Holiday Greetings to All!

As Winter Break approaches and we all look forward to a variety of family traditions and celebrations, I wanted to take an opportunity to wish every MWS family, every MWS student, and every MWS staff member a very happy holiday season from my entire family.

This year has brought many exciting developments to the Willey family, the largest perhaps being the explosion of language that has erupted from our 2-year old son, Emmett. We are continually amazed on a daily basis as to the things that pour out of his mouth, all appropriate of course! As you all consistently remind me on a frequent basis, this time is precious, and my wife Kristi and I have been amazed at how quickly this time flies.

A quick, yet humorous story to share with you that truly encapsulates what we are dealing with at home with our son. I had picked up Emmett from daycare on a recent winter evening and it was dark and beginning to snow. On the way home I decided to stop and get gas as my father constantly (and still does to this day) reminded me to never have less than a 1/4 tank when it gets cold. In an attempt to keep Emmett entertained for a mere 3 minutes while I tried to accomplish this task, I gave him my cell phone, which I do from time to time for him to play with. I then proceeded to tell him that we were almost home and that mommy was waiting for us. As I re-entered the car, Emmett handed me my phone and repeatedly commented that "Mommy's not home." Having been a long day, I, as many parents do from time to time, engaged in an argument with my 2-year old son that in fact his mother was home and we would see her shortly. Eventually, he repeated the phrase enough times that I conceded and sat silently as we drove the remaining 1/2 mile to our home.

As we pulled into the garage Emmett exclaimed, "Mommy is home!" as I rolled my eyes in the front seat. When we walked inside, my wife asked me if I let Emmett call her on my phone on our way home. I, of course, said no, but acknowledged that I let him play with it while we were getting gas on our way home. "Listen to this," she said, and she proceeded to play a 1-minute phone message that my son had left for my wife on her cell phone without my knowledge while I was pumping gas!

No wonder he kept saying, "Mommy's not home!" in the car. How could she be if she was not answering her phone and he had to leave a voicemail message for her? Please note: Emmett had to first, unlock my phone; second, figure out how to dial the right number; third, know when he could leave a message and then do it; and finally, when to hang up the phone.

Why do I share this story with you? As the holidays approach, all too often my wife and I are guilty of focusing on what we may be receiving or what is causing us stress and discomfort in our lives. Instead, moments such as this and the numerous other moments you experience each day with your children as they continue to amaze us - that is what we need to be spending our time appreciating. Our children are our gifts, perhaps the best we can ever receive.

On behalf of Emmett, Kristi, and myself, I wish you the happiest of holiday seasons, and I truly hope that the new year finds you healthy, happy, and well.

"The Spirit of Giving Tree"

As the holiday season is already off and running, I wanted to take the time to explain a new and welcoming seasonal addition to the front entryway at Marion W. Savage Elementary School - "The Spirit of Giving Tree". This tree was a collaborative effort among multiple staff members and students alike. As you can clearly see in the picture, MWS First Grade students are standing next to the tree, celebrating the newly created decorations they took the time to make and hang themselves - all in the spirit of giving.

The purpose of this tree is to serve as a reminder to one and all how important the act of giving to others truly is, around the holiday season in particular. Due in large part to the current state of our economy and unemployment in our area, it is possible that numerous families in our school community do not have enough food to eat. In "the spirit of giving", you will see boxes beneath the tree already filling up with food donations. As your family visits the grocery store in the upcoming weeks or even is cleaning out the cupboards of your kitchen, please feel free to send any non-perishable food items with your student to MWS and place them under the tree. All collected food items will be donated to the Community Action Council, which currently does not have enough food to give to families in need.

A dear friend and member of our learning community sent me the following quote, and I think it may serve appropriate as we consider tradition at Marion W. Savage Elementary and work to keep our school spirit alive. This is a portion of a local author's feelings on change in her community:

"We have work to do - all of us...the entire [MWS] community - staff, students, families, the community. We can question the changes, because that makes us reflective of the process. We can voice concern - AND celebrate the successes, because that forces us to take a broad look at exactly what is going on. But we must be committed members of the team."

Now, perhaps more than ever, I would like to invite each and every member of the Marion W. Savage learning community to be or to continue to be a committed member of our MWS team. The success of our students depends upon it. I wish you the happiest of holiday seasons, and I hope that your family continues to grow and prosper as the new year approaches.

Read Night Success!

