When I look at my calendar for this summer, it’s hard to find many stretches without copious activities marked down. It’ll be a busy summer with the kids and a number of school-related functions. (I don’t really have to tell you how most teachers don’t just relax for three months, do I?) Part of the process since February has been helping plan the school calendar for next year, because it’s never too early to plan ahead.

For the first time in many years, the staff had input into how next school year will shape up. Members of a committee hemmed and hawed over many alternative looks to the way the calendar has been set up in the past. Here’s a look at some of the major changes and the reasons behind them.

One that doesn’t affect many of you is that we added two extra professional development days as a staff. There is so much on the plate of a Minnesota educator these days that it’s impossible to get ready for the school year in three days, so we’ll spend five days prior to the school year (and many will be in there much more than that) getting more than just our bulletin boards ready.

The many initiatives (sometimes considered a swear word in education, but an unavoidable one) coming our way have led to something that will affect many of you: two-hour late starts. In the past, we always had 2-3 of these, often listening to speakers or spending times in our Professional Learning Communities. However, this year there will be one of these each month. They will always be on a Monday, usually the second Monday of the month. There just aren’t opportunities to get staff members together on a regular basis because of various meetings, coaching, etc. These late starts will be reserved solely for work on the initiatives we have going on.

Another big change revolves around parent-teacher conferences in the secondary building. We are going to try one conference night per quarter, right around mid-term. In the past, we did two sessions after first quarter and two in the middle of third quarter. These work well with the elementary principle, but not as much at the 6-12 level. After first quarter, it’s too late to do anything about the grades. In February, many teachers barely know their new semester classes.

Our hope is that conferences will become an opportunity for parents with children in trouble to come in and work out a plan for success. Honestly, so many parents keep up with grades online that conferences are starting to wane in attendance at our level. A quick email often alerts parents of a problem, and a resolution can be found. We still enjoy that face-to-face experience, but we’re spreading out those chances. As always, teachers are often available to meet at many times during a quarter; there’s no need to wait until a grade is out of reach!

My regular readers know how I feel about tacking snow day make-ups on the end of the year, and now we hope to avoid that! Snow day make-ups will occur within the school year, when valuable learning can still take place. There’s one each in December, January, February, and April, with what we hope is a remote chance also in June. Our hope is that parents can look at these and make plans that might be easily changed if we end up in school those days. It’s pretty simple: for example, if we have a blizzard on January 14, we have a make-up day scheduled for January 19, a day that will otherwise be off.

One big change from “that’s the way we’ve always done it” is that seniors will now attend just as many days as everyone else. Graduation has been pushed back a week and will not fall on Memorial Day weekend. It’s always been a struggle for the many classes which have mixed groups with what to do with the rest of the students that is meaningful when half the class is gone. This past year, seniors had six less days than the others, and the previous year, they missed ten days since we kept tacking days on the end. So if you’re planning your grad party for next year, do a double-check: graduation is May 31!

The continuous response we had on the committee was let’s try it. Some of these are sound ideas, even if they’ll take a little getting used to. If something flops completely, we can always change it for 2015-2016. Take a moment to look at the full calendar on the school’s website and start planning now!

Word of the Week: This week’s word is noesis, which means the exercise of reason, as in, “The calendar committee used noesis to determine some changes that could have made life easier long ago.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!

The scurs were pleased to see the warm sun this past week as well as the weekend rains. Their reliance on the ’74 Gremlin Weather Eye continues to pay dividends. Will they be able to turn the water off temporarily and keep temperatures warm? Starting Wednesday, mostly cloudy with a good chance for a leftover morning shower or thunderstorm. Highs in the low 70’s and lows in the mid-50’s. Mostly sunny on Thursday with highs in the low 70’s and lows in the mid-50’s. Friday, mostly sunny with highs remaining in the low 70’s and lows creeping upward in to the upper 50’s. Saturday, partly sunny becoming mostly cloudy with an increasing chance for a shower or thunderstorm by evening. Highs in the low 70’s and lows in the upper 50’s Mostly cloudy Sunday with a moderate chance for showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the low 70’s and low in the mid-50’s. Mostly cloudy with highs in the mid-70’s and lows in the mid-50’s. Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms.  Highs in the low 70’s and lows in the upper 50’s. On June 7th, the normal high is 77 and the normal low is 56. We will only gain about 6 minutes more of daylight by the summer solstice on the 21st. The ice on the ceement pond being a distant memory, the scurs are mending their zubas.

