Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Welcome to the 2014-2015 School Year!

“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.” 
― Rainer Maria Rilke

Wow! You should see Cooper! It's no where near ready for us to occupy it!

Really, what's completed is really nice. We will be so happy when it's finished. However, there is much still to do in the three weeks or so left for them to complete the work. This will indeed be a year  full of things that have never been!

We will be starting with some staff changes for 2014-15. As you all know, Mary Beth retired, as did Pat. We will be getting new teachers to replace them. Emily Hiser has been placed in our Resource Room in Pat's place. In addition, Lisa Tanner has been transferred to Cass and we will be getting a different teacher. We will keep you informed as to other changes as they occur.

We will have two long-term subbing positions. Angie, who has not had her baby as of this writing will be off, and Victoria whose son, Nathan Kenneth, was born July 24 (9 lbs., 21 inches) will also be on leave.

On a very sad note, we are reporting that Susie Schnettler has been hospitalized for the past three weeks. She has breast cancer again. Her prognosis is not yet determined. She is at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. We will try to keep you informed of her condition as best we can. At this time, we do not know her teaching status. Susie is such a strong person and such a fighter, there's no way to know how she will do. Cards and letters of encouragement can be sent to her home:

Ms. Susie Schnettler
2911 Metamora Road
Metamora, MI 48455

Susie's daughter, Katie, will make sure she gets your letters. Let's all keep her in our thoughts as the hospital figures out next steps.

Sarah and Terry are both back to work, using Hayes as a base of operations until Cooper is open to us. We will be in meetings and such this week. Next week, secretaries will be back (working at Hayes) putting class lists and packets together for the pickup on the 22nd.

The following week, we are all back. We will be meeting at Riley Upper Elementary on Monday, August 25, 8:00 to 3:30 for building based PD. Breakfast will be provided and lunch is 11:00 to 12:30 on your own. 

Tuesday, we will be having out technology integration PD at Churchill High School from 8-3:30. Lunch is 11:00-12:30. You will have options for lunch. You can go out. You can bring your lunch. You can purchase lunch from food vendors who will be there. We will post more about these options when we learn more about them on Thursday.

Wednesday is another district PD day. 5th grade will get training in MAISA reading units. Sixth grade will get math training. Jan Richardson will meet with both 5th and 6th grade for part of the day. Again, we will get more information to you after our meeting Thursday.

Thursday is a workday. At Cooper. At Cooper? We are hopeful!!! Friday is a day when the district has promised you could get a half-day pay at your daily rate if you work at Cooper for at least three hours (meaning 8-11:00). More on that later, too.

Well, that's our post for now... Lots more to come! Sarah and Terry are working hard on specials schedules and all the other fun things to be completed. Enjoy your final weeks of summer!!!

"Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together."
~Vincent Van Gogh