Principal’s Connection

May, it’s May!  How did we get there so soon?  My first year at Oak Grove is coming to an end, and it has been a wonderful, exhilarating, and rewarding experience.  Oak Grove is a great place to be.  I think I knew that the day I walked in through the front doors of this landmark building on Spring Creek Mesa.  Now that I’ve been here almost a year, I can define what it is that makes Oak Grove great...

• The students are warm and welcoming (I get hugs everyday).
• The students are helpful (everyday we have students who help take care of the school, Golden Trash Can Award, Litterbug Award, table wipers, sweeping stones from walkways, ball clean up, bell ringing, cleaning windows and doorknobs, and the list goes on).
• The students are smart (Principal’s Challenge 5,325 points – UNBELIEVABLE).
• The students are fun (Do you remember Crazy Hair Day, the Run-Walk-a-thon?).
• The students are polite and well mannered (Our students open doors for adults and each other).
• The students are creative (artwork abounds, they perform at assemblies, and have you read their writing?).
• The parents donate time and have abundant energy (hundreds of hours spent at school).
• The parents volunteer to support fundraisers (Pie Sales, Secret Santa Shop, Sock Hop, Run-Walk-a-thon, Fall Festival, and Phase I and II of play area).
• The parents have made many wishes come true (snow blower for Miss Betty, Phase II of the play area, Science Explorers Teams, Ms. Coulter’s garden area, Die Cut Machine, and a soon to come sound system.).
• The staff teamwork ethic (every day, in every place)
• The staff work ethic (hours of work above and beyond the call of duty)
• The staff energy (they take on challenges with a smile)
• The staff’s caring energy (when it comes to kids, they will give it their all)
• The staff’s knowledge (20 out of 20 classroom teachers participated in some type of professional development during the school year, 4 out of 4 paras participated in trainings, and some of our teachers have their Master’s Degree)

Thank you to everyone at Oak Grove for making the 2007-2008 school year the best!  Enjoy your summer, and I’ll look forward to seeing you all in August for another adventure as we learn and grow together!

Laurie Pascoe