District Administrator's Corner

by Loren Glasbrenner,  River Valley School District Administrator Early on a recent morning in Kelly Kalscheur’s 4K classroom, students were tracing their names as the first activity of the day.  Several students were also excited to see the new play dough in the front, which will be used to mold letters (again, of their names).  It might be red sticky letters, but it sure looked like fun. Also on this same morning, we had first grade students traveling to a field trip in Sauk Prairie.  The group was able to see a play in the River Arts Center based on the book, Rainbow Fish.  They got a bus trip, a packed lunch, and a literacy activity.  It might be based on a book, but it was also incredibly fun. Then, middle school science students got to witness Heather Meixelsperger set up and program her incubator as fertilized eggs are hatched and watched for the next 21 days.  Students will check before, during, and after class.  It might be a unit emphasizing heredity and zoology, but watching and waiting for traits to emerge from a chick is also good fun.   Further, high school students were given the chance to hear speakers, analyze their next steps, and start scheduling possibilities for their next school year.  Several seniors were ambassadors in the halls making sure questions were answered.  Workshops throughout the school also focused on team building, developing responsibility, making wise choices, and community–but it was also engaging and fun. When you support your local schools, you get inspired educators facilitating engaging opportunities for developing learners.  Let me repeat that—you have developing learners engaged in inspiring opportunities created by supportive professionals.  Anyway you put it, it’s good. We are thankful…there really is no other way to say it.  There is a sense of pride in the River Valley School District that is a reflection of our community.  Our district asked our community to trust us as we maintain quality educational programs, services, and activities.  We were one of 81 districts that asked their communities for this trust, and the River Valley School District is thankful for it.