On Thursday, November 5th the MWS Site Council sponsored its annual Read Night at Marion W. Savage Elementary School. At this event, students had an opportunity to exchange picture books and chapter books, adults could do the same, all could view an exciting puppet show in the Media Center, and finally cap the evening off with some ice cream to support our 6th Grade Send Off fundraising efforts.

I would like to specifically recognize the work of Amy Kierstead, the Chair of Read Night for 2009 for all of her hard work and efforts. I would also like to recognize Michelle Hertle for her support with these efforts as well. The Site Council also played a role in planning this event, so I would like to thank Jinny Riggs, Robbie Bunnell, Stacey Wollmuth, Pat Mitton, Digger Anderson, Chelsea Rudie, Briana Benson, Annie Jarzyna, Sara Strahota, Natalie Bauleke, Micky Hubanks and Polly Burns. Thank you as well to the many MWS Staff members who served as volunteers for this fine event as well.

On a side note, I would also like to thank Maria Peerboom and Beth Spaude for all of their efforts in distributing Sally Foster gift wrap to families who supported our school fundraiser. I know that many volunteers were involved in the process as well, and I sincerely thank you for your help.

Thank you to one and all for making Marion W. Savage Elementary School such a fun place to be!

Warm regards,
Mr. Willey

Flu Update @ MWS

Dear MWS Families,

On our list serve today you will be receiving a district communication regarding an update on the influenza outbreak throughout our community. This communication will also be posted on the front page of our school website for you to view as well. Please encourage as many others as you can to take the time to view this information as it will hopefully answer any questions or concerns you have.

Some families have called me directly or emailed me asking for specific actions that the school is taking and what we are doing to minimize the spread of this illness. On the ids191.org website there is a link in which you can view the district's Pandemic Influenza Response Plan for 2009-2010 which highlights what actions are being taken and by whom both at the building and district level.

As a parent myself, I completely understand your concerns. My wife and I worry whenever we take Emmett out in public, regardless of the location, and we share many of the fears you are expressing to me and feeling yourselves. I can only assure you that the staff at Marion W. Savage Elementary School is taking every recommended action from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control to keep our school clean and safe.

While I am fully aware that this may not alleviate all of your fears, I am hopeful that it provides you with some relief. I remain confident in the efforts of the MWS staff to provide a clean and safe environment for all of our students. If you would like to contact me directly via phone or email to share your concerns or discover any additional information from me, please feel free to do so.

Warm regards,
Mr. Willey

Dancing the Night Away!

On Friday night, the annual (except for last year) Fall Ball commenced in accordance with Homecoming festivities at the High School. Several hundred students and parents attended this event and many proceeded to "rock the dance floor" for most of the evening. Sixth grade students sold concessions to raise money for the annual 6th Grade Send-Off, and all kinds of glowing devices were sold. With the "mood lighting" and music, the bracelets and necklaces stood out on the dance floor. Door prizes were given out to many families which included, but were not limited to: pumpkins, pumpkin pies, caramel apples, and more.

A special thank you goes to Megan Allen, Karen Johnson, Kim Robinson, and all of the parents who volunteered their time setting up, chaperoning, and cleaning up after this event. Numerous students personally informed the principal that they had "an awesome time" and one went so far as to ask, "Can we have another one of these this year? This is the most fun I've had at this school!" I'm not sure if that was compliment of the evening or not, but I'll take it!

Back & Better Than Ever!

As we near the conclusion of the second full week of school in the 2009-2010 school year at Marion W. Savage,it is my pleasure to report that we are off with a bang!

While stressful for many involved, we did survive Picture Day with a new company on the first day of school. Will we do it again? To date I am not certain. I am speculating that we will continue with the first week of school next year, but perhaps not the first day. I would like to personally thank the parents who volunteered their time on this day. We would not have gotten everyone photographed without your help. Thank you!

Information regarding Influenza and H1N1 has been pervasive. Many teachers and school staff are reinforcing handwashing as the scientifically proven best way to aid in keeping everyone healthy and happy. Please encourage your students to engage in this practice diligently. Also, if your student makes a habit of washing hands before they leave for school and upon arrival at home the risks would be greatly reduced.

It was great to see many of you at our Parent Information Nights as well. I am hopeful that you had a positive experience connecting with your student's teacher as we begin the school year. Establishing a positive relationship between the classroom and home can only enhance the educational experience for each student. Thank you to the many people who volunteered their time setting up and distributing materials for these events. Your help is appreciated!

