. These elections are also held at various times of the year and sometimes it is not the most convenient due our busy and nonstop lives. These factors alone make for less information and notoriety about the candidates and topics and thus lower voter turnout which is unfortunate for those people running for open seats.
I'm not writing this to point fingers or blame someone for results that haven't even been counted. I'm hoping to bring some extra attention to the election and increase our turnout.
So please come out and vote tomorrow. Polls are open from 7:00am-7:00pm and are set up in the lunchroom at the school. I hope to see many of you there throughout the day.
Thanks
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Graduation
Graduation signals the completion of a major accomplishment in anyone's life; whether it's Preschool or Kindergarten Graduation, High School or College Graduation. It is a benchmark, a notch on the belt, a guidepost for that individual; over the last 12 days I have witnessed a couple of different graduation ceremonies and they all leave a mark on those present. As someone who works in education, graduation is obviously an important achievement to me, but it is a milestone for anyone and something that should be celebrated.
My two weeks of graduations started with an historic moment for me; I was fortunate enough to land a "job" at Lake Area Technical Institute's Spring Graduation ceremony. We may have had to wait an extra hour but being able to listen to President Obama speak was a once in a lifetime experience. He spoke of the importance of the students who were improving their lives by graduating; he mentioned specific students and what they had planned to make a difference after graduating. He had his own agenda for speaking at LATI or what he called a "Community College" and what he hopes to provide everyone with an opportunity to attend a post secondary school. An admirable and fantastic idea that will hopefully get some traction from the federal level. I also witnessed former students march across that stage and it made me reflect on how far they have grown and how things change for everyone. The moment held more meaning for me seeing them pursuing their goals and improving their chances for life-long success. I wish all of them the best of luck and thanks again to President Obama for speaking to those deserving graduates.
My second significant graduation (WHS Graduation) was also "historic" for me, as it was my first one as Superintendent. We all know Warner prepares kids well for what lays ahead of them. Whether it's college, Vo-tech, or career; the education and experiences the students have obtained here get them ready for life after Warner High School. We also know, each individual will face their own unique and trying challenges as they leap into their next stage in life. Learning from those challenges and making them worthwhile is significant part of growing-up; we need to encourage students to recognize those events for what they are worth and make sure they understand that even failures can be beneficial part of long-term success.
Graduations are milestones for everyone; family, friends, peers all benefit from individuals reaching these accomplishments. Celebrate them, applaud them, cheer them, make sure they know how much it means and how proud you are of them, no matter when it happens. We all have milestones and challenges; they make us who we are and how we respond to them reflects as much about who we are as anything else. We all graduate several times; make sure you take some time to understand the significance of each and every one. And appreciate the challenges we faced along the way and the people who helped us.
To all of you who have graduated over the last month--Congratulations, may you have many more.
To all of you who helped--Congratulations, without you it may not have been possible.
My two weeks of graduations started with an historic moment for me; I was fortunate enough to land a "job" at Lake Area Technical Institute's Spring Graduation ceremony. We may have had to wait an extra hour but being able to listen to President Obama speak was a once in a lifetime experience. He spoke of the importance of the students who were improving their lives by graduating; he mentioned specific students and what they had planned to make a difference after graduating. He had his own agenda for speaking at LATI or what he called a "Community College" and what he hopes to provide everyone with an opportunity to attend a post secondary school. An admirable and fantastic idea that will hopefully get some traction from the federal level. I also witnessed former students march across that stage and it made me reflect on how far they have grown and how things change for everyone. The moment held more meaning for me seeing them pursuing their goals and improving their chances for life-long success. I wish all of them the best of luck and thanks again to President Obama for speaking to those deserving graduates.
My second significant graduation (WHS Graduation) was also "historic" for me, as it was my first one as Superintendent. We all know Warner prepares kids well for what lays ahead of them. Whether it's college, Vo-tech, or career; the education and experiences the students have obtained here get them ready for life after Warner High School. We also know, each individual will face their own unique and trying challenges as they leap into their next stage in life. Learning from those challenges and making them worthwhile is significant part of growing-up; we need to encourage students to recognize those events for what they are worth and make sure they understand that even failures can be beneficial part of long-term success.
Graduations are milestones for everyone; family, friends, peers all benefit from individuals reaching these accomplishments. Celebrate them, applaud them, cheer them, make sure they know how much it means and how proud you are of them, no matter when it happens. We all have milestones and challenges; they make us who we are and how we respond to them reflects as much about who we are as anything else. We all graduate several times; make sure you take some time to understand the significance of each and every one. And appreciate the challenges we faced along the way and the people who helped us.