What a week of weather for crop growth last week was! GDD or GDU accumulation was more typical of mid-June as we made progress towards erasing the deficit created earlier in the month. Much easier to catch up this time of year than later on, similar to a baseball player’s batting average. May was actually below normal precipitation-wise so starting June off with a soaking rain was welcome. Corn that was planted in the May 5-7th timeframe was showing three collars as of last week and stands remained impressive considering the less-than-perfect conditions in some cases the soil was in at planting time. Weed control is the next item on the agenda for most when soils dry enough to allow it. A cooler week forecast may slow some of those plans although it will also slow crop and weed development as well. Soybeans roared out of the ground, planted in many cases less than a week before. There again, emergence and stands appear to be decent as most of the soybean acreage was planted in nearly ideal conditions. Small grains should benefit from the slightly cooler weather and alfalfa development should slow enough to allow cutting at prime levels for maturity. Getting it dry may be the issue if trying to bale it.

The lawn at the ranch is growing faster than time has allowed to mow it. It gets mowed once a week and it looks like every four or five days would be better. Fudgie and Ruby would be all for that. Biting the tires and following the mowers back and forth is the highlight of their day. Eventually as Mrs. Cheviot finishes up her greenhouse stint and if we can keep two mowers running, it shouldn’t take so long. A mower for each dog: Bonus! The gardens and flowers are also on the agenda as some spot watering kept the vine crop transplants going until the weekend rains came to the rescue. The indigenous American corn came up as did the cucumbers planted less than a week earlier. And yes in response to a late evening call from a reader, we even planted our sweet corn. It was definitely warm enough. The fly in the ointment: The mosquitoes have shown up. They’re not nasty yet although given the recent rains, that will likely change.

When it’s wet and little can be done in the lawn and garden department, the birds provide a welcome diversion. The neighbors are already convinced I’m nuts so when they see me walking across the pasture in my waders that pretty well confirms it. Bear in mind we live on top of a hill. Checking the wetland/pond area, the wood ducklings had not hatched as of Sunday afternoon. One hen came off the nest when the wood duck house observation door was opened and the other was taking a break. Hope she enjoyed it as when those eggs hatch, she’ll be pretty busy. The Canada geese that were loud last week do indeed have gosling. They sailed out of the cattails to see who the intruder was, then silently slipped back into the rushes. Hummingbirds are becoming more frequent visitors and were particularly enamored by the salvia Mrs. Cheviot brought home. The baby robins in the barn have made their way out into the real world. They stood on the edge of the nest one morning and must’ve flown out. Remember kids, it’s all downhill once you leave the nest.

Others have noted this as well that our usual house wren guests have not appeared in great numbers this summer. The common yellow throat at the ranch tries to fill the void but they are no match for the house wrens in the song department. The oriole numbers have tailed off although it appears we’re left with the locals. The maple that has been an orchard oriole favorite really leafed out this past week making it more suitable for nesting no matter who wants to build there.

Am concerned that Auntie Mar Mar might’ve been swept up in the tornado south of Albert Lea last weekend. Could’ve had that country and western music turned up too loud on the boom box again I reckon. Been awfully quiet from that direction. Mar Mar’s been promising me blueberry bars so I wouldn’t want to miss out on those. Hopefully she’s been wearing her ruby slippers while staying away from old maids riding bikes with little dogs in baskets. 

See you next week…real good then.   

Memorial services for Marilynn Pauline Nelson will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 29, 2014 at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home. Rev. Clayton Balsley will officiate. Interment will be at Clarks Grove Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com 

Marilynn died Sunday, June 1, 2014 at the Wellstead of Rogers.  

Sunshine always brightens up the day, and we have waited a long time for it. 

But when spring finally comes out alive and well, everything turns bright and beautiful, including the grass, leaves, flowers, gardens. Branches, dry leaves and winter "collect" seem to disappear in trash cans, landfills and mini bonfires.

So many things "come to mind," my head feels like a beehive.

Incidentally, be kind to the bees - yes, they sting, but they also pollinate the plants we need for survival, and produce honey, that miracle stuff and cure-all that never spoils and tastes so good.

Graduation is a BIG thing. Think about the advantage of education. Not just book-learning "education.” To be able to read and write and do figures is the basis of everything.

Memorial Day - A day of reverence, of thoughts toward those who never had the chance to live their true life. Sadness, pride, courage, and love. If ever there is an example of brotherhood it is evident in those who served and knew what war is.

