STAFF SHOUT:
"Lena Miller (7-12 Music) goes above and beyond for her students, spends extra time on every task, coordinates valuable opportunities for her classes and genuinely cares about people. Students feel safe and seen in her classroom as she helps them work towards creating beautiful memories through music! So proud to work with such a talented educator."
To give students the gift of safety to pursue their passions is one Ms. Miller has MASTERED!
PARENT TO STAFF SHOUTOUT:
"My daughter was sick and out of school during her Santa Shop day at McGregor. She was extremely sad she wouldn't be able to shop for gifts for her loved ones. I reached out to Mrs. Marx asking if someone might be able to shop for her list, and Mrs. Marx and Ms. Sue worked together to ensure that she had plenty of gifts to wrap and give at Christmas. She came home from school Monday so excited to show me all of the things that were picked out at the Santa Shop for her loved ones (and a few things for herself).
I just want to thank Mrs. Marx and Ms. Sue for going the extra mile to make my daughters' day. They definitely deserve some recognition for going the extra mile not only that day, but every day."
What a selfless thing to do for a student. We are not surprised at all! Thank you Ms. Marx and Ms. Sue!
STAFF SHOUT:
"Tammy Miller and Lisa Hamid are exceptional! They work very hard to create a calm ride for their most sensitive passengers. They sing songs, spell everyone’s names, and even adjust their driving style to make the ride as smooth as possible to ensure everyone is safe and comfortable. We are so thankful to them for delivering happy students to us!
I think a lot of the uplifting stories coming from Transportation are possible because of the encouragement everyone there gets from their awesome boss, Kim Dye, and office staff like Sue Futey and Kelley Linzie. Kim is always accommodating to my needs with a smile on her face and Sue and Kelley are always complimenting my students and helping me troubleshoot any issues that arise throughout my day. These 3 ladies even set up an incredible day for my own kids to come in and see the buses over the summer! I am so happy I get to see behind the scenes of the transportation department. What a great group!"
Our transportation team goes above and beyond regularly! We are so lucky!
STAFF SHOUT:
"Stephanie Kosakowski goes out of her way to make sure students have a healthy environment to learn. She makes sure kids who need help get it. She understands kids so well!"
Those Pumas at Silver Creek sure are lucky to have this rockstar on their staff!
STAFF-TO-STAFF SHOUTOUT:
"Occasionally, my students and I will have a "layover" at the transportation office waiting for a ride back to school. We are generally walking in on our bus drivers relaxing between routes or eating their lunch. When you work with kids, I'm a firm believer that you need a break in your day... especially bus drivers! I can only imagine how stressful their days are with transporting our students back and forth while being completely overstimulated with the excitement of all the kids. I feel bad disturbing their breaks but they welcome our kids to their tables. They share treats, let them help on their puzzle, and chit chat with them. I would specifically like to point out Brendalee. I overheard her telling my students today that she is teaching herself sign language so she can have conversations with one of our students with hearing impairment. I asked her to show me some signs and she isn't just learning the basics. She's having full-blown conversations! 🥹Our bus drivers are the best."
This is all so accurate, but that last part got us... *sniff*
Our drivers are the best!
DINE OUT TONIGHT AND HELP FUND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL FACILITY DOG!
STAFF SHOUT:
"Let's give a round of applause to Mike Gillespie, the storekeeper at the WLS Warehouse! Mike is a true asset to the district, always going above and beyond. He's kind, sharp, and incredibly organized. No matter the weather, rain or shine, hot or cold, he makes himself available to pick up and deliver whatever is needed no matter how small or LARGE the delivery is. This demonstrates that Mike is always ready to tackle the physical demands of the job. He's quick to respond, proactive, and always willing to lend a helping hand. Thanks, Mike, for all your hard work and dedication!"
We are so lucky to have this hard-working, camera-shy guy working so hard behind the scenes for us. *This specific pic posted by his request.
STAFF/PARENT-TO-STAFF SHOUT:
"Mrs. Bicanovsky is a ROCKSTAR of an educator. When my little Lucy was in her class last year, I loved picking her up and seeing the joy in her face from a great day of learning. Mrs. B is the type of teacher who will give up personal time on a Tuesday night to drive across town to watch a former student dance in a Christmas recital. Finally, my little Lucy says she wants to be a teacher one day. If she does end up going that route, Mrs. Bicanovsky will be a big reason for that career choice. Thank you so much for making a positive impact on my youngest daughter."
Ms. B is smart, compassionate and incredibly thoughtful - all the main ingredients for a fantastic educator!
We are so grateful for this team!
COMMUNITY-TO-STAFF:
"The other day, I was following behind a WLS School bus and was stopped by its lights and stop sign. As I sat there, I saw this loving employee (bus driver) get out and assist a student in a wheelchair onto her bus. She never stopped smiling, greeting him and conversing happily with his mom. You could tell she was really joyful about seeing him and it made my heart so warm to see how happy HE was to be going to school too. I have no doubt this wonderful woman is the perfect start to his day. I had to do a little digging to find her name, but wanted to make sure Jessica Atkins was SEEN for all she was doing."
Starting the day with a smile makes such a difference for our kids - and our bus drivers ROCK at it. Way to go, Jessica!
If you were a member of the Whitmer Orchestra, we want to invite YOU back to Nightingale Auditorium! All orchestra alumni are welcome to join us for the performance of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" at the Holiday Concert on December 11th.
Please fill out the attached form if you are interested!
https://forms.gle/ZwyEZ9fWfSTQX8vZ9
STAFF SHOUT:
"Rhonda is a lunch time SUPERHERO! This McGregor cafeteria manager is always on top of her game & is kind, flexible & dependable. Thank you for putting kids' needs first!"
How lucky are we to have this incredible employee making sure our Stallions are fed?
Order today!
NOBODY WANTS TO COOK THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING!
TOMORROW!
PARENT-TO-STAFF SHOUT:
“We just got the most amazing phone call from Mr. Matt LaPoint from Whitmer. He said that he thinks our son might be graduating off of his IEP because he’s absolutely crushing his freshman year. He told us that our son is not using any of his accommodations, is on the honor roll, is organized, and is doing absolutely amazing. It was the nicest call and we just couldn’t be more thankful.
It got me thinking about all of the educators who got him to this place, including Mr. Colon, Ms. Lindsey, and so many other amazing Greenwood teachers. They were such a huge help to our son during the earliest years of his education and I want to thank all of them for all they did to make sure he got started on the right path, including beginning with an IEP. He has turned out to be such an incredible and respectful, young man, and I have to give credit where credit is due. Thank you all so much!”
What a thoughtful gesture to send to a SUPER DESERVING team!
Thank you to our wonderful substitute teachers on this National Substitute Teacher Day!
Congratulations to our new Whitmer Head Baseball Coach!
DINE OUT TONIGHT AND HELP FUND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL FACILITY DOG!
Give it up for our Coach! 👏👏🏽👏🏿👏🏻
