Not surprisingly, I found Lowell, Michael, and Connie had everything spic-and-span on the inside and neat and trimmed on the outside. Is that a new lawn mower?
The front entrance is as inviting as always.
Since 1859, our school has transitioned from a one-room schoolhouse to a state Farm Life boarding school, to an 11 grade community school, to a K-8 school, and now to a K-5 school. This display in the lobby has just a small sample of artifacts that span those decades. There are numerous families who can count 3 or more generations who learned the 3 R's here.
Even at the most traditional of schools, every year brings change. New students, new staff, new looks around the campus. Thanks to Mrs. Wright, our artist-in-residence, the office area is now adorned with some bright, new murals.
If you haven't seen these changes, maybe it's time for you to drop by, especially if you're a former student, parent, or staff member. You'll be impressed.
Nice work environment, don't you agree?
This is my favorite of the new murals. The banners proclaim the foundational tenets of our school: safe learning environment, integrity, kindness, resources for learning, and school pride.
This "Pied Piper" aptly represents the teachers, who magically motivate their children to explore new and unfamiliar realms in their educational journey.
And the children are eager, even hungry, for the adventures that await.
This year, there are more observable changes around the campus. Six new classrooms will be added during this year. This will alleviate the need for as many mobile units and enhance our learning environment substantially.
This is the building where I finished my career teaching 3rd grade. The scenery has certainly changed out front. This building (the school cafeteria for three decades) and the gym are the oldest structures on campus, both built soon after World War II.
When I began at Farm Life in 1975 construction of our "new" primary building and media center was just underway. A sheet of plywood separated my screenless, un-airconditioned firetrap of a room. We learned to ignore the construction sounds as we went about our instructional duties.
This year's construction is in the center of campus and will be closely observed by students on a daily basis.
I suspect there will be a great swell of excitement and anticipation as the new addition takes shape.
If they had only waited for the students to return to school they could have had unlimited help moving all this dirt.
Plus, more than a few volunteers to handle the heavy equipment.
On second thought, let's not relinquish control of these weapons of mass destruction. We might see more de-struction than con-struction!
I'll be among the eager watchers. I experienced countless changes large and small during my career, and it will be fun to see the future take shape.
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