Lights! Camera! Action! School has begun and I hope everyone is in their places. Parents should have received the handbook with its many pages that need signatures. Some are at the front, some are at the back, but they all need signatures. This summer seemed to have gone by very quickly.

With school, come school events and busy days. Football is ready to go. Church activities are starting back up and so are several community events. There will be a tailgate party after the game on Thursday. We will get a chance to meet the 2009-2010 Coyotes and show them our support. Pam Starr is heading up that committee, if you want to assist in any way.

I understand there will be food involved at this event. Mind you, when it comes to football isn’t food always involved? Who can resist those delicious burgers or the brisket, or the church home game meals? All I can say is, “Are you ready for some football!”

We wish our coaches and athletes all the very best for a healthy and successful season. The quilting/Bible study group will start on Wednesday, September the 2nd at 4:00 p.m. All singers interested in the community Christmas program please contact Mary Kate Adams or attend practice on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

The school board meeting was held last week. Minutes are available if you contact Mr. Winn’s office. Our main goal is to keep the tax rate where it was last year, not to reduce our revenues. When this issue comes up on the ballot in November I hope everyone will vote to keep the rate the same and not vote to roll back taxes. Our kids and school need the tax to stay the same. Again, if you have any questions, please talk with a school board member or Mr. Winn.

We have a few new faces on campus this week. Mr. Jason Yantis will be teaching our upper level Science courses. Mrs. Heather Slater will teach the combined 2nd and 3rd grade class and Candi Lewis will assist her as classroom aide. Sue Lupe has returned to the area to work as an aide in the Special Ed department. Mrs. Marta Martinez will be working as an aide in the Spanish department.

All Science teachers will be using the new cscope program. We have raised our reading, writing and math scores but still need improvement in the sciences. It is a challenging program but our kids can meet that challenge.

The dyslexia program is doing well. We will test students in the fall to see what improvements have been made and proceed from there. Peggy Tompkins teaches that area. Paula Miller will handle the reading program that assists struggling readers. We have a great staff and wonderful school. We’re asking for more parent involvement this year, since this usually means more success.

The most important goal is to make sure your student does not miss school unless they are very sick. Please try to schedule appointments after school if at all possible. We are trying to keep every dollar we can in the school budget. The Health Board says to keep your child home if they have a fever. Keep them home another 24 hours after the fever breaks. Most of our kids come no matter what. Parents of kindergarten

students, please be aware that this class is mostly oral, since they are

just learning to read and write. If your student is absent too often; they will not be able to progress as rapidly as they should.

Mrs. Lane will tell you this is the most important year of their life; they must make it to school every day. I’m sure the school is also looking for some good subs. If you feel this is something you can do please contact Mr. Fowler. All in all we are ready for a great year. We have money problems and our count is down but many districts are in that shape. We intend to have a successful and glorious year!

Thanks school board members for all the work you’ve put in to

make our school the best!

We had a sad week last week. Mary Cummings went home to be with the Lord. She fought a tough battle against cancer. Her family is glad she is not suffering, but will miss her greatly.

Cheryl Lord Clark also went home. She was involved in an accident caused by a careless driver. Services were held for her on Monday. As usual, our community reached out to the families with sympathy and provisions. Our hearts and prayers go out to members of both families.

We had representatives from different companies talking to the

teachers about investments and insurance. With the state of our economy, not many of us were willing to give the stock people money. I know they keep saying things will look better, but right now most of us don’t trust the folks in charge. It seems every time you turn around more money is being printed so that it can be given away for some foolish piece of legislation.

I’ve had emails from President Obama and David Axelrod. I didn’t know they even knew I existed, much less know my email. I’m one of those skeptical folks. I don’t want more tax money wasted on useless programs. I don’t want a group of people who can’t run a cash for clunkers program, telling me they can run health care better than anyone else! Looking at Medicare and Social Security, I can only presume they will run our health care system into the ground as well.

Please pray for our President, our government and our country. Some day I may not be able to print that either. When the ACLU can hold an entire district in Florida from praying then more will come our way. Our Founding Fathers would not approve of the ACLU. They promoted the Bible and Christianity in all their writings and laws. We have come a long way from their goals for this country. Please pray for our precious troops, and for the Arab nations that are trying to overcome years of oppression and move into the modern world. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are basic human needs and rights. God bless America.