The countdown has begun. The last grading period starts Tuesday, and a season of frantic activities begins. Mrs. Wyatt is busy updating the calendar almost daily. Graduation activities for seniors and eighth graders are under way. That may not mean much to most folks, but to teachers it means that there will be many extra duties to perform. At a time when we are pushing for STAAR success, we are attending events, competitions, and outdoor activities. I am not complaining, I am simply pointing out that if the teacher seems a little grumpy, it’s because they are trying to make the end of the year, at a little school, as memorable as possible. We may not have all the bells and whistles that a big school has, but we have something that is irreplaceable: a loving community.
Plans are in the works for an elementary field day. It will depend upon other schools being willing to participate. Not all schools have been fortunate enough to have in person schooling. The luncheons for eighth grade and seniors will happen on the 4th and 11th of May.
Please be sure and check the school calendar for activities. We will have 16 high school students heading to UIL district events this coming week. We will also have UIL spring sports Regional activities happening this week as well. Strangely enough, we will also have regular classes for all other students.
The kids are working a fund raiser for the library. Since we have been unable to have any fund-raising events, the juniors have come up with this idea. You will be asked by students to give your email or go online to gfe.com and sign up to purchase books for the library. The kids get cute little prizes for your purchases, and the library will get new books for the kids to read.
Last Friday, I rewarded the 5th grade with a walking observation field trip. We walked to the Coyote One Stop, ordered lunch, which we ate in the park, and then ordered ice cream to go for the long walk back. I say long walk back because I have not walked that far in one trip in some time. I do believe I was feeling my age. The 90-degree heat didn’t help either. A few hours later, when I walked the fourth grade to the store for ice-cream, with some dread I might add, I was saved by the bell. Literally, I was saved by the bell on the ice-cream truck. I didn’t even know we had an ice-cream truck in town. What a relief to know my walk would be cut in half. I don’t know where he came from or whether he will be around on a regular basis, but he was a godsend for me Friday.
The news from the community rummage event is incredibly positive. I didn’t talk to all the vendors, but when I spoke with Arlene Stratton after the event, she was satisfied that the work she put into her stall was worth the time and effort. Congratulations to the organizers of this wonderful event. Don’t forget to say a word of praise to the Beautification Committee for the flowers around town.
There will be no Monday Church on the 19th. All teachers are required to attend meetings. Church for the kids will resume on the 26th. There are four Mondays in May, but we may have to sit one out, again, due to teacher meetings. Bro. Mack is rather good and flexible, but he can’t run the Monday kids by himself. I want to give a shout out at this time to our high school youth who come to help. Maddie, Lane, Savannah, Luis, and Austin join with the pastor’s sons Caden and Chris to help the adults run the activities smoothly. They are valuable assets. We will be studying Esther this week.
Esther is one of the strong Biblical females who merit mention thanks to their tremendous courage. In her case, she risked death to save the lives of her people. With patience and prayer, she turned the tables on a schemer who planned to kill the nation of Israel. If you get a chance to study the women of the Bible, you will find some unusual but courageous women. Talk to your child when they come home and see how much they are learning about the book and the Savior that can change their life forever. In this time of extreme confusion, the Word of the Lord will bring comfort and hope.
It is wonderful to see people coming back to church services. I’m grateful that we can do the online services, but I love to see people in person. The vaccines have helped to give people a little security, so that makes them worthwhile. I am not a fan, but I did get one anyway. We all know I like to travel.
It was good to see George and Donna Hill in church this morning. He has health issues that keep him home. Thurman was also in attendance now that he has had his vaccine. I expect to see him roaming around and preparing for the alumni banquet. It makes me happy to see him.
Our prayers are needed for several people fighting cancer. Tiny Shannon, Danny and Shane Phillips, Esmeralda Soto’s dad Mario, Gerald McKee, and a few others. Gerald is doing better; they were able to stop the internal bleeding. He will now begin chemotherapy.
There is a blood drive organized for him on Friday the 23rd in the Community Center. This has been a difficult year for many people.
Please pray for our sick, for our government and all the changes that are happening, and the President. Send out covering prayers for all our police officers and the communities under siege. I am praying that the people flowing in from our southern neighbors don’t reinfect our state. We desperately need rain. This is lining up to be another dry year, and our farmers and ranchers need rain. My trees need rain as well. Most of all, pray for our precious troops and their families.
Stay safe, enjoy the warm weather, and put out your hummingbird feeders, the hummers are here. Have a great week.