To all of you who have graduated over the last month--Congratulations, may you have many more.
To all of you who helped--Congratulations, without you it may not have been possible.
Monday, May 11, 2015
Home Stretch
As we head into the final weeks of the school year; it a good time to reflect on the past year and how things have progressed for me and the school.
Let's start with the school: we added two new classrooms on the elementary wing, with one being used as a computer lab and one being used by everyone for projects, plays, extra work space, etc. The increased access to space and equipment was a great help to staff and students alike. The ability to spread out or break into smaller groups was a plus all by itself; include the easier access to computers and everyone wins. The uses for this room in the future will only grow as staff takes advantage of the extra space. The added gymnasium space benefits the highschool just as much as the classrooms benefit the elementary students. Increased gym space will mean better schedules for practices for everyone, greater flexibility for PE and even recess, additional 'stage' type space and room for shop projects, and the list goes on. We will continue to look for ways to improve our facilities; enhancing the campus for community and students alike.
Personally: I couldn't be happier to have my kids enrolled in Warner and taking advantage of the staff we have in the building. Mrs. Evans is a wonderful teacher and has a great understanding for our young students; she grasps what it takes to prepare them for many years of learning. We look forward to them learning from all of the staff in Warner; as many of you already know, the staff here is top of the line with everyone focused on getting the most out of students.
I've learned a lot over the past 10 months and will continue to grow and develop as a school administrator. I have benefitted greatly from the patience and expertise of all the school employees; the support of the School Board and community has enhanced my time in the district and my wife and I look forward to moving to Warner soon to finally settle in to the community on a more full-time basis.
Let's start with the school: we added two new classrooms on the elementary wing, with one being used as a computer lab and one being used by everyone for projects, plays, extra work space, etc. The increased access to space and equipment was a great help to staff and students alike. The ability to spread out or break into smaller groups was a plus all by itself; include the easier access to computers and everyone wins. The uses for this room in the future will only grow as staff takes advantage of the extra space. The added gymnasium space benefits the highschool just as much as the classrooms benefit the elementary students. Increased gym space will mean better schedules for practices for everyone, greater flexibility for PE and even recess, additional 'stage' type space and room for shop projects, and the list goes on. We will continue to look for ways to improve our facilities; enhancing the campus for community and students alike.
Personally: I couldn't be happier to have my kids enrolled in Warner and taking advantage of the staff we have in the building. Mrs. Evans is a wonderful teacher and has a great understanding for our young students; she grasps what it takes to prepare them for many years of learning. We look forward to them learning from all of the staff in Warner; as many of you already know, the staff here is top of the line with everyone focused on getting the most out of students.
I've learned a lot over the past 10 months and will continue to grow and develop as a school administrator. I have benefitted greatly from the patience and expertise of all the school employees; the support of the School Board and community has enhanced my time in the district and my wife and I look forward to moving to Warner soon to finally settle in to the community on a more full-time basis.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Spring Events (other than Track and Graduation)
There are several things at school that sometimes go unrecognized/unnoticed that should be celebrated with more jubilation and notoriety. With Graduation and the last day of school right around the corner; these events are sometimes superseded by other more noteworthy activities, aka Graduation and Summer Vacation. Include "spring fever", track meets, spring clean-up, spring field work for area farmers, confirmation and the list could go on and on. It is no wonder some of these events get lost in the shuffle.
With that being said, please take note of the following events and show your support by attending and/or congratulating students participating in the following:
April 21--Spring Awards night. As difficult as it is for some parents to come to grips with the child getting older and graduating and moving on to the next chapter in their life. Spring Awards offers us one more chance to recognize our students for everything they have accomplished. We also get to identify students who have received scholarships, regional and state awards, and applaud them on another successful year.
April 24--3rd and 4th Grade South Dakota Play. Mrs. Ochsner indicated to me, this is the 17th year for the play. The classes and staff have spent a tremendous amount of time researching, preparing and practices for this significant production. I'm looking forward to seeing it for the first time.
April 30--Elementary Spring Concert. Our Elementary students have been singing and practicing. They are eagerly anticipating their annual Spring performance
May 4--High School 3 Act Play. One of the unheralded programs here at school, but one that offers our students a different avenue to display a different set of skills. Everyone knows about our athletic program successes and our fantastic band; we also want people to recognize how diverse the talents of our students range.