Wishing you an enjoyable last few days of summer!
Mr. Willey

Welcome Back, Welcome "Patch"

One day later, and 15 gallons of pickles remaining, our annual open house has completed. Thank you to all families who were able to come, meet with your student's teacher, and reconnect with our community. For those of you who were unable to attend, please know that you were missed, and we hope to see you soon.

As seen last night, our new mascot "Patch" made his triumphant debut. In keeping with the history of our community and trying to connect it to our elementary age population, "Patch" was born. Hopefully you had an opportunity to grab a new MWS button last evening, and I would love to hear your feedback regarding our new logo. Many families and students alike expressed an interest in making similar shirts available for students in the near future. If enough interest is generated, I would love to explore this possibility.

Our Parent Information Nights are right around the corner beginning on Thursday, September 10th with 1st, 4th, and our DCD Program hosting events. 2nd Grade and Kindergarten will follow on Tuesday, September 15th, while 6th, 5th, and 3rd grade will host on Thursday, September 17th. We hope to see you all then!

Welcome back to Marion W. Savage Elementary. Best wishes to all students, families and staff for an exceptional school year!

The End of Summer Is Near!

Leave it to your principal to remind you that your precious few days of fun in the sun, uninterrupted family time, and vacations to exotic locations will soon come to an end as the start of the 2009-2010 school year is right around the corner. In an effort to continue to keep you as updated as possible, please check out the list of updates below:

(1) Construction Complete!
As of early this week all construction to the playground and parking lot areas has completed. These newly paved areas were recently re-painted, teather and basketball hoops were put back into place, and the playground received a new load of fresh wood chips. Please make a point to check out this area when you come to our Back to School Open House on September 3rd!

(2) MWS Makes AYP!
As perhaps you've discovered MWS was not one of the schools listed in the newspaper for not making AYP on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments in the 2008-2009 school year. This is actually something to celebrate. Truthfully, I would much rather see the media publish a list of those schools who did make AYP and celebrate their accomplishments, rather than focusing on those who did not. Credit for this accomplishment goes to the students, teachers, and parents for working together! Congrats MWS!

(3) MWS Loses Title I Services
Due to a reduction in federal and state funding as well as an increase in the district average of students who qualify for free/reduced lunch services, MWS will join Gideon Pond, Rahn, and Harriet Bishop as one of four schools in ISD 191 that will not have Title I services for students in the 2009-2010 school year. It is my hope that we will work together as a learning community to discover solutions that may exist to alleviate this loss.

(4) MWS Goes Completely Online!
Well, not completely, but the September 2009 newsletter will be the final newsletter printed for all families and distributed from the school directly. From October on all newsletters will be located on our school's website for you to view and download at home or work. Printed copies will still be available for families without access to the Internet, but we are looking to reduce our printing costs and save money in the immediate future.

(5) Letters to Families
In the upcoming days you can expect to receive a letter complete with information regarding your student's class placement and many other items. I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that all placements are final, and changes will not be made in student placements. Enclosed you will also find your Fall Picture information from Lifetouch so that your family is prepared for picutres on the first day of school.

I wish you an enjoyable last few days of summer, and I look forward to reconnecting with you all on September 3rd!

Summer Update @ MWS

As summer progresses quickly out of our grasp, I thought that the end of July would be a perfect opportunity to provide you with some updates and information you may find helpful as we prepare for the upcoming 2009-2010 school year.

(1) MCA Test Results
I am hopeful that you were able to view the Star Tribune article publised a few weeks ago highlighting the outstanding scores of MWS students in the areas of reading and mathematics. The hard work of our students and staff most definitely paid off as we were very successful. Expect more detailed information to come as the school year begins.

(2) MWS Construction
The complete resurfacing of all asphalt areas at MWS is nearing its completion. Both parking lots and the playground areas were completely replaced, and a new concrete curb was poured around our playground equipment to replace the railroad ties. Painting and finishing touches are expected in the next few weeks.

(3) Inside MWS
As always, and I am certain a surprise to no one, our school is beginning to look fantastic. Norm and Dave have been working feverishly to wax floors so that I can fix my hair in the reflection! Classrooms are cleaner than ever. We are having a new stage curtain installed in early August to match the new dropdown divider that was added during last school year. I am looking forward to using the stage for concerts and special events at MWS this year.

