Superintendent's Blog
February 11, 2008
Hello,
This is my first attempt at blogging. How exciting!
The purpose of my blogs will be to keep people posted of what's happening at the school and any thoughts or opinions that I may have regarding the school or education in general. Please feel free to respond at my e-mail link below. I would like to hear from you!
Russ
February 19, 2008
Well its levy day. This evening, at around 8:00pm, we will find out the results of our Maintenance and Operation Levy. We haven't heard much, if any, negative feedback but you never know. We mailed out levy information and hosted a "Levy Information Night" to answer any questions property owners might have. Many people allowed us to place a sign in support of the levy on their property, which had never been done before. The bottom line, though, is that our levy rate per thousand is significantly lower than our surrounding districts. We are keeping our fingers crossed.
On our professional day last Friday, we met to develop classroom based assessments (CBAs) for math. First, we got familar with the new math standards and then started to develop a scope and sequence. Next, we will develop CBAs for Fall, Winter and Spring. Once we get the CBAs in place, we will determine interventions to help students who aren't progressing. At this point, we don't feel good about our interventions for struggling students. In the future, we hope to establish our own early child education program, a before school program, an after school program and child care.
Let me tell you a cute story that we heard when our students showed up this morning. First, I need to explain to you a little about our school. We are a tiny, K - 5 school district. Of our 26 students, we are 96% percent hispanic and 100% free and reduced. Anyway, we meet the kids at the door every morning and soon realized that one of our 5th grade students was absent. When we asked the other students where he was one boy responded by telling us, in heavy Spanish accent, that he was really sick and had a temperature of 120! Gotta love'em.
Please drop me an e-mail if you have any comments.
Russ
February 20, 2008
Its a good day. The levy passed. 81% so far. They count again on Friday to finalize the votes but they don't expect the percentage to change much. Because this was my first levy, I was pretty nervous, even though we didn't have any apparent reason to be concerned. To say the least, I was quite relieved when the results came in. Good for another two years! Thanks to the board who put together a solid plan and all the voters who supported the levy.
Russ
March 7, 2008
The first Friday of March! What a beautiful day it is, Spring is definitely in the air (thank goodness). The coulee has a distinctive allure this time of year for sure.
I attended the Small Schools Conference in Yakima on Monday and Tuesday of this week. We listened to the story of a guy by the name of Darrell Scott. His daughter was the first person killed in the Columbine High School shootings in Colorado in 1999. His son, who was also there, miraculously survived. Darrell's emotionally draining story started off amazing and just kept getting better. Rachel, his daughter, was a truly unique 16 year old, which was documented by passages from her six diaries that she kept. Rachel had told friends and others that she felt certain about two things. One, she would live a short life and two, she would change the world. Both premonitions proved to be true. Darrell has shared Rachel's story with millions all over the world and has started Rachel's Challenge, which challenges students across the nation to be tolerant, kind and make change. It is an amazingly inspiring story. More can be found at Rachel's web site, rachelschallenge.com .
Also at the conference I was happy to find out that we had the highest passage rate of any levy or bond in the state. Way to go Palisades school and community!
Russ
March 21, 2008
What a week! We have a big day today. The Easter Bunny is coming! Around 2:30 we are going to have an Easter egg hunt. The kids, especially the little one's, are juiced. We are missing, though, about 10 of our 26 kids. Students stayed home to fast for Good Friday.
Spring Break starts on March 31st and we will begin WASL testing on April 21st.
A friend of mine sent me this the other day, see what you think. (Just takes a second and it's fun!) http://www.dothetest.co.uk/
r
May 27, 2008
Hello there! Boy, it's been a while since I posted. I can't believe that we only have 10 more days of school. Where has the year gone?
As always, we've been busy. In addition to the testing and school work that we've been working hard on, we had a chance to take the school to a Cinco de Mayo celebration at the local community college. We all had fun! We also just returned from the 4th and 5th grade field trip to Seattle. The five students, their teacher, Mrs. Lutz and myself got up early and headed west. We went to the Seattle Aquarium, took a boat tour of the sound, feasted on Fish and Chips, walked through Pike Place Market, visited Tillicum Village, stayed one night at a nice hotel (only one of the kids had ever stayed in a hotel before), went swimming at the hotel, went to the Woodland Park Zoo and then, exhausted, headed home.
We are headed to Slide Waters in Chelan the day before school lets out and then finish with a half day of school on the 10th of June.
Summer school starts on July 7th and runs through the 1st of August.
I have to share another funny story that probably would only happen here in the Palisades. It's an indication of how small we are. Just after the bus left one afternoon, the bus driver radios the school and tells the secretary that her dad's bull had gotten out of the pasture.
r