May 7--Middle School and High School Spring Concerts; don't forget we have two concerts on the same day, MS in the afternoon, HS in the evening.
We look forward to seeing people come out and support our students in all of their spring activities. Thanks for everyone's support of all our activities throughout the school year; it is one of the great parts of being involved in our school.
With that being said, please take note of the following events and show your support by attending and/or congratulating students participating in the following:
April 21--Spring Awards night. As difficult as it is for some parents to come to grips with the child getting older and graduating and moving on to the next chapter in their life. Spring Awards offers us one more chance to recognize our students for everything they have accomplished. We also get to identify students who have received scholarships, regional and state awards, and applaud them on another successful year.
April 24--3rd and 4th Grade South Dakota Play. Mrs. Ochsner indicated to me, this is the 17th year for the play. The classes and staff have spent a tremendous amount of time researching, preparing and practices for this significant production. I'm looking forward to seeing it for the first time.
April 30--Elementary Spring Concert. Our Elementary students have been singing and practicing. They are eagerly anticipating their annual Spring performance
May 4--High School 3 Act Play. One of the unheralded programs here at school, but one that offers our students a different avenue to display a different set of skills. Everyone knows about our athletic program successes and our fantastic band; we also want people to recognize how diverse the talents of our students range.
May 7--Middle School and High School Spring Concerts; don't forget we have two concerts on the same day, MS in the afternoon, HS in the evening.
We look forward to seeing people come out and support our students in all of their spring activities. Thanks for everyone's support of all our activities throughout the school year; it is one of the great parts of being involved in our school.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Final Stretch
Parents and Community members, we are heading down the home stretch of the school year and most everyone has their eyes on graduation and the last days of school. We need to recognize all the work teachers and staff have been finishing over the last nine weeks of the school year. State Testing, plays (SD and 3 Act), track meets and music concerts have been keeping everyone busy and will continue to keep them busy. It takes a lot of time, scheduling, and patience to make all of these projects successful and efficient. The staff does a wonderful job working around all the challenges the Spring school year brings and they should be commended for their work.
Something that we have noticed while running end of the year reports is attendance numbers. One of the factors the state uses for measuring the effectiveness of schools is attendance. We need to carry an average of 94% attendance rate for everyone in school to meet the state minimum requirements. Other than that, students need to be in school to be successful; learning happens at all times during the school day and our staff does an excellent job of making these environments engaging and beneficial no matter what subject is being taught. Please make every attempt possible to keep your children in school as much as possible for the rest of the school year. Also something to remember for next year when scheduling your family vacations and regular doctor/dentist appointments. Look at the school calendar and try to take advantage of the school's long weekends, in-service days, and regular vacation days when planning your vacation.
Quick thanks to all the community members who volunteer and help at the school; whether you are helping in the library, music room, classroom or parking lot. Your willingness to help our school doesn't go unnoticed or unappreciated. Thanks to everyone who helps make our students' learning and school experiences better.
Something that we have noticed while running end of the year reports is attendance numbers. One of the factors the state uses for measuring the effectiveness of schools is attendance. We need to carry an average of 94% attendance rate for everyone in school to meet the state minimum requirements. Other than that, students need to be in school to be successful; learning happens at all times during the school day and our staff does an excellent job of making these environments engaging and beneficial no matter what subject is being taught. Please make every attempt possible to keep your children in school as much as possible for the rest of the school year. Also something to remember for next year when scheduling your family vacations and regular doctor/dentist appointments. Look at the school calendar and try to take advantage of the school's long weekends, in-service days, and regular vacation days when planning your vacation.
Quick thanks to all the community members who volunteer and help at the school; whether you are helping in the library, music room, classroom or parking lot. Your willingness to help our school doesn't go unnoticed or unappreciated. Thanks to everyone who helps make our students' learning and school experiences better.
Monday, March 30, 2015
4th Quarter Enthusiam
With the end of March comes the final stretch run for school (lame pun intended); we have managed to avoid most of the weather concerns we tend to get March. I'm not sure what happened to the "Lion" but it appears we will be going out like a "Lamb". I appreciate the pleasant weather pattern and hope it continues for the remainder of the school year, but I also know April can be just as challenging. I also know most everyone would like to see some moisture before spring planting gets into full swing. We have lots of things going on during the last several weeks of school and all the activities will make the days go by faster than normal.
