Thanks!!

It's hard to believe it's been since October 9th that I've posted something.  The time has certainly gone by fast.  Since my last post, I've completed my lunches with students.  Now I can claim to know everyone's name in the school.  For some I have to think a little harder when calling their name.  

Mrs. Price, leading our 3rd graders in one of three songs in our
our Veterans Day Program on November 11th

Our Veterans Day Program was a huge success.  We appreciate all the hard work that Mrs. Price put in to prepare our students to sing.  They sounded wonderful.  Also, it was great to have a "local celebrity" come to speak to us.  Doug Currin came to speak to both our students and vets, giving students a perspective of what veterans have to go through when they are deployed.  We had 95 veterans come to enjoy the program.  I think that is a record for us.  We really appreciate all that they have done for our country.

Doug Currin, news anchor for KCEN, came to speak to
our veterans and our students at our Veterans Day
Program on November 11th

We, as educators work pretty hard for the time we're here.  My Uncle Richard used to bug me because he said that we only worked nine months out of the year.  And there is some truth to that, but we put our 12 months in during a nine month time frame.  Teachers use much of their time on the weekends planning for their classes.  Each night they take home papers to grade while sitting in front of the television.  We have some who welcome phone calls to assist the students in their homework.  Our teachers here are dedicated to get the job done well.  So when I speak of having a week off for Thanksgiving, while it IS a luxury to that that time off, it is a welcome break for our teachers who put in so much to bring our students a quality education.  I am thankful for what I do and I know I was destined to be an educator, even though there were no educators in our family, going back generations.  

As we enter December, rest assured that your students are being taught well.  Thanks for helping us out in the educational process.  You are all so supportive of what we do here.

An Honor to Serve Lorena!

     I've been in education a long time...since 1980.  If you count up the years, you will realize that I have many years "under by belt."  I enjoy coming to work everyday.  Being with 8, 9, 10, and 11 year olds keeps me young at heart.  I'm in the middle of my quest to get to know students' names and something about each.  I've eaten lunch with 15 groups of students (That's 90 students).  I look forward to my "lunch dates" because I can talk silly with the students, finding out things about each of them.  We play a game together - in which I usually lose - so students know there's a softer side to me.  I want students to know me as one who cares for them and has high expectations.  I've got a few more "lunch dates" ahead of me that I'm looking forward to.

     I think about what I do and I'm so blessed to be where I'm at.  First, I'm blessed to be an educator.  As a teacher I formed many close relationships with colleagues and students.  I've had the opportunity to positively influence many in their lives.  Also, I'm blessed to be here in Lorena.  I enjoy seeing students who really want to learn every day.  It's also fun to see those whom I have had in past years doing well in the middle and high schools.

     Once in a while I hear from an ex-student and am pleased by what they are doing in their lives.  I will be reflecting on some of my success stories in the next few blogs.  My first is Mary:

MARY:  Mary was a girl I had in class when I was teaching 4th grade.  She lived in a poor neighborhood with many family members living in her house.  She came to school with an "attitude."  Much of her attitude focused on her not caring about her school work.  She didn't try at her assignments, she acted like she wasn't interested in my lessons, and she had no goals to improve.  She was determined to "skate by."  I challenged each of my students in a different way.  With Mary, my goal was to get her to WANT to succeed.  I would go above and beyond to make her laugh, to pay attention to her, and to brag about her progress that I saw.  It took a long time for my to "break through" with her.  It was in February of that year.  We had taken a lengthy test, preparing for the TAAS test.  Like any standardized test, it took a lot of effort.  When I graded her test, she got a passing grade.  The next day I went up to her and looked her in her eyes and said, "Now I got you!!"  She smiled as I told her results.  Her "won't" turned in to a "will" and she made more progress after that.  After about five years after I started here at Lorena ISD I heard from her in an email.  She told me how much she appreciated me and that she was doing well in high school.  That was the last I heard from her, but I was so encouraged about her progress and it made me feel so good that I made a difference in her life.

We're Getting the Hang of it

     We're nearing the end of our third week of school and I do believe we're all getting settled in.  Procedures are overwhelming for many of our students, especially our new students.  As for our 3rd graders, I'm proud of how well they're adjusting to their new environment.  

     Not only do we have new students, but we have some new teachers this year.  The following are those who are serving your students in Lorena for the first time:

1) Jessica Price:  Mrs. Price is our new music teacher.  She comes to us from Corsicana.  Both her and her husband have musical background. Mrs. Price teaches all three grades here at the elementary.  She also is the middle school AND high school choir teacher.  

2) Stacy Isom:  Mrs. Isom is our new 4th grade teacher.  Mrs. Isom teaches Reading and Science.  She comes to us from the Robinson school district.  She has been teaching for many years and is a very enthusiastic teacher.