I look at the dandelions and think "let them grow" – then we know we care about the children and the future. Anything that kills one thing is also capable of killing another.

I read in the paper that Garrett Wangsness, son of Jay and Sherry, was named "most valuable" freshman wrestler at Luther College, and though he isn’t my child, I know his family well, and I am so proud.

I look at the wide-open fields beautifully manicured to raise the food needed around the world. They say one farmer can feed and clothe 144 people. I thank God and the farmers who play such a vital role in feeding the ever-increasing global population. I'd watched a movie of the future - there wasn't enough food to feed the people. Possible? I don't know but it was scary. Those who lived during times of rationing probably have an idea of what it could be like. It can't happen here? Let’s hope we never find out. 

Sometimes we can think we're so smart, and in reality we could go to the ends of the earth and find technology not be scoffed at, but there is also healing power in nature. Before doctors, prescriptions and machines that take pictures inside and out, there were people who lived by using facts of nature - leaves, flowers, and bark from a tree. No, we don't want to go back, but we can accept that there were remedies that worked even then. I suppose they had side effects then too.

Makes one chuckle – My mother said they used to come home from school and change into "everyday clothes.” Then it was the same clothes for going away and at home. Now "everyday clothes" are high style clothes. Denims with holes and shabby - "comfort clothes.” It is surprising what one will or won't wear and no one thinks anything of it - or do they?

I have to hand it to marketing companies - establishing a trend is like getting the lead sheep to do what you want it to do and the rest will follow. I sometimes wonder how long the stainless steel and marble countertop trend will continue until everybody goes for something else. Actually stainless steel is a protective substance and has its value. But ask anyone who has had to maintain a stainless environment and they will tell you how tired one can get trying to keep it sparkling. As for stone countertops - they require special care as well and will no doubt be replaced by some new trend. But that's business and makes for jobs and exchange of money.

Gone are the days when my grandmother was just glad to have a davenport that would last her lifetime, and inside water, even it it was from a pump.

Sometimes we get so eclectic and sidestep the obvious for the sublime. That's why it's called "Whatever Comes To Mind.” 

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, May 29: Brent Peterson, Deb Farr, Odean Otterson, Gene Pederson, Mark Butler, Ross Lein, Colin Quimby, Rod and Sandi Serdahl, John and Susan Oolman, Lily and Jerry Neitzel

• Friday, May 30: Payton Allen Misgen, Daniel Larson, Molly Hanson, Chuck Crabtree, Shirley Nelson, Julie and Toby Oquist

• Saturday, May 31st: Nathan Jensen, Jerry White, Pat Draayer, Ryan Sletten, Jim Hamor, Robert DuBois, Cierra Hanson

• Sunday, June 1st: Carter Anthony Martens, Randy Hagen, Brandi Hagen, John Hanson, Bert Wiersma, Phyllis Benson, Joe Wallace, Julie Dulas, Kenny Toft, Maria Misgen, Tony Sommers, Bob Flim, Glenn Gerdes, Lindsey Lembke, Denise Evenson Wilson, Jeff and Sharon Lageson, Orville and Mavis Langlie

Monday, June 2: Maia Kathleen Peterson, Brent Dobberstein, Angie Goodnature Kath, Taylor Draayer, Sue Jensen Kuckenbecker, Steve Kasper, Cindy Olson, Barry Esplan, Krystle Lonning, Donald Haberman, Ahston Haried, Trent Hanson, Brandon McLaughlin, Tammy and Garth Gonnering, Greg and Nicole Shultz, Eric and Snow Lee, their 6th

Tuesday, June 3: Isabella Grace Kohn, her 4th; Devin Matthew Haddy, his 7th; Justin Stieglbauer, David Hall, Troy Vavra, Jason Jenkins, Michael Bartness, Angie Kasper Christenson, George Kasper, Chrisopher Conley, Max Miller, Esther Van Ravenhorst, Misty (Ebnet) and Jeremy Krueger, Eric and Christine Nelson

Wednesday, June 4: Dale Miller, Becky Nordland, Jim Borchert, Judith Severson, Warren Nelson, Jamie and Tina Hagen, Art and Doris DeNeui, Jan and Andrew Bernau, their 7th

May you find joy and pleasure all around you on your special day.

I truly have to believe that we have finally turned the corner and are actually headed into the summer season. Having survived a long winter of cold and snow I am actually excited to see what summer has in store.

