It’s been a very busy summer! I just completed an accelerated 3 credit class called Teaching the Exceptional Child. It was a lot of work and was a great review of ideas to help include all students in lessons. It was great to read research that backs up what I have been doing, and to get some new things to try.

There has been a lot of technology work happening this summer as well. We have upgraded the speed and power of the wireless in the building, and I am working on upgrading the Internet speed coming into the building. We also set up an off site back up of our server, in addition to our on site back ups, to make sure the teachers won’t lose any assignments. (Sorry kids!) Thanks to Mr. Knuth for all of his help on these projects, all accomplished at no expense to the school. In addition, we have also obtained laptop docks for the classrooms to allow the laptops to be connected to the projectors and Smart Boards quickly and easily.

As part of my summer planning, I have been setting up the field trips for the year. It’s a bit early to have things set in stone, but here is the tentative plan. Hopefully some time in August or September we will be able to walk over to UWFDL and visit with Dr. Mike. He has a lab full of Earth Science equipment he has been gracious enough to let us play with in the past. October 18^th I hope to go to the Milwaukee Public Museum to see an exhibit on Art and Architecture of Ancient Egypt and to see the 3D movie Wildest Weather in the Solar System. December 5^th we will take out biennial trip to the Pabst Theater to see A Christmas Carol. We will also get a behind the scenes tour of the Rep Theater production facility and other stages. February 7^th I am very excited to head to Appleton to see Hamlet.  Being able to go to a play, rather than just talk about it, makes a huge difference for our study of Shakespeare. April 17^th we are set to head to Menasha to the Barlow Planetarium. We will see a planetarium show about the solar system and also see a hands on science demonstration covering various topics including liquid nitrogen! I am trying to work on something at the end of May, but for now, I’ll let that be a secret. Have a great rest of the summer and remember, stay connected to Jesus!