Testing: we are currently working through the state assessment requirement; 3rd--8th grades and Juniors are completing multiple tests to satisfy state mandates. The tests this year take a little more time since everything is on the computer and our elementary students have to share the computer labs. The process itself is working with minimal delays, which is a good thing, Mr. Gunn and Mrs. Goldade are diligent in making sure folks stay on schedule and equipment continues to work. The work they put in to complete this task is consuming and demanding; we appreciate everything they have done and continue to do to make this process as seamless as possible.
Fine Arts: students are currently preparing for 2 different performances. The 3rd and 4th Grade classes are preparing their SD Play, which will be performed April 24 at 1:30. Being a former History/Social Studies Teacher; I'm excited to see what put together to celebrate our great state. The High School is also preparing for the Spring Three Act Play. Ms. Herrboldt is directing the cast in a performance of "Murder's in the Heir" on May 4, with a 12:30 Matinee and an evening showing at 6:00. We also have 5th-8th grades participating in a Music Contest in Redfield on April 18th. I was enjoy seeing our students show off the great diversity of opportunities we have here in Warner.
Track: the greatest benefactor of our pleasant weather has been the track teams. We have a terrific turn-out for track and field; hopefully everyone gets a chance to get a full slate of meets in this year. Track is the only sport that helps all the other sports and every athlete benefits from being out from track (even if they don't place at any track meets; not everyone is fast, but everyone can get faster and track helps you do that).
I wish everyone the best in their upcoming performances, both on the stage and the track.
Testing: we are currently working through the state assessment requirement; 3rd--8th grades and Juniors are completing multiple tests to satisfy state mandates. The tests this year take a little more time since everything is on the computer and our elementary students have to share the computer labs. The process itself is working with minimal delays, which is a good thing, Mr. Gunn and Mrs. Goldade are diligent in making sure folks stay on schedule and equipment continues to work. The work they put in to complete this task is consuming and demanding; we appreciate everything they have done and continue to do to make this process as seamless as possible.
Fine Arts: students are currently preparing for 2 different performances. The 3rd and 4th Grade classes are preparing their SD Play, which will be performed April 24 at 1:30. Being a former History/Social Studies Teacher; I'm excited to see what put together to celebrate our great state. The High School is also preparing for the Spring Three Act Play. Ms. Herrboldt is directing the cast in a performance of "Murder's in the Heir" on May 4, with a 12:30 Matinee and an evening showing at 6:00. We also have 5th-8th grades participating in a Music Contest in Redfield on April 18th. I was enjoy seeing our students show off the great diversity of opportunities we have here in Warner.
Track: the greatest benefactor of our pleasant weather has been the track teams. We have a terrific turn-out for track and field; hopefully everyone gets a chance to get a full slate of meets in this year. Track is the only sport that helps all the other sports and every athlete benefits from being out from track (even if they don't place at any track meets; not everyone is fast, but everyone can get faster and track helps you do that).
I wish everyone the best in their upcoming performances, both on the stage and the track.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Amazing Teachers
Good Afternoon,
Those of you who have been part of the Warner School District for more than the nine months I have been around are already aware of this fact but for me it becomes more and more clear everyday. We have tremendous teaching staff that show up everyday with wonderful ideas to engage student learning and create lasting impacts on our students. I know when I took the job the staff had a great reputation based on academic performance and assessment. It didn't take long for me to witness all the little things they do to make learning a wonderful experience.
We have staff that put on weddings from Romeo and Juliet, staff who arrange to have books made from student projects, models in social studies, demonstrations from SD HP, and everything in between. The amount of time, thought and effort that our staff members contribute to this school is amazing. I've seen wreaths made from peppermint candy and chariots in the hallways and donuts shared with dads. We have a staff that embraces the meaning of teaching and learning and helps students focus on those same principles. Classrooms are where the magic of learning happens and teachers are the magicians.
The stress of state assessments are right around the corner; focus of staff will now move to getting the most out of the students' academic ability. The mood of building will become more serious, patience may be a bit shorter, recesses may even be shorter. Rest assured however, your children are in good hands as we tackle this annual practice. With the Smarter Balance testing (which was introduced last year), we will also be facing "new" or different results; the results will be difficult to compare to the high standards set during past years. The results will all be sorted out over the following years as everyone gets a better handle on what the new numbers relate to. Have some patience with us and the system if the numbers appear significantly or even marginally lower.
The staff here is amazing and they all do terrific work with the students. Of course, all of you knew that already; I'm the new guy on the block getting made fully aware.
