January 6, 2014

Dear Sandy, Thank you so much for all that you have done for the 7th grade this year and in prior years. Your contributions have added much value to the 7th grade program and you have in general been an excellent member of the 7th grade Team. The common periods and various 7th grade events have, thanks in part to your efforts, helped the students to become more aware of their behavior and attitude both in school and out and taught important social skills. The holiday card writing to the troops and the hunger/poverty awareness sculptures were fun and educational and, more importantly, raised students awareness about people who help and need us. The Starlab activity, roller coaster competition, Apollo 13 movie event, Rizzos Reptiles, and Astronomy Night at NA were all hits with the students. These events nicely reinforced the science content they study in class and again, more importantly, helped the students to better work together in small and big groups. The Team very much appreciates your efforts during the team meetings to introduce discussions revolving around various larger educational issues. The video clip you showed us of that wonderfully inspiring teacher was just what we needed. Her reaction to the student who was upset because he scored 2/25 on a test was refreshing. She told him hey, you got a couple right thats a start, get your head up (or something like that). It was a great reminder to us that we are in the business of helping young people who often are challenged in a variety of ways. Your suggestion that we go on a whale watch on the Boston capstone trip was particularly insightful. Despite (or because of?) the physical challenges involved, the whale watch vies now for the #1 event of the trip! The Sterling Hill Zinc Mine trip that you have organized for years, and which is now part of the capstone experience, remains one of the highlights of the year for the students. Again, Sandy, thank you for giving so much of your time and energy to providing our 7th graders with such a rich and rewarding extracurricular program. Garrett Caldwell 7th Grade Team Leader