3) Camille Talbert:  Mrs. Talbert joins the 3rd grade team.  She teaches all subjects, since the 3rd grade is self-contained.  She also comes to us from the Robinson school district.  She is a positive and high-energy teacher who also has many years of experience teaching.

4) Laurie Steinke:  Mrs. Steinke joins our special education team.  She joins Mrs. Burton to assist students in need.  Both her and Mrs. Burton go into classes to co-teach with our classroom teachers.  Mrs. Steinke is a very positive and cooperative person who understands the needs of our students.  We're fortunate to have her on our staff.

5) Marisa Leidenfrost:  Mrs. Leidenfrost is our new paraprofessional who works with our Life Skills students.  She has worked for us last year extensively as a substitute teacher.  She was a regular presence on multiple campuses last year.  She is very excited about being part of our staff this year on a permanent basis.

6) Tammy Pewitt:  Mrs. Pewitt is not new to our staff, but she is new to the teaching profession.  Mrs. Pewitt has worked with our Life Skills students as a paraprofessional.  This past summer she earned hear teacher's certificate and we are now blessed to have her as a teacher.  

What's coming up?

August 28:  A+ Cards introduced
August 31:  GAP (tutorials) begins during the school day. 
September 1:  Parent Orientation (5:30 in the PAC)
September 7:  Labor Day (No School)
September 8:  UIL introduced
September 21:  Boxtop contest #1 begins

Best Elementary Yet

Well, let me see.  I've been an educator since 1980.  Wow.  That means I've been doing this for 35 years.  All but three of those years has been in Texas.  I've been a middle school teacher and coach, a High School teacher and coach, a 4th grade teacher, and a PE teacher for all levels.  I've been in Lorena 16 of my 17 administrative years.  As an administrator, I've been in Lorena 16 out my 17 years.

Beginning a school year takes time and effort.  There are so many things to consider when getting our school off to a positive start.  I have so many effective and energetic people to work with, who have the same desire to get each year started on a positive note.

God has blessed me by being in this district.  I enjoy the students, my staff, parents, and love the tight knit community spirit we have here.

Lorena Elementary Staff (2015-2016)

I appreciate all of you who came out for Meet the Teachers Night.  It was a very successful evening.  It's great to come in to "Break the Ice" with our teachers.  Students seem to feel better after they come in to see their new environment.

We are here to serve our community.  Our decisions are based on a simple ideal:  "What is best for students."  We stand behind that.  Thanks for making the beginning of this year a successful one.

School is Fast Approaching

It is August 5th and the days are drawing near for our new school year.  This year will be different from last year because of the new 3rd graders that will be coming over.  This is a large class of students (over 120) and Mrs. Sanders and I are looking forward to meeting all of them.  I've heard great things about this class of students.

2015-2016 school year will prove to be the best year ever.  Our theme for the year will focus on our Journey for Success.  We want this journey to be enjoyable and beneficial for every student at our school.  With any journey, everyone on board must have responsibilities.  We plan to empower all our students to a high level of learning each day.

Our MEET THE TEACHERS Evening will be on August 20th, beginning at 6:00.  We will be selling T-Shirts and giving away car signs for all those planning to pick their child(ren) up by car sometime during the year.  The event will run from 6:00-7:00 that evening.

The district will host our BACK TO SCHOOL BASH on Friday, August 21st.  It will begin at 5:30 and will be held in the parking lot at the football field.  We didn't have a "bash" last year because of all the construction.  We hope you all get a chance to stop by and participate in the fun events that are planned.

The FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL will be August 24th.  We'll be opening the doors at around 7:25.  You are welcome to walk your child(ren) in the first day to take a picture or give well wishes to the teacher.  Much of the jitters for your child will already be over after they meet their teacher on Thursday.

I'm enclosing our dress code before so you can note what our expectations are before you buy clothes.  School supply lists are on the opening page of the website.  See all of you soon!!

Elementary School Dress Code:

·         Student’s clothing should fit properly and allow for the student to move freely. Belts should be worn if jeans, shorts, or pants are too loose.

·         Shorts, skirts, and dresses should be conservative and modest in appearance. The length must not be higher than the length of the fingertips when the arms are held at full length at the sides.  :  Skintight clothing is not appropriate as an outer garment (i.e., biker shorts, leotards, tights, leggings). Baggy/sagging clothing is not allowed.

·         All tops must reach at least to the waist band of the student’s pants, skirt, or shorts. Large-armed tank tops, razorback tops, spaghetti straps and tube tops are not allowed. In addition, bare midriffs, see-through garments or exposed undergarments are not acceptable.

·         No outside apparel with suggestive, inflammatory, vulgar markings of any type or product endorsements which are contrary to the district’s goals concerning learning and health may be worn. Gang/gothic related articles may not be worn to school. Students at the elementary school are not allowed to wear “attitude” shirts which reflect a negative attitude toward school, teachers, parents, siblings, etc….