I began filling the bird feeders early on in the spring and it has brought some good results, bringing numerous birds to the feeders this year and surprisingly enough there have been very few blackbirds around to torment me. I guess that the blackbirds and starlings are the Rodney Dangerfield’s of the bird world because they get no respect, at least not from me.

While I was up north a couple of weeks ago I had time to reflect on the wonders and beauty of nature and the wildlife that nature has blessed us with. Observing ducks, geese, loons, deer and other such critters in their natural habitat gives me that feeling that I am actually closer to nature. Now there is something about watching mallards walking down my sidewalk or sitting atop the neighbor’s roof that just doesn’t quite do it for me. The same can be said for Canadian geese walking down the sidewalk at Frank Hall Park. It just doesn’t quite give me that same feeling. Now if I drove a few miles to, say, Pickerel Lake and observed the same critters it would seem pristine and all back to nature-like. It’s funny how the same birds or animals put in a different environment can change a person’s perspective. Just a thought.

When I attended the Governor’s fishing opener in the Brainerd/Nisswa area a couple of weeks ago I was reminded of my days as a youth when I yearned to head north for a week; or in my fantasy it would be for a few weeks or more to bask in the beauty of the north woods. Today the area has changed some with many more opportunities to shop and dine but the beauty of the area has not changed.

Looking back at the many folks that I used to look to for fishing tips, whether it was magazine articles or fishing shows most of them seemed to originate from this area of the state. When traveling north with my grandson Dylan he would occasionally ask me if we were in the middle of nowhere yet? Well this area may not be in the middle of nowhere but whenever I was there or even just passing through it always symbolized “up north” to me. This has not changed today because there are just so many lakes and much forest land to accommodate any wants that a visitor to the area may desire.

When I look back at opening weekend and the few days following I am grateful for the weather that we had on opening day. The weather on opening day was almost perfect; except for the fish who seemed to have a severe case of “lockjaw”. On Sunday I headed north to the cabin to see if it had survived the winter in one piece. To my surprise there were no trees down, at least not blocking the driveway and everything seemed to be in order. At the end of the season we usually take home anything that may freeze over the winter so spring involves re-stocking the cabin with canned goods and other miscellaneous things we may need for the summer

Once at the cabin I unloaded the truck and filled the bird feeders even before I began putting things away. This is usually one of the first things that I do because it can sometimes take a day or two for the birds to discover the food. This time, however, they came almost immediately and wasted no time putting on the feed bag.

The weather that Sunday was ideal and I was able to sit back and watch as the birds literally “flocked” to the feeders. Once Sunday turned into night things changed and I awoke to cold temperatures and a steady rain with a few snowflakes thrown in, which persisted for the whole day and most of the next. My main goal for the next couple of days was to make sure that I had enough dry wood to keep the cabin nice and toasty, which it did. I have to say that our little wood stove keeps our cozy little cabin nice and comfortable.

If you have ever tented in weather like that (done that) you know that it is almost impossible to stay dry and warm when the weather stays damp and cold. Ahhh, those were the days – actually in looking back those were actually some very good times but, alas, the resilience of youth has long since been replaced by creaking joints, aching muscles and an appreciation for the warmth of a dry cabin with a warm fire.

A lot of folks have wondered what the reasoning was behind the DNR not opening up Albert Lea Lake and some others that had winter kill to promiscuous fishing. After speaking to a top DNR official at the opener he said that they have taken a more cautious approach to that issue because many lakes that have winter kill still have fish that survive. This year he said that the DNR only allowed promiscuous fishing on seven lakes in the state. He said reason for that change was that people would report lakes as freezing out when in reality there was some fish kill but not enough to kill off the lake.

Until next time; any time is a great time to enjoy a little fishing on one of our area lakes but no matter when or where you plan to fish be safe and if you’re in a boat be sure to wear your life jacket.

Have a safe Memorial Day and please remember those who served and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today. 

Echoes from the Loafers’ Club Meeting

Do you have a pen I could use?

No.

Then what's that in your shirt pocket?

That's a pen you can’t use.

Driving by the Bruces

I have two wonderful neighbors — both named Bruce — who live across the road from each other. Whenever I pass their driveways, thoughts occur to me, such as: most people could use a good listening to.

Cafe chronicles

The radio offered Toby Keith singing about being in love with a red Solo cup.

That caused a patron to either laugh or lay an egg.

That man, who optimistically called himself middle aged, bellowed, "Good gravy!"

"Good gravy" is "uffda" with gravy.