(4) Back to School Open House
Please remember to book your calendar on Thursday, September 3rd from 4-6pm for our annual Back to School Open House at MWS. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet teachers, become reconnected with friends in the community, and munch on a pickle with the principal (had to keep the alliteration going). Some new surprises will be unveiled during this time, so please make sure you don't miss it!

(5) MWS Website
If you are reading this blog, chances are you are already aware that our website has been evolving over the course of the summer. MW Savage is even represented on twitter.com! Be sure to check it out whenever possible. We are always looking for ways in which we can communicate most effectively with families.

(6) Picture Day = First Day of School
Yes, we will be having our Fall Pictures on the first day of school. "Why on earth would we do that?" you may be thinking. Well, here is the logic trail I am operating on, despite how logical it may actually be. The first day of school is one of the most widely attended days of the school year, students usually dress nicely on this day, and it would not be nearly as intrusive to learning if it were later in the school year. Will it work? We shall see! Expect to see new information coming home from our new photography company, Lifetouch.

(7) "Celebrity Reading" @ the Savage Library
Thank you to all students and families who attended my reading at the Savage Library. I am told it was one of the most widely attended in history. Even the Mayor of Savage heard that it was packed! Thank you for coming!

I hope your remaining days of summer treat you all well, and I look forward to seeing you in a month!

Farewell MWS Families & Thank You!

Dear MWS Families,

On a very personal level, I would like to thank you for your continued support, guidance, and assistance on a number of different levels. You have invited my family and I into your community and welcomed us all with open arms. You have been at school to volunteer your time, raise money for our school, and support everything that we are trying to accomplish as a learning community. You have shared your input, voiced concerns, and provided constructive feedback to help make MWS a better place. As a first year principal in a new school district, I feel lucky to be here, and I am excited to see what the future holds for all of us for many years to come.

On behalf of my family I would like to wish you a restful, relaxing, and enjoyable summer with your family. I hope that you travel safely, and I look forward to your return at our Open House on September 3rd from 4-6 pm.

Best wishes,
Jeremy Willey
Principal, MWS

PTO Elections Approaching!

Attention All MWS Families,

As May draws near, our annual PTO Executive Board Election will be held on Monday, May 18th at the PTO General Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center. If you are interested in joining the PTO, running for office, or discovering new ways in which you can volunteer your time and support our school, I would like to encourage you to attend. The PTO is/has been responsible for numerous successful events that have taken place throughout our school year and are/have been extremely generous of their time and support. The following positions are open for election with a brief synopsis of the responsibilities that are included with each position:

THE PTO EXECUTIVE BOARD

PRESIDENT
The President should be willing to dedicate 2-4 hours per month for meetings, including the Executive
and General Membership meetings.
Responsibilities
a. Conduct all PTO Executive and General Board meetings.
b. Confer with the Principal prior to all meetings.
c. Prepare agenda prior to meetings.
d. Work with teachers to assess their needs.
e. Attend district meetings, as necessary.
f. Create upcoming school year calendar with Principal and Board members.
g. Interact with the Site Council.
h. Coordinate elections of Board members.
i. Coordinate summer budget meeting.
j. In August, hire/find professional to perform an examination of PTO financial records; and said
professional to prepare a written summary [letter] for presentation to the Board.
k. Vote only to break any ties on motions.

VICE PRESIDENT
The Vice President should be willing to dedicate 2-4 hours per month for meetings, including the
Executive and General Membership meetings.
Responsibilities
a. Conduct PTO Executive and General Board meetings in the absence of the
PTO President.
b. Assist the President with duties as needed.
c. Take and distribute meeting minutes when the Secretary is absent.
d. Organize childcare for the PTO meetings when necessary.
e. Be timekeeper at the PTO General Membership meetings.

SECRETARY
The Secretary should be willing to dedicate 2-4 hours per month for meetings, including the Executive
and General Membership meetings.
Responsibilities
a. Record minutes of the Executive Board meeting and distribute to Board members.
b. Record minutes of the General Membership meeting and distribute to Board members.
c. Make meeting minutes available for the M.W. Savage website.

TREASURER
The Treasurer should be willing to dedicate 4-6 hours per month for meetings, including the Executive
and General Membership meetings.
Responsibilities
a. Responsible for checking/savings account.
b. Receive and deposit all money.
c. Pay out funds in accordance with the approved budget or as authorized by the
Executive Board.
d. Prepare, along with the Executive Board, the yearly budget for the new school year.
e. Present budget and financial report to the Executive Board and General Membership
meetings for approval.
f. Keep an accurate record of receipts and expenditures.
g. Prepare year-end financial statements for audit.
h. Monitor and renew tax-exempt status.

