”
Only 179 more days to go, Grandpa.
”
From the mind of RJ Parker, 7, came the punch line that caused
Grandpa, retired-teacher Dave Fulcher, to laugh out loud.
“Only 179 more days to go, Grandpa.”
From the mind of RJ Parker, 7, came the punch line that caused Grandpa, retired-teacher Dave Fulcher, to laugh out loud.
“I don’t know who he heard it from, but he really knows how many days are left (of school),” Fulcher said from a picnic table at Nordstrom Park Wednesday while Parker and his pal Thomas Arbel, 7, hung from the monkey bars. Parker started second grade at Nordstrom Elementary Tuesday along with more than 9,000 other students at the 13 schools in Morgan Hill Unified School District. Despite Parker’s matter-of-fact first-day declaration, he did say he likes school, especially math, and plans to become a SWAT team member when he grows up. Comedian may be a good second choice for Parker.
With Fulcher’s background in education – 10 years teaching at Nordstrom and now substituting fourth, fifth and sixth grade because “you don’t have to stoop or reach down to talk with them,” Fulcher joked – he was mindful of changes at MHUSD.
He said he noticed the class-size increase from 20 students to one teacher to 24 students in Parker’s new class “because they lost that extra space in the classroom.” It’s not as obvious though as the upper grades, where the children physically take up more room and packed classrooms are more prevalent, he said. Often, a room of more than 30 students in a fourth-, fifth- or sixth-grade class is typical.
“I’m sad to see it go back up,” Fulcher said, though he said he remembers having 40 children in his class when he was a boy – the days of corporal punishment, Fulcher chuckled.
The class-size increase districtwide saved the school district about $2 million. The district was able to recall all 33 pinkslips it sent out as a precautionary measure, thanks in part to an early retirement incentive saved the jobs of those permanent teachers and several temporary teachers also returned to Morgan Hill classrooms this week. The district’s budget will face an even larger shortfall in 2012, estimated at $6 million, when the federal stimulus funding to schools runs its course, according to Assistant Superintendent Bonnie Tognazzini.
Parker and Arbel joined Fulcher at the table for a water break. The goody bags they were given Tuesday were a highlight of the first day. Each item inside had special meaning as described by a list attached to the bag: the candy Smarties because everyone is smart in their own way; a small furry ball with plastic eyes and feet known to children as “a warm and fuzzy” to comfort them on the first day; and a fun eraser because mistakes happen “and it’s OK,” the boys explained.
“Everyone makes mistakes,” Arbel said.
The most common mistake among adults this first week is leaving home for school far too late, said Cpl. Rod Krewson of the Morgan Hill Police Department. It takes about three weeks to work out the hiccups during drop-off and pick-up times.
“Parents should leave earlier. If school starts at 9 (a.m.), some are leaving at 8:59. Allow for the traffic congestion in the first part of the school year, while everyone’s schedules aren’t quite adjusted,” Krewson said.
Beat officers are on duty during peak hours for the first week, with more attention given to P.A. Walsh, Nordstrom, Paradise Valley since their location tends to back up traffic. MHPD is patrolling and will give out citations to offending speeders or drivers on cell phones, though next week Krewson said they will be more strict; mostly warnings have been issued this week. Around schools, drivers need to drive at 25 mph or slower and be wary of crossing guards at intersections.
“Parents need to take their time, relax and just leave earlier,” Krewson said. “Spend a few minutes more of quality time with your child. It’s just less stressful to get there early.”
Superintendent Wes Smith stayed within the town’s speed limit in his round-trip around visit to every school Tuesday. Despite a few details to wrinkle out here and there, Smith said he was pleased with how smooth the first day went. This year, Smith’s three children attend every level of school: elementary, middle school and high school.
Three seasoned educators were seen greeting students with pats on the head and compliments on new backpacks: Moira Barker at Barrett Elementary, Glen Webb at Britton Middle School and his older brother Lloyd Webb at Live Oak High School made their debut as MHUSD principals Tuesday.
“Knock on wood it went off without a hitch. The kids were positive. The staff were positive. The train is on the track,” Glen Webb said Wednesday.
“There are the same great kids when I was here – well not the same people – but really good kids. And we have a really good staff working here this year,” Lloyd Webb said. Lloyd was a science teacher and football line coach at Live Oak for 10 years before becoming an administrator and replacing Nick Boden, who retired this year.
At Barrett, most of the Pereira family was on campus Tuesday to see Dominic, 5, start kindergarten and Roman, 7, begin second grade. Their sister Jasmine, 12, squealed to learn Barker was her brothers’ new principal.
“Oh my gosh! Mrs. Barker is the principal of this school? You’re so lucky!” she said, adding that Barker was her teacher at Nordstrom. At 7:45 a.m. Tuesday, Jasmine was just an hour away from her first day of junior high school at Martin Murphy Middle School.
Jasmine’s mother Sonya Pereira smirked when asked if as mother she was excited that all of her children would be in school this year.
“I don’t have to depend on day care while I’m at work. It’s going to be nice,” Pereira said.
For first-time parents of kindergartners like Megan Adams, the opening day of elementary school is a major milestone. She and boyfriend Stephen Schwinn guided their only child Makayla – Kayla for short – to the school gates at Barrett.
The young family had already taken several tours of the school leading up to Tuesday and met Kayla’s new teacher Monday.
“She didn’t even want to go to her last day of pre-school. She said ‘I’m ready for my new school!'” Adams said.
To help Kayla adjust to her new routine, they ate breakfast together Tuesday morning and took time to answer questions about kindergarten.
“This is a whole new lifestyle for us,” Adams said. “It’s exciting.”
News around Morgan Hill Unified
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The district also welcomed four new vice principals this week: Kevin Miller and Oscar Mendez to Ann Sobrato High School; Dave Tolson to Live Oak High School and Linda Row to Britton Middle School. Superintendent Smith noted that all four new administrators are bilingual and he’s very happy about the new additions.
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At Jackson Elementary, the paint on the playground is a bit brighter and the yards are much cleaner. The Home and School Club held its annual Beautification Day to prepare for the first day. More than 80 percent of the play area was re-painted and 40 garbage bags were collected by helpful volunteers.
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Beginning Sept. 1, school will begin 45 minutes later Wednesdays at Sobrato and Live Oak. The change is to allow teachers weekly collaboration time in the morning where they will share ideas and improve instruction. The campus will open at the normal time Wednesday mornings and bus schedules will not change.
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On Tuesday, Britton Middle opened its brand-new music and art building. The old room, near the adult education center at the back of Britton, is now available for adult education students.
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Solar panel construction continues at Ann Sobrato High School leaving parking at the school a bit sideways until the solar shade structures are completed in the next four to six weeks. Panels are also going up at Live Oak, though student parking is not impacted.
