GEN: Highs and Lows of this school year

[Josephine Dervan <rderva@INFIONLINE.NET>]

Hello All,



JaKay Greer suggested this thread and I thought I'd start it off.



LOWS: Going from a fixed weekly schedule in a K-5 school to an alternating
week schedule in 2 K-5 schools.

This was done in reaction to budget cuts and the need to add a gym class to
our students schedule. Since we were no longer needed to cover contractual preps
the librarian and the computer teacher shared 2 schools and alternated. Kids
still got a prep but either library or computer instead of both. I also had full
responsibility for 2 libraries instead of one.



HIGHS: The reaction and support of the parents in my home school.

From the first day of school they badgered the principal in my old school
with their displeasure at this schedule and the loss of weekly library classes.
Our new Supt. held monthly Superintendent's Forums for parents. My home school
parents attended each one and demanded a full week of library.



It worked! Next year I shall be in my home school for 4 days and in another
school for 1 day each week. Weekly scheduled library visits will resume.



ALSO GOOD: Getting to meet another 550 kids in the other school as
well as working with a very dedicated group of professionals. I was treated
favorably by all and will truly miss them.



Personally it has been a year with many ups and downs (family deaths,
wedding of first daughter among others). Fortunately I'm one of those people who
believes that adversity makes us strong and so I guess I'm feeling pretty
powerful right now.



I hope that you all have a restful summer and return in the Fall ready to
empower your students.



Jo



Josephine Dervan, Library Media Specialist

Strathmore Elementary School

Aberdeen, NJ

rderva@infionline.net

school-jdervan@marsd.k12.nj.us



He who has a library and a garden wants for nothing- Cicero

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