Mr. Hiemstra's Online Journal
Grayhawk Elementary: An Excelling School & A National Core Knowledge Visitation Site with a proud tradition of academic excellence driven by students, parents, staff and community working together to form an amazingly close knit family. Everyday at Grayhawk we do live up to our motto: Grayhawk, Where the Great Come to get Even Better!
May 2009 The New "R"
As you all know the academic 3R’s, Core Knowledge and the Other 3 R’s are essential elements of Grayhawk Elementary School and are the backbone of our Excelling School. There is however, another part of a child’s education that I wanted to thank you for supporting, you guessed it another R! Reaching out to help others and other programs.
By the time you receive today’s E-news your child(ren) will have learned the exciting news that the students met the Change Maker goal and I will have my office on the roof for a half day on Thursday, May 21, 2009. This allows us to continue our Hands on Science program throughout the Paradise Valley Unified School District. You reached out again to help teach our children the importance of helping others. Thank you.
Our can food drive was also a huge success and it couldn’t come at a better time. The cans of food go to the Paradise Valley Food Bank. During these difficult times you and your child Reached Out to help many needy Paradise Valley Unified School District children have some
thing to eat this summer.
Thank you for your continued generosity in both helping others in need during this difficult time and more importantly, helping us teach our children the importance of Reaching Out to help others. ÒThe Great are Getting Better!Ó
April 7, 2009 Rumor Control
With all the media coverage of the State’s budget problems and cuts it’s normal to have some miscommunications, some truths and/or non-truths and for sure, many rumors!!
This On-line Journal is to address some of those rumors that have surfaced:
- Congratulations in Order - You know the past week our students have been taking the AIMS test and they have worked so hard. So the rumor that I am proud of them, their efforts, their parents support and of course their awesome teachers is ABSOLUTELY TRUE! Thank you!
- Full Day Kindergarten – The rumor that PVUSD is dropping full day kindergarten is NOT True. The commuity supported a 5 year override that will keep our kindergarten full time for many more years. We are having full day kindergarten and registration has started. If you have a kindergartner for next year please come register ASAP!
- Teaching Positions are Reduced – NOT True. Although we are unfortunately losing many of our current staff, all positions are being filled completely for the 2009-10 school year (please refer to the past Mr. Hiemstra’s Journal . . . “A New Beginning”).
- Special Areas Gone – NOT True! Although we will have some new faces teaching some of our special areas, all special areas are intact for the 2009-10 school year!
- The Boogie Wonderland is going to be fun! Yes, this is so TRUE! It is not only the biggest fundraiser of the year, but also the biggest and most fun social event of the year! Sign up ASAP!!
If there are rumors or questions that I have not addressed or if you want further information about any of the above, please click on my email link below.
As we plan for next year and our “New Beginning” communication is the key to success so lets keep all lines open!
Respectfully,
Don Hiemstra, Ed.S., Principal
February 23, 2009 "A NEW BEGINNING!"
The newest addition to our updated website is “Mr. H.’s OnLine Journal”. The purpose of this new “OnLine Journal” is for me to both improve communication with my Grayhawk Team as well as to establish a vehicle for you to have additional input on timely and important issues.
Unfortunately, the first entry is driven by the world economics crisis and how that has and will affect Grayhawk Elementary’s future. To avoid redundancies please take time and go on our website to read Superintendent, Dr. John Kriekard’s in-depth description of our State and Paradise Valley Unified School District budget crisis and impending cuts to balance our 2009-10 budget. (We have already frozen M & O and Capital expenditures to offset 2008-09 shortages.)
You’ll see there will be many changes in store for us next year to say the least. Below are a few cuts of significance to you:
- 13 teacher changes due to retirements, interim or retired interim teachers being released, resulting in 8 new teachers at Grayhawk for the 2009-10 school year. Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Blecher, Mr. Christensen, Mrs. Curtiss, Mrs. Griff, Mrs. Jeske, Mrs. LaCross, Mrs. Lloyd, Mrs. M. Miller (6th grade), Mrs. Mogalian, Mrs. Simmons (assistant principal), and Mrs. Webster are the current teachers that will be leaving us and will be replaced with different teachers for the Paradise Valley Unified School District if not replaced at all.
- 3rd grade honors position cut and a cluster approach will be implemented.
- ESL is cut and students will be serviced in the regular classroom.
These are as of today and are significant to say the least. So, what now? Do we mope around? Do we dwell on the past? Do we take the gloom and doom approach? NOT Under My Watch!
When we opened Grayhawk years ago nobody knew any of the teachers, staff or me, yet we instantly became a strong team that worked together to establish the best school ever. What we need now is a positive outlook and attitude that spills over to our students, unites the new Team and takes a positive step forward. New ideas to be generated, new customs to learn and much more will occur because of these changes. Yes, we can keep the team the best and improve even more.
Join our team and me in unity and a positive start to a . . . “NEW BEGINNING” for the 2009-10 school year and to celebrate a great ending of the 2008-09 school year. Please share ideas to help us continue the positive and warm family spirit that we always pride ourselves on at Grayhawk. Your feedback is appreciated so please feel free to use the link below to email me your comments and/or suggestions.
Respectfully,
Don Hiemstra, Ed.S., Principal
