thanks

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Blessings and Thanks…

christmas-spiritAs Charles Dickens noted:  “It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas…”  Today was a great day to be a child at LME!  Between the train whistles, the crafts, the cocoa, the stories, prizes, and festive PJ fun, there was never a dull moment on the Miller Express.  Did I mention we were in PJs all day too?!  🙂

Mr. Dickens also challenged all of us with this famous thought:  “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.”  So here’s your final question:  “How will you and your family honor the spirit of the season throughout 2013?”  As you go through your routines over the holiday break, take a moment to reflect and revisit on the previous year.  Share these thoughts with your child as well.  Perhaps you can write down goals for the coming year to share with each other.  In the meantime, here’s hoping this season and the new year bring blessings of peace, hope, JOY, and love to you and those you hold dear!  Blessings and thanks for sharing your most valuable resource with us at LME everyday!   🙂

Note:  While we are on break December 22 – January 8, there may not be a daily post on our blog.  Please know we will greet the new year and our second semester with the same “zeal and zest for educational quests” you have come to expect of our campus.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at LaRue Miller Elementary!  EnJOY!  🙂 

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Thanksgiving Every Day…

The table is brimming with good things to eat;
We’re surrounded by family and friends; what a treat.
The feelings that fill us today can’t be beat;
It’s Thanksgiving Day, and it all feels complete.

But other days, sometimes, things don’t seem so fine;
Those days are not polished and don’t seem to shine.
It’s then in our minds, we forget all the good,
And think of the things we would get, if we could.

On days when our thinking causes us dread,
If we could remember, it’s all in our head,
And not let our minds take our gratitude away,
Then we’d make every day like Thanksgiving Day.

-By Karl Fuchs

Thanksgiving blessings to you and yours today…and every day!  🙂

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Hopes and thanks…

Do you ever find yourself wanting a “do-over?”  A delightful fifth grader stopped me this morning to visit and ask specifically about my hopes for Miller’s future (since he’s moving forward to middle school now!). 🙂  After a priceless conversation and great big hug, I made the rest of my rounds still pondering our talk, yet finding I wanted a “do-over” to my answer.  Here’s what I really want him to know:

  • We are hopefully raising the generation who will cure dreaded diseases like cancer, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and others.
  • We are hopefully creating strong problem solvers in a world needing them.
  • We are hopefully encouraging UPstanders (not BYstanders) who stand UP to assist others and themselves.
  • We are building leaders who show compassion and kindness, serve and love others, share, and make the world a better place than they find it.

It’s true; each generation stands upon the shoulders of the previous one.  Our foundations are critical for future success (in school and in real life).  Thanks to each of you for providing the necessary tools and support for your learner and their classroom leader this year.  If it’s been a challenging year in your family or classroom situation, it is my hope we move forward to more positive horizons next year.  If you’ve had the BEST year every, here’s the challenge to take it a step higher next year!

I always tell parents we are here at Miller to serve our learning community; I sincerely mean this.  Please, if we do not meet a standard or expectation you have, we need to know.  Please help us better understand by offering solutions to the situation or problem, communicating a need we may have missed, or simply stopping by for a chat.  Parents, you remain our learning partners and participating members of our learning community at LME; we value and need you every step of the way!

Thank you for sharing your learner with us this year; we are blessed to have you in our lives.  Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who share time, talents, gifts, and services with us daily.  Thank you, our leaders of learners (classroom teachers, instructional aides, and staff), who give unconditionally in sometimes challenging situations to ensure student success.

My final hope for you and your family is that you enJOY a safe, fun-filled summer break doing the things you adore with the ones you hold dearest.  For those moving on, we wish you the best and want to know how things are going so please stay in touch; for those returning, we look forward to the time we’re back together once again.

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Coloring our world…

This is a simple THANK YOU for the sheer JOY and smiles provided this week and everyday at LaRue Miller Elementary.  Thanks for coloring our world during Teacher Appreciation Week with fan mail, paparazzi pictures, concession stand treats, classroom equipment, and tailgating celebrations…we are blessed!   🙂

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You know you’re an appreciated teacher if…

It’s true…you can walk our hallways this week at LME and see evidence our teachers are definitely appreciated!  Down came the beautiful student art gallery and up went the all-star decorations for a week of fun.  Take the clever classroom door displays and posters our room parents created and decoratively displayed throughout each hallway.  Our own front office display is evidence enough we are loved; in fact, there are multiple examples of fun evidence all over the building.  Each day is a special baseball-themed event and everyone is invited to participate (several were dressed today as fans in their favorite team shirts and ball caps and provided fan mail to teachers).  Here’s the playbook for the remainder of the week:

  • Tuesday:  Trading Cards and Paparazzi pics
  • Wednesday:  Concession Stand Snacks and vendors (red/white/blue)
  • Thursday:  Special Classroom Equipment and uniforms
  • Friday:  Home Runs and avid fans

Our extraordinary PTO and room parents have ensured teachers have treats all week including two luncheons and special surprises along the way.  The most important part, though, is how our learners share their appreciation everyday with our teachers.  Not a school day goes by that a staff member does not share a precious story, picture, or experience with a learner.  Thanks for sharing your MVPs  (most valuable players), your learners, with us everyday at LME!  🙂

Note:  We’ll roll some beautiful Field Day footage sometime this week for your enJOYment…such a great day last Friday!

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Thanks, Helping Hands!

On these long, quiet assessment days we have a moment during testing for silent reflection and thanks for the helping hands of an entire staff who make certain everything runs according to expectations and rules.  What you may not know is Mrs. Bass, our assistant principal, also wears the hat of Testing Coordinator for LME; she does her work exceptionally well!  Being the humble individual she is, she always points to the entire team, generously giving credit where credit is due.  The reality is she spends days in preparation (much on her own time—weekends, that is) organizing, arranging, demonstrating, meeting, and triple-ensuring we are ready for each test administration day.  This is much more than opening a box and counting out booklets!

Mrs. Bass, thanks for being in charge of all the helping hands at LME everyday.  Thanks for sharing your multiple talents and service with great humor, enthusiasm, and passion.  Thanks for saying “yes” and unselfishly giving your helping hands to all of us!

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Volunteers are vital!

It’s National Volunteer Week and we celebrate each year in a big way here at LME!  Our annual volunteer salute and luncheon is tomorrow (and I’ll share more then), but learners and their classroom leaders have been preparing tributes, decorations, surprises, and food for the past week.  I stopped by several classrooms this week to ask this vital question:  What is a volunteer?

  • Volunteers helps us do math all the time.
  • They are reading buddies and mystery readers.
  • This one lady offers help in the cafe during lunch.
  • They throw us great parties and events with games and give us treats to share with others.
  • They get really dirty with our class projects and hang our artwork for others to enjoy.
  • They raise money for our school and all the children get to spend it.
  • Volunteers are a mystery because it’s a mystery why they want to volunteer.
  • They teach us when my teacher has to go to the bathroom.
  • They never get paid except in hugs and smiles from everyone.
  • They aren’t paid because they’re worthless but because they’re priceless.  🙂

While these are just a few of the responses, I think you get the idea.  We could NEVER do our daily work here at LME without the time, talents, gifts, and service of our 300+ volunteers each year.  From our active PTO to our DADS program to our weekly/daily helpers who spend countless hours assisting in classrooms, we salute you and thank you…volunteers are vital!