Those of you who have been part of the Warner School District for more than the nine months I have been around are already aware of this fact but for me it becomes more and more clear everyday. We have tremendous teaching staff that show up everyday with wonderful ideas to engage student learning and create lasting impacts on our students. I know when I took the job the staff had a great reputation based on academic performance and assessment. It didn't take long for me to witness all the little things they do to make learning a wonderful experience.
We have staff that put on weddings from Romeo and Juliet, staff who arrange to have books made from student projects, models in social studies, demonstrations from SD HP, and everything in between. The amount of time, thought and effort that our staff members contribute to this school is amazing. I've seen wreaths made from peppermint candy and chariots in the hallways and donuts shared with dads. We have a staff that embraces the meaning of teaching and learning and helps students focus on those same principles. Classrooms are where the magic of learning happens and teachers are the magicians.
The stress of state assessments are right around the corner; focus of staff will now move to getting the most out of the students' academic ability. The mood of building will become more serious, patience may be a bit shorter, recesses may even be shorter. Rest assured however, your children are in good hands as we tackle this annual practice. With the Smarter Balance testing (which was introduced last year), we will also be facing "new" or different results; the results will be difficult to compare to the high standards set during past years. The results will all be sorted out over the following years as everyone gets a better handle on what the new numbers relate to. Have some patience with us and the system if the numbers appear significantly or even marginally lower.
The staff here is amazing and they all do terrific work with the students. Of course, all of you knew that already; I'm the new guy on the block getting made fully aware.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
March
March is always an interesting month; the weather is never easy to understand or get patterned out. We have wind chill warnings this morning and they are saying we could get to 50+ next week. So, as some folks say, "...if you don't like the weather in SD, just wait an hour or so and you'll see something different..." Weather decisions are always difficult to make as well; I try to make the decision on weather delays and/or cancellations as soon as possible. Tuesday morning was one of those difficult days because you never know where the snow will begin and where it will end and we were right on the edge. Please know; I make the decision based on what is in the best interest of the students and school, and it is not a decision I take lightly.
We have lots of activities going on the next several days; boys basketball in Aberdeen Thursday for the District 2B Championship versus Langford, girls basketball in Milbank Friday for the Region 1B Championship versus Summit, Rozell JH BB Tournament Friday and Saturday here at Warner, Middle School All State Band is in Huron with Mrs. Schwan, and that only covers the next 3 days. Things continue the rest of the month at a constant pace and the Spring Break Fridays only add to the mix of hectic and fun month of "March Madness" (if I can borrow the line from CBS). Please show your support for our students at all the events with your positive attitude and energy.
March also brings us to the end of the SD Legislative session, and as they near the end budgets start to become real. As normal, school seem to be left wondering what the final budget number will be until the very end. There are also some key measures left to be decided from the final percentage increase, to the possible changes for capital outlay, to the proposed scholarships for private school students, just to name a few. I encourage you to voice your opinion to your representatives; they need to hear from their constituents.
I hope to get back into the habit of posting regularly on the blog; I know I dropped the ball for a couple of months. I like using this medium to share information with the public in a more informal method. It also allows me to discuss more aspects of the school and share some thoughts and opinions on issues that are outside of the normal school realm. So have some patience with me as I get back in the swing of things, thanks.
We have lots of activities going on the next several days; boys basketball in Aberdeen Thursday for the District 2B Championship versus Langford, girls basketball in Milbank Friday for the Region 1B Championship versus Summit, Rozell JH BB Tournament Friday and Saturday here at Warner, Middle School All State Band is in Huron with Mrs. Schwan, and that only covers the next 3 days. Things continue the rest of the month at a constant pace and the Spring Break Fridays only add to the mix of hectic and fun month of "March Madness" (if I can borrow the line from CBS). Please show your support for our students at all the events with your positive attitude and energy.
March also brings us to the end of the SD Legislative session, and as they near the end budgets start to become real. As normal, school seem to be left wondering what the final budget number will be until the very end. There are also some key measures left to be decided from the final percentage increase, to the possible changes for capital outlay, to the proposed scholarships for private school students, just to name a few. I encourage you to voice your opinion to your representatives; they need to hear from their constituents.