PUBLIC RELATIONS/COMMUNICATIONS
The Public Relations/Communications person should be willing to dedicate 2-4 hours per month for
meetings, including the Executive and General Membership meetings.
Responsibilities
a. Coordinate media coverage of PTO sponsored events.
b. Prepare and distribute PTO promotional flyers.
c. Coordinate information for monthly school newsletter.
d. Provide information to Webmaster or individual(s) responsible for maintaining and
updating school website, as it pertains to PTO news, information, and events.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
The Site Volunteer Coordinator should be willing to dedicate 2-4 hours per month for meetings,
including the Executive and General Membership meetings, with an additional 5 hours per week
commitment.
Responsibilities
a. Find volunteers to coordinate PTO sponsored events.
b. Update volunteer event notebook.
c. Coordinate Volunteer Week.
d. Attend committee meetings as needed.

PTO VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
The PTO Volunteer Coordinator should be willing to dedicate 2-4 hours per month for meetings,
including the Executive and General Membership meetings.
Responsibilities
a. Assist Site Volunteer coordinator in all of the above responsibilities as needed.
b. Track volunteer hours.
c. Send Thank-yous to facilitators.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mr. Willey or Maria Peerboom at your convenience. Thank you for considering this wonderful opportunity to support MWS, and I hope to see you at our May meeting.

Explore Night Electrifies MWS!

As you can see in the images above, the annual Explore Night was held at MW Savage this past Tuesday evening, and the turnout was amazing! Students, families, staff members, and community members all worked in collaboration with the MWS Site Council to plan this wonderful opportunity to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Nearly 175 students entered projects in the Science Fair, which is one big component to this evening, doubling student participation within the last year. Students presented to guests, vendors from throughout the Twin Cities area set up interactive displays, and dinner was served by El Loro to round out the evening.

Thank you to all MWS families who attending Explore Night, and a special thanks to all who contributed toward the planning and execution of such a fantastic experience!

Little Willey Survives First MWS Carnival!

What you cannot see in this photograph is perhaps the most important part of the image to the left. On the whiteboard directly above my son's, Emmett, head was an enlarged photograph of the head of his father, the new principal at MWS. And yes, before you ask, this actually was an official carnival game created by our illustrious Carnival Committee in which students paid a whopping two tickets to throw three wiffle balls at the head of the principal. Hitting the principal's photograph would result directly in winning some sort of sweetened prize for students - exactly the type of message I would hope to send to all of our MWS families. Emmett, now nearly 16 months old and walking, giggled with glee as he passed this game with his daddy's picture. Reluctantly, I allowed him to play the game and offered up two tickets, standing in the background to watch. Fortunately Emmett has yet to receive proper instruction in the art of throwing from our wonderful gym teacher, Mrs. Carlson, and all three of the balls ended up going in directions opposite the principal's picture. In fact, Emmett was more interested in putting balls back in the bucket and taking them out rather than subjecting his father to humiliation. I did not realize that family loyalty started at such a young age.

After cheating at the little fish pond game (he threw the rod to the side and actually grabbed fish in handfuls out of the pond as sixth graders Haley Diggan & Meg O'Brien laughed), we moved on to the game sixth grader Tahi Dixon was in charge of, which involved dropping a ball down a slanted board into various colored spaces (a variation of Plinko from "The Price is Right" I think). Finally, Emmett's father tried to win him a beanie baby by throwing three hoops over a peg to win an animal. After failing and subjecting myself to ridicule from Mrs. Willey, sixth grader Grant Hertle proceeded to win Emmett the toy he wanted, and another sixth grader, Will Hinks, gave Emmett both of his beanie babies as well in a glorious act of generosity. Tired and weary (mom included), Emmett left with a smile on his face and an armful of winnings. He survived his first MWS Carnival for nearly an hour and a half, and proceeded to engage in a three-hour nap upon his arrival back home.

I'd like to publicly thank Beth Spaude and Megan Allen and the dozens of volunteers for an absolutely wonderful event at MWS. Not only did my son Emmett enjoy himself, but many other students and families relished this opportunity to spend time at their school with their friends and family members on a beautiful day doing something fun. Running a school carnival is never an easy thing to do, but Beth and Megan worked in unison to create a memorable experience for all members of our MWS family. For that, I sincerely thank you both. Job very well done!

