19 August, 2011

Dear Greeley Students:

Welcome back! I hope your summer was awesome! I can’t wait to see all of you and to hear about your summer adventures. My summer had two highlights – going to “Teachers College” in New York City for a week, and going to the Paul McCartney concert at Wrigley Field.

Greeley was a busy place this summer. T.W.I.G. Camp took place here and we have had a great deal of work done in your classrooms – new, lower ceilings, new lighting, new cabinets, new carpets, and refinishing some of the hardwood floors. Mr. Thuente and his crew have been working hard to finish everything so that the building is shiny and spotless to welcome you all back to school. I am sure you will notice how great everything looks.

The Greeley teachers have also been working during their time off. Several of them travelled to teacher conferences where they learned more about how to teach writing to all of you. All of us have been reading many wonderful books, too. We read a book about how our brains learn, and another book on how important it is to read aloud with students in school. Teachers have also been working on ways to make math more fun and challenging, as well as ways to teach writing in all of your subjects. While it might seem like school ends in June, at Greeley, learning never ends.

As we get ready to head back to school, I want to let all of you know that Mr. Graf will now be teaching 2nd grade. Ms. Cornyn took a job at Hubbard Woods and I am meeting with a lot of wonderful teachers to find someone to take her place as morning kindergarten teacher. Ms. Wambay will be helping in Mr. Fritzsche’s classroom this year. Other than that, you can expect to see all the familiar Greeley faces in their same spots.

I want to remind all of you that school hours on Mondays are 8:37 – 11:10 & 12:12 – 2:45. Tuesday through Friday school hours are 8:37 – 11:25 & 12:27 – 3:15. Supervision begins at 8:15 in the front of the school every school day. Do you know that the best learning opportunities take place when you are ON TIME and ready to learn each day? I want all Greeley students to do their very best to be at school and ready to start the day before 8:37. I feel so strongly about this that we have a new tardy policy. After the third time you are tardy, we will send a letter home to your parents. The fourth time, I will call home. If you are late a fifth time, I will ask your mom or dad to come into school with you to sign you in. See if you can get your parents and sitters to help you get to school on time every day. Remember, if you arrive after 8:37, you will be LATE!

Please remind your parents that they should drop you off and pick you up ONLY in the cut out on Fairview, NEVER, EVER in the parking lot. Please be respectful to and follow the directions of our crossing guards as you travel to and from school. Remember all the bike and “wheel” safety rules including walking ALL wheels on school property.

The PTO would like to remind you that they will be conducting lice checks on Friday, August 26, from 9:00 – 12:00, on the back playground. While this is never anyone’s favorite activity, we do want to keep our school lice-free.

Ms. Holmbeck would like to remind everyone that KW shoes may be tie or Velcro, with good support for forward and lateral movement. No slip-ons, “fashion shoes”, or Converse All-Stars, please. Because KW shoes are worn every day throughout the school year, they should be left in your cubbies, not worn home.

There are so many exciting things to look forward to as you come back to Greeley! A new teacher and new classmates; school supplies waiting in your new classroom; playing on the playground with your friends; Lunch Box lunches; Drama Club, Chess Club, Lego Club, and Newspaper Club; early morning Chorus; Suzuki lessons; fourth grade Leadership Committee, Town Hall Meetings for everyone; After School Sports for 3rds and 4ths; music and art; and learning all sorts of new things every day.

I can’t wait until the 29th to welcome all of our students, old and new, to Greeley School for the 2011-2012 school year. Let’s all make it a great one!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Hugebeck
Principal