I hope to get back into the habit of posting regularly on the blog; I know I dropped the ball for a couple of months. I like using this medium to share information with the public in a more informal method. It also allows me to discuss more aspects of the school and share some thoughts and opinions on issues that are outside of the normal school realm. So have some patience with me as I get back in the swing of things, thanks.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Grand Opening Week
What a wonderful and exciting week we just experienced here in Warner and it was a pleasure to be part of something that was so long in the making. Opening the new gym and having five large crowds for the basketball game was great sight to see. In my haste to make sure I didn't forget anything, I forgot to thank some very important people, so let me do that now.
School Board members--current and past--have committed countless hours to the project, starting from the very beginning with encouraging people to vote, providing informational meetings, determining the proper budget, adjusting the plans and making decisions on the final project. They have been involved with various meetings prior too and during construction, establishing priorities for the project, gathering support and finalizing what will be the best use of school funds. Everyone from the Warner School District should commend them for their efforts and commitment to the school; they were a significant force for the betterment of the school while fostering what is also in the best interest's of the local taxpayers and patrons. Our current five member board, consisting of President Wade Young, Vice President Brenda Dreyer, Brad Oye, Chad Fischbach and Angie Bakeberg, along with past board members who have served; should be commended for their work to our school and community.
School Personnel--Angie Vetter (Business Manager), Stewart Bohle (Athletic Director), Gene Smith (Head Custodian) and Missy Reeb (Food Service Coordinator and Concession Stand Director), all of these folks helped make the week a success. Mrs. Vetter has been involved from the very beginning, helping with budgeting and planning, but she also helped with organization and ordering of materials, planning the grand opening and making sure everything was paid for. Mr. Bohle coordinating the change of venues when we knew the building would be ready to go, facilitating the building needs from seats to basketballs to sideline equipment. Gene was very helpful during the entire building process, making sure construction workers had access to existing parts of the building, maintaining continued use of our classrooms and grounds and helping clean up all the messes. Missy was able to coordinate the changes for the new concessions and even handled a faulty pop cooler with ease and little stress. I don't think anyone realizes how much work running a concession's stand is and she makes it look easy. They all do amazing work and should be applauded for their efforts and commitment to the Warner School District.
I also want to thank everyone who helped with after game clean-up; we had five large crowds over the eight days we hosted games and lots of folks helped pick-up garbage, sweep, and clean. Having staff, community members and others pitch-in to make large tasks easy makes it wonderful to be part of such a caring community.
I'm sure there are still others that I forgot to thank and over the coming days I will be adding more to the list. Please know your commitment to the betterment of the school and facilities doesn't go unnoticed and we appreciate everything, everyone does to help.
School Board members--current and past--have committed countless hours to the project, starting from the very beginning with encouraging people to vote, providing informational meetings, determining the proper budget, adjusting the plans and making decisions on the final project. They have been involved with various meetings prior too and during construction, establishing priorities for the project, gathering support and finalizing what will be the best use of school funds. Everyone from the Warner School District should commend them for their efforts and commitment to the school; they were a significant force for the betterment of the school while fostering what is also in the best interest's of the local taxpayers and patrons. Our current five member board, consisting of President Wade Young, Vice President Brenda Dreyer, Brad Oye, Chad Fischbach and Angie Bakeberg, along with past board members who have served; should be commended for their work to our school and community.
School Personnel--Angie Vetter (Business Manager), Stewart Bohle (Athletic Director), Gene Smith (Head Custodian) and Missy Reeb (Food Service Coordinator and Concession Stand Director), all of these folks helped make the week a success. Mrs. Vetter has been involved from the very beginning, helping with budgeting and planning, but she also helped with organization and ordering of materials, planning the grand opening and making sure everything was paid for. Mr. Bohle coordinating the change of venues when we knew the building would be ready to go, facilitating the building needs from seats to basketballs to sideline equipment. Gene was very helpful during the entire building process, making sure construction workers had access to existing parts of the building, maintaining continued use of our classrooms and grounds and helping clean up all the messes. Missy was able to coordinate the changes for the new concessions and even handled a faulty pop cooler with ease and little stress. I don't think anyone realizes how much work running a concession's stand is and she makes it look easy. They all do amazing work and should be applauded for their efforts and commitment to the Warner School District.
I also want to thank everyone who helped with after game clean-up; we had five large crowds over the eight days we hosted games and lots of folks helped pick-up garbage, sweep, and clean. Having staff, community members and others pitch-in to make large tasks easy makes it wonderful to be part of such a caring community.
I'm sure there are still others that I forgot to thank and over the coming days I will be adding more to the list. Please know your commitment to the betterment of the school and facilities doesn't go unnoticed and we appreciate everything, everyone does to help.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)