We hope you have all had a terrific summer, full of relaxation and family time. Tomorrow we will all be together once again as a new family, welcoming new staff into this wonderful Jerome family!
As our 11th year begins, it is so exciting to start the year with all of you! Today I received a photo from my best friend from Marietta. His name is Moe and he and his wife celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary yesterday. We were in each other's weddings, and have known each other since 8th grade, staying in touch all of these years.
I was a bridesmaid in Moe's wedding and the photo he sent shows all of us bridesmaids happy and excited right before the wedding. It struck me that it was in 1975, and within two weeks of the wedding I was starting my teaching career at Centerburg High School, teaching English to 9th graders- Seniors. I was 22 years old, only 4 years older than some of my students. I thought you would get a kick out of knowing what I looked like when I started teaching. The first staff member who emails me back, correctly identifying which one I am in the photo, will get a free lunch compliments of me.
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| 1975, my first year of teaching. Guess which one I am and win a free lunch! |
This year I start my 30th year in education! Wow-- time seems to be speeding up!
It has been wonderful to see Maureen in the building and we continue to send positive thoughts her way. Maureen-- we love you and care about you!
A quick update on one of our students, Jessica Hirth. Last fall Jessica was diagnosed with cancer and had a kidney removed. Unfortunately the cancer returned with a vengeance this summer and she has spent nearly the entire summer in the hospital fighting and fighting. She is in a difficult trial study and starts another round this week. She must be hospitalized due to the severe effects of the trial and after the first round two weeks ago ended up in ICU. She is in a fight for her life.
Some of her friends are trying to raise money so that she can have an ipad so that she has something to do during her long hospital stays. If you would like to donate money toward Jessica's ipad, please bring cash to Carol Jacobsen's desk on Monday or Tuesday. Her friends will pick up the money sometime Tuesday so the earlier the better. Shhhhhhh-- they want to surprise her. Any amount would be appreciated! Please keep Jessica and her family in your thoughts and prayers!
Staff Update: The district is completing our special education hires still and as soon as we get all of the names we will let you know. Unfortunately some of these staff cannot be with us on Monday due to special education training. We are just as eager to meet them as you are!
I had hoped to include the name of our new assistant principal replacing Bob. The final decision was made on Friday and I do not have the green light to share it with you yet from the district. As soon as we receive the go-ahead, we will let you know. It may even come later today, but we did not want to delay passing the rest of the info on to you.
A few words about this week:
Monday: Convocation at Jerome. Teacher Day: 8 AM- 3 PM. Arrive early to get a parking spot! Vendor Fair at 7:30 AM. Convocation starts at 8:30 AM in the Gym.
Schedule for Monday: Staff Meeting 10-Noon. Noon- 1 PM: Lunch provided by PTO. We would like 100% of the staff to attend this lunch as we will be introducing the new staff members. Jill and Rose will go over some information about our Peer Collaboration program, and we will have a drawing for staff members. (Must be present to win!)
1-3 PM: Staff Meeting with important information provided by the Special Education Dept.
Tuesday: Teacher Workday. 8 AM- 3 PM. Lunch on your own. Make-up Schedule Pick-up will be 9-11 AM. The district would like all staff to participate in the District Wellness Screening. They will be at Jerome on Tuesday 7 AM-11 AM. In addition, each staff member should have their Staff Photo taken on Tuesday also. Please bring a polo shirt for the photo-- please do not wear a T-Shirt in the photo. No meetings are scheduled on this day so that you can have the whole day to work. At 1:30 PM our freshmen will be enjoying candy on the front patio with their mentors!
Peer Collaborators will also be trained on Tuesday. What a great new program! Thanks Jill and Rose!
Wednesday: First Day of School. Much thanks to Lori Davis and Magen Beatty and the CAP mentors for all of their work in organizing this day. Lori already sent out the alternative schedule for freshmen and their mentors. Please be sure to review it. Freshmen and mentors will be with Ted Wiese for a kick-off assembly in the morning and then mentors will be trained. Mentors and freshmen reunite at lunch and for fun team-building activities for the afternoon! What a great way to start high school!
We also hold a freshman parent meeting at 7 PM on Wednesday to welcome the parents to our Jerome family also!
We have an adjusted bell schedule with a 20-min homeroom also for the entire school in order to have you go over school expectations, the bell schedule for the day, etc. We will send out those talking points and the bell schedule on Monday.
Please remember to meet at 7:30 AM Wed. to form our tunnel to welcome our students, an 11-year tradition thanks to Sondra Snodgrass!! The BEST first day tradition ever!
Fall sports will soon be in high gear. For sports schedules please go to dublinschools.net/celtics. Our first football game is away at UA on Friday, Aug. 29. Our first home game is Friday, Aug. 5 vs. Pick North. Hope to see you there!
Have a wonderful first week! We are so lucky to have each of you in the Jerome family! We cannot wait to see each of you on Monday for every day, you change lives for the better!
Cathy
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