Celtic Courier: Happy Thanksgiving/Beat Michigan Week

"Vision to See, Faith to Believe, Courage to Do"

Dear Staff,

We hope you have had a great weekend with your families as the weather gives us a little break from all of the unseasonably cold weather we have had.

Last week we enjoyed welcoming the Celebrate America Tour featuring former OSU Assistant coach Bill Myles and former OSU and NFL player Roy Hall Jr.

As you know, this week is a shortened week with students and staff in school Monday and Tuesday and then enjoying a well-deserved Thanksgiving Break with your families.  We hope you enjoy the closeness and joy of spending time with your families, whether you stay close or travel. We all have so much for which to be thankful.

I am so thankful to have each of you in the Jerome family and for all of your hard work and dedication to our students.  You genuinely care about our students as people first and it shows in the many emails, phone calls, counselor meetings, SST and IEP meetings we have every week.

I also wanted to share that for Jeff and me this Thanksgiving will be very special.  On Thursday night our daughter Jennifer and her husband Ryan brought us over a very large box.  As we opened it, we found another box, and yes, another box.  Buried deep in a small box and lots of tissue paper was ultrasound images of our very first grandchild and we have been walking on air ever since.  Just ask me to see it-- I have it on my phone and would be happy to share it!

I think back on our lives and how blessed we have been and so will say a special prayer of thanks for one of life's greatest blessings.  At a very dark time in our lives we were so afraid that we would never get to experience the joys of children and grandchildren and so every day of Jennifer's childhood and even still today we relish her life.  And now, we could not be more excited for this new heartbeat in our lives.  Today Jennifer and I will enjoy shopping for her and the new baby!! She is due May 29-- graduation weekend!

Have a terrific Thanksgiving if we do not get the opportunity to wish it to each of you in person. Travel safe and enjoy the love in your families.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  And this is also Beat M*ch*g*n Week, the greatest rivalry in College Sports. Enjoy wearing your favorite College Jersey or shirt on Tuesday! Go Bucks!  Beat the Blue!

Have a great week!
Cathy

Bill Myles shared memories of growing up in segregation to working with great coaches such as Woody Hayes at OSU.

Christine Slater-Jones enjoys winning the free OSU football tickets provided by Roy Hall, Jr.  Christine was going to take her brother, a Buckeye fan, who has spent the last 20 years in the Air Force.

Roy Hall, Jr. gave an inspirational message of devoting your life to helping others.  Roy has established his Driven
foundation to just that, helping those less fortunate.  He also reminded us all that "excuses are the crutches of life."