Dear Parents:
I would like to begin my final newsletter of the year by saying a great big thank you for another great year! As always, our Saratoga parents have been gracious and most helpful. It is a pleasure to serve the community as Principal of Redwood Middle School. This year has been busy, and there have been many events to celebrate. I think the biggest highlight of my year was Unity in Community. The fact that our students banded together and supported 42 charities and organizations is astounding! Special thanks to our organizers Sudha Sreenivasan and Angela Deans for their leadership. We are so blessed to live and work in such a fine and supportive community.
If you are leaving us this year, I wish you and your student a fond farewell and much success in the future. If you and your student are returning next year, I look forward to many more great adventures together!
Before I sign off for the year, there are people and programs I would like to recognize:
Project Cornerstone
I am also so proud of the 50 plus parents who meet weekly with Project Cornerstone educator, Linda Silvius, to discuss asset building for our Saratoga teens. It is inspiring that parents are willing to take the time to discuss strategies that make life better and more fulfilling for all of our children in Saratoga.
PTA
It is a privilege to work to with this dynamic group of women. I especially want to thank Lisa Finley and Jean Poo for their outstanding leadership and for meeting with me and the co-presidents of the School Site Council once a month to discuss events and school programs.
School Site Council
We had a dynamic group of teachers, parents and students this year who reviewed programs, and created school goals that aligned with the district goals. Special thanks goes to Co-Presidents teacher Shannon Avina and parent Anne Walsh for their excellent leadership.
History Day Winner!
Congratulations to 8th Grader Anushree Dugar who was one of two students who won the state award in the junior paper division of the state History Day competition. She will be competing in National History Day in Washington D.C. during the week of June 14th.
Redwood Teachers of the Year
Teachers and administrators chose Dr. Susan Germeraad and Mrs. Cassie Spenger as Redwood’s 2010 Teachers of the Year.
Dr. Germeraad teaches 7th grade science and is instrumental in preparing our students for the annual science fair. She also organized Redwood’s Cool the Earth campaign and will be working with her department and Redwood staff on our upcoming garden. Most importantly, Dr. Germeraad is an amazing science instructor and inspires her students daily with her zest for science!
Mrs. Sprenger is our 6th Grade Special Education Resource instructor. Her care and guidance of her students is legendary in Saratoga. She is a kind and caring teacher who is able to teach her students the skills they need to be successful. Mrs. Sprenger also assisted this year in creating a new reading class for students who are below grade level for next year. In addition, Mrs. Sprenger coached cross-country this year.
Thank You Kris Black!
If you did not see the news article in the San Jose Mercury News last month, I wanted you to know that our own Kris Black, resource aide for Cassie Sprenger, found a 4 year old missing child with her rescue dog, Klaus. We are so proud of Kris and Klaus! Kris donates her time and her trained dogs to find missing persons. This was such a happy ending!
The Garden is Coming!!
Thanks to PTA we are looking forward to a magnificent outdoor learning classroom next school year with our Redwood garden. Plans are currently in the works to begin construction on the garden this summer!
Starfish Awards
Throughout the year, a number of staff members were awarded a “Starfish” award for making a difference in the lives of their students and peers. The following is the list of this years’ 2009-2010 recipients:
September: Joe Christie February: Cassandra Wakefield
October: Amy Duren March: Jen Vandenberg
November: Nancy Coleman April: Stephanie Haas
December: Cassie Sprenger May: Kris Black and Klaus
January: Pat Burnham June: Debbie Skelton
Saratoga Union School district Volunteer of the Year
Redwood parent and S.E.F President Paige Berardo was recently honored at a reception sponsored by the Association of California School Administrators. Mrs. Berardo’s energy and gentle spirit have been contagious to all of us who are fortunate to work with her. She truly cares about the welfare of all of our Saratoga students and their families. Thank you Paige for another great year with S.E.F.!!!!
Staff Retirements and Career Changes
As you may have heard, after 27 years, Mrs. Vicki Wyant, director of our many music programs is retiring this year! There are so many highlights to her career and we are so lucky that Mrs. Wyant chose Redwood as her school family. The Saratoga Music Boosters will be hosting a special evening to honor her on Tuesday, June 1 in the Quad at Saratoga High School from 4-6p.m. Everyone is invited to attend.
Also retiring is Dianne Shanholtz, the heart of our office! Dianne has worked in the Saratoga Union School district for 9 years; the last five at Redwood Middle School. She will be greatly missed by staff, parents and students for her loving manner with all the Saratoga stakeholders.
Spanish Instructor Kathy Lasko will be leaving Redwood Middle School for Tennessee where her husband has accepted a new position. Kathy is an excellent teacher and will be greatly missed by her department and our staff.
Spanish Instructor Markus Puhvel is taking a leave of absence for the 2010-11 school year. We wish Markus well and look forward to his return in 2011-12!
Our Assistant Principal, Jason Robertson has elected to return to the science classroom after four years as the assistant principal. Jason is a great assistant principal and I will miss his amazing talents as well as his sense of humor in our office.
On behalf of the Redwood Staff, I would like to wish you a wonderful summer full of joy and adventure. My husband and I are staying local this summer, and doing some home remodeling. Maybe we will “sea” you at the beach!
Until August, thanks again for another great year!
Sincerely,
Kelly Green, Principal