At the table of infinite knowledge, we talked of a friend who had died much too young. I recalled a song by Jimmy Buffett called, "He Went to Paris," that contained this line, "Some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic. But I had a good life all the way."

Larry Sandvol of Big Stone City, S.D. talked of his friend, an avid duck hunter, who died and was cremated. His hunting buddies reloaded shotgun shells, putting a bit of cremains into each shell. They spread his ashes that way.

I mentioned a movie that my wife and I had seen in the theater. I knew it was a chick flick. How did I know? I woke up once during the film and my wife was crying.

We miss our friend. Sometimes we laugh to keep from crying.

Camping

Two Hartlanders had such a great day fishing a brook that they vowed to meet 10 years later at that same spot to repeat the experience. But 10 years later, they couldn’t agree on the exact location. One said, "This is the spot. I recognize the clover growing on the bank."

The other man replied, "Nonsense, you can’t tell a brook by its clover."

I camped along the Missouri River. Camping is something to do when you feel the need to use a Posturepedic rock as a pillow.

I don’t own a cabin. I know that in some parts of the country, cabins are called cottages. Where I live, a cottage is where you make a certain kind of cheese.

I canoed during the day, put up a tent in the evening, and built a small fire for cooking.

At one site, wood was difficult to find. I can’t paddle a canoe as well as I can chop wood and make a fire. The canoe was old and would have made a warm fire.

It was tempting.

We’re all part of a team

Over the course of a week, I visited the grocery stores in Ellendale and New Richland. I couldn’t help but notice how nice everybody was. Folks greeted one another whether they were acquainted or not. People regularly held doors open for others and wishes for nice days were common. Shoppers were required to talk about the weather, but appeared to mean it when they asked, "How are you?"

I saw a bumper sticker on a car parked in front of one of the stores that read, "I run like a girl. See if you could keep up."

I spoke at a college in Chicago. There was a basketball tournament going on while I was there. I watched one team warm-up. It had a muscular guard, a quick guard, a 7-foot center who dunked effortlessly, a lithe forward whose smooth moves were readily apparent, and a couple of deadly jump shooters. They warmed up. Six players. Six basketballs. There were no words exchanged amongst the players. There were no handshakes, fist bumps, or high-fives. No one smiled. They were as snotty as a preschooler with allergies. They played a team that appeared to be far less talented, but played as a team and destroyed the six players on the court.

Did you know?

A Gallup Poll found that Rhode Island was the least appreciated state by its own residents with only 18 percent saying the state was the best place to live. Only 19 percent of Illinois residents felt that way. Montana and Alaska topped the list, with 77 percent of residents thinking highly of their state. Minnesota was at 61 percent and Iowa 56.

Nature notes

"How long do crows live?" Most crows don't live a year, dying in the egg or as nestlings. The average fledged crow likely lives 7 or 8 years, but studies by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology indicates that crows could live to be 17 to 21 years old. The oldest known wild American crow was 29 1/2 years old.

Meeting adjourned

The investment return on a kind word is extremely high.

During our March visit to relatives in Harrison, Arkansas, we scheduled a two-hour appointment with the Clintons at their home in Little Rock. We were most impressed with their hospitality plus the down-home feeling of being at ease while in their home. Carrying on a conversation also gave us the at-ease feeling. Even their two little doggies accepted us as a normal everyday occurrence. (I guess that’s all part of Southern hospitality.)

Our purpose for being there was our concern for the Democratic Party in the next Presidential election. Both Bill and Hillary confirmed that she wanted to run in 2016. They asked us not to mention our visit until after May 15, as they wanted to use some of our ideas in the Presidential platform Hillary would be running on (seems the Democratic Party chairperson had to give the okay).

Hillary called Genie and gave us the okay to disclose our ideas for a sure win in 2016. Here they are:

• Increase the minimum wage in every state to $10.25 an hour. (An interesting item is the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwa are currently at $10.25 an hour for all reservation employees in Minnesota.)

• Let Mexico plus Canada become part of the United States. How many states there would be in Mexico and how many in Canada could be decided by the current divisions in each country. (This would mean no more expensive border crossings or border controls. The residents of Mexico would be earning a minimum wage, as all the employers would be under the current Federal guidelines – thus no more illegal residents. This would also eliminate most items smuggled across the border, plus less of a difference in price.)

• A Foreign Aid policy of no money and no military help to any country that has a history of fighting with its neighbors or within its borders. (Think of the money and lives this policy would save. Our policy would still be, “If you attack us, you can run but you can’t hide.”)

