September 27, 2010 - I had an ‘ah-ha moment last week that I wanted to share with you. Picture this…usually it is about 6:45 am, I am headed to the office on an ordinary day and this is what I find on my way to work: students lined up at the door of Middle School waiting to go to drivers ed class and students going into the High School cafeteria with laptops in tow to have breakfast and complete their homework. Outside, a bus is ready to go take students on a field trip or athletic event. What did it take to get things ready by 6:45 am? Those already hard at work are the cafeteria workers, custodians, transportation and maintenance staff. These folks help us get the day started off in a GREAT way. They are the first to meet our kids who come early. And it is amazing the number of kids who are on the move at this early hour. I’ve always wondered too, what do people think when they see buses out at 1:00 am in the morning or at 6:00 am on a Saturday morning…Please thank and remember these folks who work 16 hour days to teach, train and who transport your kiddos. I know this is really hard to understand, but I always get a little emotional when I see those ‘yellow dogs rolling on a Saturday morning and know what it takes and the care those individuals possess as they drive those country roads to take our kids to compete. We need to value our teachers as we value doctors, scientists, mechanics, business managers, plumbers. All of us in any profession or occupation got our start in school and we all had some contact and were influenced by a teacher. The team at San Saba ISD is just that, a team put together for a common purpose: Educate Kids! Please take the opportunity to thank a school employee for the impact they have on the kiddos of our community.

At the September meeting the Board approved some calendar changes for the 2010-2011 school year. For Middle School and High School we added an Optional Flexible Program Day for December 9, 2010. As well, the date of the stock show was revised for the correct date of January 13 as an early release day and January 14 for the county stock show. For San Saba Elementary, an early release day was staged for December 9, 2010 and the same stock show days will be observed: January 13 as early release and January 14 as a school holiday. Please pick up a calendar on the campus where your child attends school, print one from the web at www.san-saba.net, or come by the Central Office for a copy.

San Saba Elementary and San Saba Middle School have an interesting addition to their scheduling this school year. The new addition is a strand in the school day and one OFYP day called "Challenge". The "Challenge" addition provides students with more challenging/enrichment academic activity. For example, elementary students receive Challenge activities as part of their school day, and students needing tutorials receive the appropriate individual tutoring. At middle school, the Challenge activities are provided on the OFYP days. Students who do not have to come to tutoring at school on OFYP days, can elect to attend "Challenge" activities. As well, if parents elect to keep students at home the student has earned this right. The first OFYP day is coming up on October 11. Students receiving academic tutoring will be provided 1 to 1 tutoring with a plan of instruction unique to their needs. This is very exciting for our students as they receive assistance with items that are unique to them. The "challenge" students if they elect to attend will be provided academic and enrichment activities to promote higher level skills such as Macbook lessons, Mathfest practice, UIL prep, Woodworking activities, engineering with duct tape and music activities. The entire philosophy for "Challenge and OFYP" is to provide students with what they need to better prepare them for the academic rigors not and in the future.

Please visit www.san-saba.net to view events and find information you need to know about SSISD. As well, don’t forget to sign up for the "alerts" available from the website, and don’t miss the opportunity to sign up for the Parent Portal giving parents access to grades and attendance. Parents, let us know how we can help you the first day of school all the way until the last day of school!! If you have any question about this article or any other question about school happenings please contact me at 325/372-3144 or email me at lglaze@san-saba.net . We are San Saba! We are together!