This Site is. . .

 

The words below were sent to me in an email!  It touched me and I thought I would like to share it with you!

 

Paul Harvey Writes: 
 
We tried so hard to make things better for our kids 
  that we made them worse. 

For my grandchildren, I'd like better. I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would. 
 
I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated. 
 
I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car. 
 
And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen. 

It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep. 
 
I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in, I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him. When you want to see a movie and your little brother  wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him. 
 
I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.  On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom. If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one. 
 
I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books. When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head. 
 
I hope you get teased by your friends when you have  your first crush on a girl, and when you talk back to  your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like. 
 
May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole. 

I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it.  And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you  realize he is not your friend. 

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.  May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays. I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand. 

These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life. 

Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I'm here for you. And if I die before you do, I'll go to heaven and wait for you.  
 
  Paul Harvey 

 Dear Parents,

Hello, I am Kim Smith, your new technology teacher and it is a unique coincidence that your former teacher’s name was also Ms. Smith! I am really excited to be a part of the St. Ann family and I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to my background, philosophies and expectations toward teaching technology to your children.

I come to you from Notre Dame High School where I was a technology facilitator. This position allowed me to create educational web sites that teachers used to teach subjects such as US History, AP English and Religion to name a few. Some of my teaching experiences include PowerPoint, basic computer skills, HTML and Internet research skills. I have many exciting plans for the students of St. Ann’s. Many of my Notre Dame students are already interested in coming over to help and mentor your children. The possibilities are endless!

1.       All students need to bring in a two-pocket folder titled “Technology Folder” with their name and class under the title. 2.       Grades K-3 will be receiving a progress chart. The chart must be kept in the folder at all times and will probably appear in their folders toward the end of the month. I ask you, parents, to check this chart periodically as you may be required to sign it. 3.        Grades 4-8 will also need a Technology copybook. This must also be titled and named the same way as the folder. 4.       In addition to these supplies, Grades 6-8 will need a standard 31/2 floppy disk labeled with the student, name and class and a plastic carrying case. Students will be responsible for this disk. This means to keep it safe, clean, and virus free! (Tip: I will be teaching the students how to care for their floppy, but just as a note to you, if a disk is kept near anything with a battery in it i.e. a walkman, or even a portable/cell phone, it can damage the data on the disk.) 5.       There is acceptable use policy, which will be given to all students. It is for the protection and safety of all that you read this policy carefully with your student and make sure that you both sign it.

I will be using a combination of standards; The NETS (National Educational Technology Standards); the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Computer/Technology Skills; the Arch Diocese of Trenton and the Arch Diocese of Phila. Guidelines. With this in mind, I need to request the cooperation of all parents and students for a few simple things

I have had an opportunity to take a quick assessment of the schools equipment, and I must say that I am very impressed! There is however, a great need for more equipment and labor, especially in the lower levels. If you have an interest in helping, by either donating that old computer in your basement, or want to volunteer to give and few hours of your time to help in the area of repair or mentoring, just fill out the attached form/contact sheet to let me know.

Please feel free to call, write or email me at anytime with your questions or concerns.  Send me your Feedback! Also, with this in mind, I am creating a website that parents and students can access from home to view assignments and to get links to websites that have to do with their lessons. This site should be fully functional by the end of the month, so check your folders for the announcement and details. I am also planning on moderating one or two computer related after school clubs. An announcement will be in the folder when this is decided! If you are interested in helping with these clubs, you will find an area for this on the attached form/contact sheet.

Again, I am thrilled to be at St Ann's and thank you in advance for your cooperation and support!

Sincerely

Kim Smith