Farewell

Dear Ellis Families,

This has been a very difficult letter to write as I feel that the Ellis Elementary School community is a part of my extended family. However, I have come to a point in my life when I need a little more flexibility to spend time with my family. As a result, I have decided to retire at the end of this school year.

It has been an honor to work with the parents, students and staff at Ellis, and I have always considered myself so fortunate to be allowed to serve as the principal. We will keep you informed about the selection of a new principal as the hiring process moves forward. I feel confident that a competent, effective replacement will be found.

As I move to a more relaxing time, there are other changes that will also be taking place. Stacy Woodbury (Kindergarten Teacher) is relocating to Utah and will be missed. Due to the low numbers in Kindergarten this year, it is anticipated that she will be replaced with a half-time teacher. Mrs. Henson has wanted to reduce her time commitment so she can spend more time with her children, and she will take the half- time position as it is currently allocated.

Mrs. Henson’s move is timely as we will have one less first grade next year due to the low numbers in kindergarten and her position will not be replaced. However, the fourth grade will present a different scenario. We are sad to say good bye to Mrs. Hymas as she retires after an outstanding career in teaching, but we wish her the best and know that she will enjoy more walking and time with family. She will be replaced by Mr. Hall who wants to make a change to the fourth grade level. His fifth grade replacement will be selected as we move forward.

We will also be losing one of our very valuable paraprofessionals, Mrs. Orr, who is retiring to spend time with her grandchildren. We know how much she is looking forward to the future and we wish her well.

Again, it is a bitter sweet moment and I want to say that I will cherish my time at Ellis which has been my second home for many years now. I appreciate all the support parents provide as well as the many hours of involvement in the school and your child’s education. Thank you for the memories!!

Sincerely,

Dr. Betsy Goeltz

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of our families!

The New Year brings with it new opportunities and challenges. Our winter benchmark testing has revealed the strong gains we have made, and also provides us with information about where to adjust our teaching strategies and which students may need more support or extended learning opportunities. I am particularly impressed with the students’ writing. I must admit, it is hard not to be persuaded to implement some of the changes suggested in some of the second grade letters sent to me. However, I don’t think a pool is in the budget. Make sure to read some of the wonderful creative and informative writing coming home.

Reading is another popular focus with our students. Over 1,000 books were read during the winter break. MyOn is an online resource available to all of our students at school or at home. They also provide books for preschool students so be sure to take advantage of this terrific resource.

We will be celebrating Martin Luther King Day with a student march on January 20^th to commemorate the march on Washington. Students will be discussing the importance of respecting and honoring the many differences in our society.

Our fourth and fifth graders will be getting some fresh air as they go snowshoeing and skiing this month, One of our most popular events, Geography Night, will be held on January 9^th so be sure to mark your calendar.

I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year!

Sincerely,

Dr. Betsy Goeltz