On The Road With Linda...: Unit Two Tour Leads to Sheffield-Chapin-Meservey-Thornton on Wednesday

After having been snowed in at the motel in Hampton on Tuesday (school in Iowa Falls was canceled) my day Wednesday, December 12th began with a continental breakfast with members in Sheffield. The Sheffield building is the home to Kindergarten through 4th grade as well as 9th through 12th grade. On Wednesday staff and students wear their SCMT sweatshirts that were designed by one of the great para professionals on staff to bring support to their efforts throughout the entire school with "Character Counts".

We were greeted by SCMT-EA President Anne Meester (pictured on the left) a High School Science teacher and Laura Schafer (on the right) SCMT-EA Vice President and 9th and 10th grade English.

Nearly two dozen members joined us in the Media Center before their day with students began. Part of the discussion centered around the possible adding on of Rockwell-Swaledale in which they already have a "campus sharing agreement". The unknown can sometimes be troubling!

I had the opportunity to read to several classes this morning. The first classroom visit took me into the Kindergarten class of Julie Streblow and Rose Markwardt (pictured at right).

Next I had the chance to read to 2nd graders from Wendy Fullerton and Kris Clapham's classes (on the left).

I next read to 1st graders from Sonna McMahon and Cheryl Schnoes homerooms. Here the students and teachers are pictured on the right.

The next class that I did a read aloud in was for the 3rd graders in Mary Schulz and Amy Halloran's classes. The teachers and students are pictured on the left.

The last read aloud here in SCMT was to the 4th graders of Peg Amble and Krista Dickman's classes. Here the students (on the right) are pictured with their teachers.

The final hour here in SCMT (Sheffield building) we had the chance to visit three different High School classrooms.

The first high school room to visit was that of Dawn Guritz, Creative Writing teacher. Dawn is pictured here (on the left) with her students. We discussed my role as a leader and the responsibilities I have; as well as what their role and responsibilities as students and student leaders are.

Art teacher Lucy McLennan (pictured at right) shared with us some of the many projects the various grade levels are working on from her class. Lucy also shared that 18% of the SCMT students going on to either Community College or to a 4 year institution go into the field of Visual Arts. You've built a great foundation here, Lucy!

The last high school class that UniServ Director Sandra G. and I visited before heading out was in SCMT-EA President Anne Meester's Physics class (pictured below). The students were all juniors and seniors and they were very much engaged in their Lab activities. Most impressive! Very bright students and they really knew their subject matter!

Thank you Anne Meester and the SCMT-EA for your hospitality! How lucky we are to have you all as leaders on Team ISEA!

After a very full morning at the Sheffield building, UniServ Director Sandra G. and I were off to Thornton to the 5-8 building. Here the school stands (on the left). If SCMT joins with Rockwell-Swaledale, there is a possibility that this facility will be closed. Lots of decisions yet to be made!

Here I spoke to the combined groups of three 8th grade classrooms--the entire 8th grade! I spoke about making sure we ask people who run for office why they are running for office. We visited about roles they have as students within their school day as well as in their community and how each of them holds responsibilities as members. I challenged the 8th graders if they are not satisfied with the way things are going, first to offer other solutions/alternatives, then to get involved themselves and make a difference!