Thanksgiving is the time of year when we take a moment in our hectic lives to remember all of our blessings. Even though we are an elementary school, we certainly have many things to be thankful for. First of all, I would like to thank all of the students who have been amazing little troopers throughout this entire year. Covid has posed some very unique challenges, but our students have taken everything in stride and continue to dedicate themselves to being outstanding learners this school year. I would also like to thank the parents for working so hard to keep your students safe and Covid free. As of this writing, we have had no students test positive here at the Grover Hill building, and I have had only three staff members that have tested positive. This is a huge blessing as it means that we have, for the most part, been able to carry on with the important business of educating children without interruption. I would also like to thank the teachers for their dedication, and all of the extra time that they have invested into making sure our students would be ready to do remote learning should the need arise. While some are very tech savvy, there are others that have really worked diligently to make sure that the transition to home learning would be as smooth as possible. From the first day of school, our objective as a staff has been to remain safe and do our best to protect ourselves when we are in public places so that we could continue to lead and teach our students here at school, and I am so thankful for the job everyone has done to keep the school doors open and the children learning in-person. We, as a staff, are also thankful for the parents who have continued to monitor their children’s health and to alert us to potential problems or have quarantined their children when needed. Last week you might have noticed many of the Grover Hill teachers wearing jeans. I allowed staff members to wear jeans if they made a donation to our WTGHE Thanksgiving Dinner Drive. Mrs. Farley, our guidance counselor, took the lead on this community service project, and we will be blessing ten lucky families with a full Thanksgiving meal this week. Thanks to our staff’s generosity, we are able to make such a positive impact upon our community. Our “WTGHE Students of the Month” for October where Ryan H., Sloane S., Shannel W., Makenna M., Chandler S., Austin S., Shawna S., Aubrey O., Kenzie M., Kolson S., Corbin S., Kinlee M., Braylen R., Ashlyn M., Stefany L-C., and Kevin M. Congratulations to all of those who were nominated by their teachers. Their commitment to hard work, academic excellence, and respectful behavior certainly did not go unnoticed. Thanks for all of your accomplishments in the classroom and your contributions to the school community. Before I wrap up my monthly article, I have a few reminders that I would like to share. As always, it is critical that parents call the school and notify us of your child’s absence. The state has changed the laws regarding truancy, and it is more important than ever that we hear from you when your child will not be at school. It is also to your benefit to be sure to send in a note from your child’s doctor or dentist if they missed school for an appointment. All of this information must be documented. You can call 419-399- 4100, option #3 to let us know your child will be out or late to school. Please make sure to launder you child’s mask at least once a week. As we head into cold and flu season, this reminder could not possibly be more important. Also, it is very important that you provide your child with a spare mask. Simply tucking an extra mask (in a plastic zip-lock) in their bookbag will mean that they will have one if they forget theirs, lose it, or it becomes soiled. We have received a supply of disposable masks but our supply is running very low. Until next month, stay safe, enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday, and take time to remember all that you can be thankful for this season. The reasons are many!
Respectfully, Mark Lange Principal