• A tax of one percent on all sales to get us back on a balanced budget with the excess used to pay down the debt. (Remember under Bill Clinton the U.S. debt was reduced and now Hillary could do the same.) 

• A tax of one percent on all our sales to help our transportation system – especially the freeways. (Both parties agree we have major road problems.)

In conclusion, to you the reader, even though Genie and I have voted Republican many times in the past, we submitted these ideas to the most likely Democratic Presidential candidate, as that party is more open to change than the conservative Republican Party. We feel the continual going-in-debt plus the loss of lives of U.S. military personnel on foreign soil have both got to be reduced. Amen.

P.S.: Remember this column is “Fact or Fiction: You Decide.”

———

Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.

For most people, the New Year begins January 1 every year. For teachers, that’s not even the midpoint of the calendar. We often think of Labor Day as the final hurrah before beginning a new year. Thus, it’s time for a column you might expect to see in December: the year in review!

And what a year the 2013-2014 school year has been! Ups and downs, comings and goings, it’s been quite the roller coaster ride. The year really began with a buzz of excitement. Dr. Goodwin and Mr. Bunn entered stage right as new administrators, and it was clear from the start that change was afoot.

More on that in a minute since it was also a time to take a look at the renovations in the New Richland building in the form of a condensed media center and an expanded cafeteria/commons area. That has been a hit all year long, and you rarely walk by without seeing students and/or staff in the commons working on something, enjoying the ambiance. It’s become a meeting place for various activities and is developing into a homework haven after school some days.

It was clear from the start that the atmosphere in our school district would be different. Dr. Goodwin and Mr. Bunn have striven to achieve a positive atmosphere. It hasn’t always been successful, as evidenced when NRHEG became lockdown central in early October, one from an outside threat and one from within. That seemed to put a halt on the positivity train that had been rolling, and it has, at times, seemed difficult to get trucking along that track again consistently.

Positive vibes were certainly felt in extracurriculars though. The football team did better than many people thought, T.J. Schiltz made it to the state cross country meet, the boys’ basketball team won the conference for the first time in many years, and the girls’ basketball team won a second consecutive state title. The softball team had a good run, and everyone is waiting to see how many track athletes will make it to state and if Carlie Wagner and T.J. can set more records before their time at NRHEG is done.

From a teaching standpoint, it’s honestly been a difficult year. As I wrote about back in September, I adopted a new grading philosophy this year: no grades. I’ve focused on judging student work based on the state standards and looking for improvement. This has been a trial and error process, and I’ve come to the point of not accepting inferior work. Students must redo work that doesn’t come close to the standard. I’m leaning toward going back to a modified letter grade system next year, one that will evolve from my work this year.

More stressful has been a marked lack of motivation from so many of my students; it’s almost an epidemic! I started keeping a list on my board of all the missing work…and I ran out of room. As a staff, we’ve tried various things to encourage completion of work, but there are so many students who simply don’t care. It doesn’t matter if you punish them for late work or even reward them for completing work, their apathy is palpable.

I’ll be brutally blunt in throwing some of my frustration the way of some parents in this. My loyal readers know that I’ve ranted about parenting in the past, but it continues to be frustrating to talk to a parent and get nothing in return: no ideas, no support, no help. Granted, there are a number of parents who have worked with us to get their kids back on track, but there are at least as many who won’t even return a call or email.

However, I’ve also seen some of my students bloom. There is such a benefit to having the same kids two years in a row, and the biggest part of that is seeing some tremendous growth from the beginning of seventh grade to the end of eighth grade. I can see some of them finding great success as they enter the high school and can’t wait to see where the future takes them.

A couple people have a new future are Tim Siewert and Gratia Johnson. While we have many departures as this year ends, those two stand out to me. Mr. Siewert has built the band program to an enviable position, and I only hope we can find someone nearly as talented and passionate as him for next year.

And Gratia. How many people have had their spirits lifted by her infectious smile (pun intended) over her many years as school nurse? Gratia has exuded positive vibes and will be missed by many of us who have had “owies”!

Despite ups and downs, we continue to build at NRHEG. There are exciting things coming down the pipe, and we’ll look forward to another thrill ride in 2014-2015!

Word of the Week: This week’s word is Bardolphian, which means having a red complexion, especially a red nose, as in, “Gratia immediately went to work when she saw the Bardolphian student and diagnosed a rash quickly.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!