Dear MTUESD Community,
With homecoming behind us, the rush of fall events will begin with Halloween celebrations, Thanksgiving, and the winter holidays charging right behind. It’s like a tumbleweed how fast these things go by and we see our kids grow before our eyes. My great grandma Sophie always used to remark “Kittens will be cats!” in reference to how fast our little ones grow up.
I thank you to all of the parents and guardians that took the time to meet with us about your students' progress. That information is integral to their success. If I can ask you to do one activity with your family, it is to read with them. If a kid can’t read, they can’t do math, they can’t do science, they can’t do a whole bunch of stuff. If you invest the limited time that you do have supporting the reading at home that will pay off for your child down the line.
We had our district meeting ELAC on Tuesday. It was well attended! I appreciate everyone’s participation. Thank you to Jenn Ashworth for identifying a very clever translation device that will make the meeting easier for all participants to access. The device is also available in the office to assure we can support requests in any language to assist a parent/guardian.
Copper’s asphalt work is completed along with the playground and table area repairs, and we should be in good shape down there. The bathroom flooring is also being replaced this week. A huge shout out to the Copperopolis Parent Teacher Club for their amazing Steak and Shrimp fundraiser. A great time was had by all and the proceeds do a lot of good for the kids. The countless hours of volunteerism that it took to create that event speaks so highly of the community and a HUGE SHOUT OUT TO YOUNG’S MARKET for their generosity.
Special thanks to the Calaveras Community Foundation for selecting Mark Twain Elementary School for a community grant written by Lori Oliver to improve our school garden. With these much-needed funds, our Master Gardener Harvey Mains will help our students upgrade our garden in an afterschool garden club. We are so grateful for the support that Calaveras Community Foundation shares with our local community.
In other news, I just want to ask your help to please try to set a mutually collaborative tone if you have an issue regarding your student. I know for a long time people have expressed that they were not heard, and sometimes I feel like our families often come in really hot without giving us a chance to hear what your concern is and work it out. We have even had parents cursing in the front office in front of kids at Mark Twain and that just can’t happen and it won’t be tolerated. Just, give us that opportunity to try and work it through and we will all be better off, not just in the short term, but in the long run as we rebuild the school culture of mutual respect. This is rare, but the fact that it happens at all, is totally out of line. I know together, we can fix it.
At Mark Twain, I have to give a shout out to middle school for the incredible reading buddy experience in kindergarten and first grade. The kids were absolutely delighted with the opportunity and some students were in their football uniforms and the little ones just were over the moon about it.
My “only in the mountains” experience last week was when Sam Austin said to me as I walked back into the district office, “Look what we caught” and she took me into our district office conference room and asked me to peer into the recycle bin. Not quite sure what I would be looking at, but to my surprise, a gigantic turtle. So cool when people find stuff that is obviously out of place that they took the time out of their day and picked it up and brought it in. One rescue organization call later, and we were advised to return the turtle to the creek. I have never seen such a speedy exit from a recycle bin as that turtle when it was placed by Nikki Lusk into the waters. You never know what “other duties as assigned” means in the job description until you live and work in a small district. That applies to turtle rescue and to all of the staff that shift their duties to whatever is needed to make it work for the whole team. It speaks well of the heart and care our folks have for all creatures human and otherwise!
Have a happy weekend. Looking forward to a great week ahead.
Sincerely yours,
Louise Simson, Superintendent
650-996-3290