Jump Rope for Heart Highlights

Check out this pose from MWS 6th grader AnnMarie Engebretson as she participates in MWS's annual JUMP Rope for Heart Campaign. Throughout the school day, students in First through Sixth Grade could participate in this fun simply by making a contribution of $1 or more that would go to the American Heart Association. MWS students raised nearly $5000 in this event, a record for our school. Because of the success from our Read-A-Thon (highlighted in a previous blog entry) students were also able to make their own jump ropes out of rubber bands, celebrating a craft from the Asian culture. A special thank you to parents Rachel Reynolds and Jessie Lau for their support in this event.

MWS Read-a-Thon A Success!

http://savagepacer.com/news/school-news-burnsville-eagan-savage/students-get-motivated-read-books-102

This past week MWS held our annual Read-a-Thon this past week to celebrate "I Love to Read Month". Students throughout the school participated in 120 minutes of reading on one of two designated days, and grade levels had a great deal of fun with this event.

In Kindergarten (pictured left), students and teachers alike dressed in pajammas to get comfortable while they were reading for fun. In Second Grade, students brought a stuffed animal to read to in the classroom as students participated in the event. In a Third Grade classroom, students came to school in beachwear as they pretended to read and relax in the sun. Much fun was had throughout the building as students were given an extended period of time to read for enjoyment.

Many MWS students collected pledges for their reading from family members, friends, and neighbors in the community. Funds raised for the school have been designated toward the purchase of new library books and to upgrade our playground equipment outside. Three different businesses in the community contributed to making this event a success. Davanni's contributed to participation ribbons for students and offered certificates and pencils. Office Max contributed over 500 envelopes for students to collect donations. Executive Ocean Printing Company helped print ribbons for students as well.

Thank you to all students, family members, MWS staff, and community partners for contributing to the success of this important event!

"Tips for Helping Children Deal with Bullies"

The following is an article I found that was compiled by Dakota County with information from pta.org and Cornell University...

Bullying isn’t just a "part of growing up" - it’s a form of harassment that can have serious consequences. All forms of bullying are detrimental to a child’s self-confidence, but bullying behaviors such as put-downs, teasing, name-calling and threats can escalate to violence. The evening news has shown the serious outcomes of violent actions by bullies as well as victims seeking revenge. One of the best ways to safeguard your children from becoming victims of a bully is to teach them how to be assertive – not aggressive.

Encourage your children to:
• Express their feelings clearly
• Say no when they feel pressured or uncomfortable
• Stand up for themselves verbally without fighting
• Walk away

Parents can:
• Keep communication lines open by encouraging children to share information about school and school-related activities.
• Pay attention to symptoms that may indicate your child is being bullied.
• If your child is a victim of bullying at school, inform school officials immediately.

How can we prevent bullying? Research finds that teaching children empathy is a good way to keep them from hurting others. Tips for building empathy include:
• Explain the effects of your child’s behavior on others. Help him or her understand the importance of sharing and being kind.
• When your child has hurt someone or caused distress, explain why the behavior is harmful and suggest to make amends.
• Encourage your children to discuss their feelings and problems.
• Limit exposure to violent video games, movies and music.

Bullying is harmful to both the victim and the perpetrator. A combined effort between parents, youth, schools and community members is needed in order to eliminate bullying and harassment.

Welcome Back From Winter Break!

It is my hope that this post finds you, and finds you all well after an extended break with your student(s) over the holiday season. We, the Marion W. Savage staff, are excited to return to action and we look forward to continuing to serve students and families to the greatest extent we possibly can.

Personally speaking, I enjoyed my first real holiday season with my son, Emmett. Having only been a mere five weeks old last year, the idea of opening gifts was beyond his comprehension level to say the least. This year, however, at thirteen months of age, Emmett delighted more in the tearing of wrapping paper than the actual gifts themselves, leading Kristi and I to wonder whether or not we should simply give him wrapped empty boxes to tear paper off of next year! The joy of spending the past few weeks with my wife and son has been far more than I could ever expect in any sort of gift during the holiday season. Emmett continues to surprise us with the new words that come out of his mouth - my personal favorite being "bot-tle", a distinct two-syllable enunciation - and he remains simply too stubborn to walk.

I share this information with you to remind you that I, too like you, am a parent, and I understand the responsibility in which you have entrusted us with. I hope that each and every one of you had an enjoyable holiday season, and on behalf of my family, I wish you all nothing but the best in 2009!