·         Light up shirts are not allowed.

·         Leggings, jeggings, etc. may not be worn without shorts. NOTE:  Shorts must be fingertip length.

·         Sunglasses (unless prescription), caps, sweatbands or any other distracting accessories may not be worn to school. There may be special days set aside for wearing such items, such as “shades” or “hat” day.

·         Shoes must be worn to school. Tennis shoes are the best option for students. Because students actively participate during the PE time as well as play on the playground, tennis shoes are the safest type of shoes. The following shoes are NOT allowed: cleats, flip flops, platform shoes, shoes with heels over ½ inch, and shoes with open backs. Crocs are not allowed.

·         The student’s hair must be kept clean, neatly groomed and combed out of the eyes. Boys’ hair must be neatly trimmed, not to extend over the collar (dress shirt) or below the middle of the ear (no tails), and must be clean, neatly groomed and above the eyebrows.

·         Students may not wear haircuts (such as Mohawks or designs shaved in hair), hair colors, or makeup which are unusual, bizarre or distracting as decided by the principal or his/her designee.

·         Girls are encouraged not to wear make-up at school. Girls may not bring make-up, hair spray or fingernail polish to school.

·         Boys are not allowed to wear earrings or earring-spacers to school. Girls may not wear more than two earrings per ear. No other body piercing is allowed.

·         Girls are to wear shorts under dresses. This will prevent undergarments from showing during recess/ PE.

·         Pants should not have tears or holes.

Dress code violators will receive a warning, and a parent may be contacted. If dress code violations persist, parents will be contacted and/or student may receive a consequence.

You can't help but smile...

     I take pictures quite a bit throughout the school year.  Right now there are 45 different events that I've taken pictures of, from field trips to awards assemblies, to playground fun, to academics in the classroom.  Many of the pictures are poses.  Girls especially like to pose with their friends.  When boys' pictures are taken, they usually act goofy or silly.  For the most part, everyone likes to get their pictures taken.  Our students know that at the end of the year I have a slide show of the year's events.  I include music with the slides and the show usually is at least 20 minutes long - yes, we have a lot of memories throughout the year.  Students always like to see themselves in the pictures and it is my goal to include as many of the students' pictures as possible.  I want students to say, "I saw myself on the show."  I want every child to know they are important in our family here at Lorena Elementary School.
     There are some that I can't help by smile at.  I know students really like "crazy pictures."  These are group pictures that students can act silly and then be caught on camera with that face.  Some of the faces (including staff members) are priceless.
     In my many years (almost too many to count) as an educator I have made many memories with the students I've served.  Even as a principal I can pal with the students.  My relationships with my students are very important to me.  When I was a teacher, that was my primary goal - to get to know the students and find ways to meet their needs.
     I hope I've met the needs of your child(ren) this year.  I've enjoyed being their principal and am looking forward to another great year in 2015
-2016.

We want your Feedback! - 2015 Parent Survey

In an effort to gather information and improve our schools and district, we are requesting your participation in a short parent survey. The survey will be available until May 1st. We want to hear from you.

Please take a few minutes and provide us with feedback in order to make our schools the best they can be. We appreciate you being partners with us in our most important responsibility of educating your children.

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2015 Parent Survey

*If you have students on more than one campus, please feel free to fill out a survey for each.

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STAAR Brings us a Star!

In preparation for our "testing season," we were blessed to have a special guest speak to our students.  Holly Tucker, who was a student at Lorena Elementary School back in 2002-2003, came to uplift our students with her singing and positive comments.

At 2:15 on Friday, March 27th, the students gathered in our Performing Arts Center to hear our famous ex-student.  One of the key phrases she left with our students was that they weren't going to be taking a test, they were participating in a "Celebration of Learning."  She noted how her teachers have prepared them for these celebrations and that they were ready.  She encouraged them to do their best and to work hard on all the tests.

Besides singing and speaking, she took some time to answer questions that the students had.  It was a very enjoyable and uplifting event.  We thank Holly for taking time for our students.

Beat the Facts Contest

Every year about this time we challenge our students to master their math facts.  This annual contest gets students to not only know the answers to problems like 7 X 8, and 9 X 6, or 144 divided by 12, but to master them so that they don't have to figure it out.  They can look at the problem and know it without hesitation.

Fifteen students lined up to take a test during our
Beat the Facts Challenge

We set many goals.  First, the 3rd grade works on their multiplication facts through the 9's.  They take tests during the contest of 40 problems.  Students are to get 34 correct in a two minute time frame.  If they do, they "beat the facts" and receive recognition and a Spirit Stick.  Our 4th graders take a test of 50 problems and must get 42 multiplication problems (through 12's) correct in order to "beat the facts."  5th grade has a test of 50 multiplication problems and division problems (through 12's).  Their goal is also 42 correct.

