Cañon Celebration

This appeared in the kindergarten fence before sunrise early one morning during the last week Cañon was open....the sentiment was widely felt, and brought tears to many an eye...

On May 3, a celebration was held at our school, looking back on 55 years of history and memories. (Click on the title to see the news story about this event today.) I am just thankful I got to be part of the last 15 years there. I spent the afternoon catching up with former colleagues and students, showing off my children to some who hadn't seen us in years. As we went out to take a final picture, with perhaps 700 in attendance, the rain began to fall. It didn't seem to stop anyone from joining in, though. Even some teachers who were there when the school began were in attendance, and had terrific stories to share. My teaching teammate, Abby, who is an alumni herself, enjoyed spending the time catching up with teachers from her childhood. A good time was had by all, I believe, and now it is time to start packing up for our move on to whatever God has in store for me next, as I go from being a Canon Chief to become a Skyway Comet. Time to reach for the stars!

Also see http://www.gazette.com/articles/remembers-52912-canon-say.html for an article which ran in our local paper following the event. It has great pictures!

Still no news on Canon, but read anyway.

Well, sorry to keep everyone is suspense. I have meant to get something out all day regarding our school situation.
NO news yet...sort of...they have set a meeting now for the 21st. There was lots of discussion last night until 9:30. They have moved away from the original recommendations of the blue ribbon panel report, but still seem pretty set on closing us regardless of which other plans or parts of recommendations they put into place. I guess we wait a little longer. Waiting and not knowing for sure is the hardest thing, but I know God has it all in Hand. It would be easier, even if we were closing next year, to know, so we could prepare and plan. (Something everyone who knows me realizes I really like to do!)
Our school board has an annual tradition of meeting with each school's staff over lunch each year. Well, this year, they set the meeting with us for the morning, over a continental breakfast very early this Thursday! Ugh! We really feel like there is nothing to say to them, and that they have a predetermined agenda that has included closing our school for years. It is NOT how I want to spend any of my birthday, but oh, well. I guess I'll just have to be "grown up" about it!

See http://www.gazette.com/articles/school_34750___article.html/district_schools.html

Blue Ribbon Panel report http://www.cmsd12.org/blueribbon/default.html

Additional information from last night's meeting http://www.cmsd12.org/blueribbon/BOE_Pres_3-31-08.pdf

No News Is...well, who knows?

We have had a lot of poeple write about what is happening with our school. So far, no new news. There has been an outpouring of support from literaly 100's of parents, community members and alumni. We wait for the board to announce acision about whether or not they will follow any of the ribbon panel recommendations. An answer is expected at the March 31 meeting.