The week before the 4th!

I hope that everyone's summer is going well. It is very hard to believe that it is the week before the 4th. I hope that you all have great plans to celebrate our country's freedom. I hope that you are going to be doing something fun (Peachtree Road Race, cookout, fireworks, etc.). We have so much to celebrate because we live in the good ole USA. I hope that you do it right. After that, we only have 23 more days until the teachers report and only 30 until the students come back!

One Year of BLOGGING!!

I have now hit the 1 year mark of my blog. It has been really nice to journal the experiences that I have had over the last year as a principal at Kennedy Elementary School. I really like sharing what is going on with KES and myself with everyone. I hope that you will pass on the word so that we can take this blog further. Happy 1 year to all 10 of my followers!!!!!! You guys rock!

World Cup Soccer!

I have to be honest with you, I really don't like soccer. I don't like that they run for up and down the field the size of a Canadian Football field and NO ONE EVER scores. I don't like that the players are better floppers than any NBA player ever. I don't like TIES!!! and I really don't like that there are a million bumble bees buzzing around every game making that annoying sound (Stop it with the valuzalas (sp?) already!) But I have a friend, Shane Ammons, that hosts a Radio Show on WIMO Radio 1300 in Winder called It's Only Money and he has done nothing but boast about how excited he was to watch the World Cup. I gave it another try and watched the second half of the USA v. Algeria game. It was really cool to see the USA pull it out in "Injury Time" (what's that all about?!?) and I have to admit I shouted with excitement. I think it was because I just love the USA or I knew I wouldn't have to listen to the annoying buzzing anymore or possibly a little of both.
While the World Cup has not gotten me into soccer, it has gotten my excited about some of the plans we have for parent engagement next school year. Our teachers will be doing two units that will have a culminating activity that the parents will be invited to come see. The first will be our "Around the World in 80 Days". This will happen in November and the teachers will be doing a unit from all around the world. The "love" of different countries that we see in the world cup should serve as a catalyst for some really good lessons. We will be doing a night time event in November that will bring together the world! Our second activity will happen in May when we do an "I Love the USA!" unit. That will also take that Patriotism that we see in the world cup and be shared with everyone.
While I still don't like soccer, I am excited about what the KES Dragons will be doing this year. Who knows maybe we can get some of those horns to play for a little bit as well!

Back From Vacation

I am now back from vacation in Florida. It was very nice to get away and spend time with my family just having fun. We had a wonderful time in Panama City with our friends from the neighborhood. We went to the beach and played in the pool for 4 straight days. It was a blast! Now I am trying to get caught up with everything that needs to be put together for the beginning of another school year. We have gotten our schedules and handbook together already and are now working on finalizing our class lists and then writing the "Welcome Back to School" letter that every teacher loathes, I mean loves, getting each summer. It is the letter that says it is about time to start thinking about teaching again.

Camp Invention Success

This week, Kennedy Elementary School hosted Camp Invention for over 30 students in Barrow County. These "inventors" did an amazing job of creating some really cool "Avatars", electronic critters that really move, and some camp spirit. Thank you to Ms. Stapleton and her staff for a wonderful week. It sure looked like everyone was having a blast!!!

Thank You Mitsubishi

Yesterday was an amazing day for Kennedy Elementary and Barrow County Schools. One of our fantastic business partners, Mitsubishi Electronics, held a family fun day for all special needs students in the county. Although we did not get the turnout we would have liked, the ones who did come out we treated to a day of fun and free food for their entire family. Mitsubishi brought 65 volunteers from all over the world (1 came from Japan) to treat these students and their families to a wondeful time. The rain did not hinder Mitsubishi's spirit as they just moved everything inside and did not miss a beat. Thank You Mitsubishi, you are amazing.