This year’s field day and cookout will be held on Monday, June 10 at Airport Park with a rain date of Tuesday, June 11.  We leave school at 9:00 AM and return a little after 1:00 PM.  If you and/or your child would like to purchase a hot lunch (hot dog, chips, fruit, juice and ice cream) the price of lunch is $3.25 for students/siblings and $4.75 for adults.  You need to purchase the lunch in advance.  The form is due Monday, May 20.  The lunch times are:

       11:00   Anderson/Barnes

      11:10    Helfrich/Mulcahy

      11:20    Barnett/Kelly

      11:30    Hughes/Sorenson

      11:40    Davis/Marshall

      11:50    Howard/Thibault

I was asked to be in the dunking booth for the Hit-a-Thon at Airport Park this weekend.

I was dunked more than once!

Here are some of the players who hit the target:

We had such a great time!

The students did a fantastic job at the Taiko Drumming performance.  I am so impressed (and proud) of how well they played after only a week of learning.  Thank you Colchester High School for allowing us to use yuor gymnasium.

A good time was had by all at the Family Skate this weekend.  Thank you PTO for organizing another successful event. 

The Taiko Drummer residency has been a big hit with the students.  We’re all looking forward to the performance at Colchester High School on Tuesday, March 19 beginning at 6:30 PM.  The students should arrive at 6:15 PM.  There is plenty of parking at the high school so there is no need to get there early.

Union Memorial School got a nice surprise on Friday last week when Cory O’Brien from the Maplefields store near Chimney Corners came in and presented us with a check for $500.  He applied for a grant for our school through the ExxonMobil company.  The money is to be used for math or science.  I can’t wait to get a committee together to determine what purchases we want to make with the funds.

As we lead up to the February Reading Challenge, Mrs. Flanagan has had guest readers in the library this week.  I read Night of the Veggie Monster by George McClements to Mrs. Barnes’ class today.

Here are the newest members of this year’s Tie Club.

I love the 100th day of school.  It’s as exciting and fun as Halloween!  Mrs. Anderson’s class made 100th day ties.  They are awesome.

If real estate is about location, then a public school is about people.  Without question what makes Union Memorial School so special (and the reason I love going to school every day) is the community of people.

THE STUDENTS  I couldn’t work in a place without children.  There is nothing quite so special as watching five- to seven-year-olds learn to read.  The progress they make between kindergarten and the end of second grade is nothing short of remarkable.  Take whichever metaphor you like (sponges soaking up knowledge, pieces of clay waiting to be molded), they all work and are a big part of what makes UMS buzz with learning every day.

THE PARENTS  I frequently hear, “When I was a kid, when you got in trouble at school, you also got in trouble at home.” When I have to call a parent, I most always receive that “good ol’ days” support.  Parents in Colchester also overwhelmingly support their child(ren)’s education.  We average a 95% attendance rate at open house and conferences, our halls are rife with parent volunteers, and our PTO is committed to supplementing the students’ educational experience with wonderfully rich community activities such as the fall barbeque and Chilly Champ Fun Run.

THE TEACHERS  Adults who choose to work with this age group are a truly special breed.  It takes an almost saint-like amount of patience, stamina, and sense of humor to manage the energy of young children.  Great teachers make it look easy, but it is not. UnionMemorialSchool is brimming with great teachers and educators. I recognized that in part of my acceptance speech for the Henry Giauque Vermont Principal of the Year award:

Their commitment to the children of Colchester makes make me a better principal.  Their professionalism and work ethic make me a better person.  And if I were to ever return to the classroom, I would be a better teacher for having observed them teach and interact with children these past ten years.  We share a common belief in how children should be treated and educated, and I love going to school every day in no small part because of their passion.

I appreciate and respect all the people who make our school so special and consider the stewardship of Union Memorial a great honor and privilege.

(This article was printed in the Colchester Sun on January 17, 2013.)