After students meet their initial goal of beating the facts, they strive to improve their score.  Awards are given for perfect papers and then are challenged to increase their overall average.  Awards are given to students who get 100 right out of 100 and eventually some even received awards for 120 problems correct out of 120.

Landon Holze, Isabel Gallegos, and Jaylyn Arp
were the three fastest in our Beat the Facts Challenge.

The contest concluded with our annual "Beat the Facts Challenge."  The top 5 students in each grade level compete to see who is the fastest in knowing their facts and can endure the pressure of the whole school watching them compete.  The following are students who were the top in each grade level and competed for this honor:  3rd Grade:  Landon Holze, Toby Bush, McKenna Holt, Camden Brock, and Dalton Adams.  4th Grade:  Jasmin Romero, Austin Evans, Isabel Gallegos, Lauren Gill, and Caden Meinzer.  5th Grade:  Jaylyn Arp, Garrett Glaser, Caleb Blanek, Caden Helona, and Cade Walker.

This was our best year of all previous Beat the Facts Contests.  263 students earned a Spirit Stick for beating the facts.  Two classes (Mrs. Westerman and Mrs. Douglas) had 100% of their students beat the facts.  Twenty-five 3rd graders had an average of 40+, twenty-four 4th graders earned a 50+ average, and there were twenty-six 5th graders who had a 50+ average.

BEAT THE FACTS CHALLENGE:  Landon Holze, Isabel Gallegos, and Jaylyn Arp were our top three in the Beat the Facts Challenge.

AVERAGE FOR THE FIRST SEVEN TESTS:  Caleb Blanek had a 91 average for the 5th grade, Jasmin Romero had an 83.14 average for the 4th grade, and Landon Holze had a 81.57 average in the 3rd grade

Candyland Family Night

Makenna Holt enjoys making a craft with her friends

3rd Grade teachers organized a fun evening for our parents and students to come and enjoy each others' company.  On December 9th, we filled the cafeteria with students, eager to have a good time.  Parents came to participate and some came so socialize with other parents.  All went way with goodies and fulfillment of time well spent.

Diana and her mother enjoy putting together crafts

Students played games at the 3rd Grade Candyland.

10 Years

Birthdays used to be so important when I was a child.  I think students at our school think more about their birthday than they do Christmas or any other holiday.  It's THEIR SPECIAL DAY.  They don't share it with anyone else.  All the attention for that day is on them.  Students of mine come up to me to make sure that I will announce their birthday in our morning assembly.  I'll ask them when their birthday is.  They'll tell me that it is the next month or two months from now.  To them, their birthday is right around the corner.  I assure them that I will remember to announce their name so we can sing to them.

As adults, most of us don't think too much about birthdays.  We have our "special landmark birthdays" that identify how young we are NOT anymore.  "20" is a good birthday, "30" is okay, but comes with the idea that we're not really young anymore.  "40" shows maturity, but we start feeling some aches and pains.  I had more joint problems in my 40's than in any other time so far in my life.  Once I hit "50," I started feeling old in some ways.  The number "50" was very tough for me.  My birthday came and went that year and all I had was the number to let me know my status in life.  

My recent birthday over the Christmas holiday brought me a little closer to the next plateau -- "60."  Wow, that number rings a bell in me.

So, with all this comes a reflection on TEN YEARS.  When I came to the Waco area, I was forty years old.  My children were in elementary and middle school and we were beginning a new life in Central Texas.  Ten years after that, both my boys had left the house and were in college.  Ten years doesn't seem like much, but it brings so much change to one's life.  I look back in our church directory to see people who attended ten years ago.  Many of them had small children, a husband and a wife.  Since then (10 years later), their children are grown and may have moved away.  Sadly, there are many couples who split up in that time.  Divorce takes over so many of our lives today.

When I speak to students who are 8, 9, or 10 years old, I tell them that they won't be this age forever.  Most students don't think about getting older.  Their concern is today, this week, and what video game they'll be playing when they get home.

As parents, we need to also realize that our children are not going to be this age forever.  I used to tell my own children, "Stop growing!!"  They never listened to me.  We need to continuously feed our children, not only food, but things to enrich their minds - Books being one of the best sources.  Get your children interested in reading by reading to them at home.  My last book that I read to my boys was "Bridge to Terebithia."  I never finished it with him.  Bedtime rituals went away when my youngest got older.  I know many of you read to your children at bedtime.  This will benefit them to no end.

Besides reading, giving them life long experiences in problem solving will benefit them so much.  My dad fixed everything when I was growing up.  I held many lights for him as he fixed his cars.  Ironically, I held many lights for my oldest son when he was fixing his cars.  

Don't let 10 YEARS slip away.  Use every minute of every day reflecting on how you can enrich your childrens' lives physically, academically, and spiritually.