Crystal had two seperate sessions (with lots of different outfits and really great looks), so selecting only a few to post was really hard (she several other really great ones that made it hard to pick which to post)!
Jen
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Raven boys off to school
Well, Ryan jumped right up and was dressed and ready for school by 7:10. It did take a while to get him to eat his cereal, but he is now off to school with Jeff at 7:30. He and dad wore their Raven shirts together. But boy is he observant! I went around the corner to the entry hall and caught him touching his helmet logo and staring at it. I said something about how nice he looked and he said "it's a little red." I didn't understand and said that it still looked good. Later when I was taking their picture together and they were standing by each other, I understood what he was talking about. Jeff's word RAVEN on the logo is white and his is red! I sure wouldn't have caught that with out seeing them side by side (but Mr. observant) Ryan sure did.
Anyway, here are some pictures of the two Raven boys.
Anyway, here are some pictures of the two Raven boys.
While he was eating, I told Ryan that he and his dad look alike, but that he is cuter. When I took their pictures together,Ryan says, "dad we may look alike, but mom says I'm cuter."
Jen
Jen
Monday, August 20, 2007
Megan
Here are some photo's of my niece (Jeff's sisters daughter) Megan. Megan will be a senior at Pittsburg High this fall. Isn't she pretty! Jeff says she looks like him (LOL). I disagree, since she has a lot more hair and is just overall better looking :)
Jen
Saturday, August 18, 2007
My Dad
My father was in a local newspaper article back home this week cover the start of the new school year. As a high school principal, my father has been in the Victoria school district for 23 years. That is pretty amazing for a person to remain a principal in one place for 23 years, but dad was not only a principal he does the transportation scheduling things, activities and athletics scheduling, class scheduling, etc. He has even stepped up and sponsored the National Honor Society so it could remain active when no teacher wanted to take the time and do the work involved to sponsor the group. This year my dad will be inducted into the Hall of Fame for the high school (a fitting honor as he prepares for retirement in the next few years). Needless to say Jeff, the kids and I are very proud of him!
Here is the article from the paper (the picture from the paper is above ~ I'm still not sure how I can place the picture elsewhere in the text yet!).
JEFF GIRALDO / Hays Daily News Mike Kreller, principal for Victoria High School, invites seniors, from left, Chrissy Leikam, Janae Brungardt, Taylor Lang and Cade Scott into his office to discuss the instructional television class they will be taking this year.
Principals listen, learn on the job
By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN
Hays Daily News
Thursday was the first full day of school for students at the two Catholic schools in Hays, as well as the public school in nearby Victoria.
The leaders of those schools have a wide range of experience at their respective jobs, from the veteran of the group in Victoria to a first-time principal in Hays.
Mike Kreller began his 23rd year as principal at Victoria High School like so many years before.
Denis Coakley is in just his second year as principal at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School in Hays.
And Jana Simon begins her debut as a principal as she takes over the reins at Holy Family Elementary School in Hays.
Victoria features a plethora of experience in administration.
Following Kreller in number of years as principals in USD 432 are David Ottley, in his 24th year at Victoria Elementary School, including eight as assistant principal or principal.
Kreller said each year is a learning experience for him as well as the students. And of all the things he has learned during the years, there is one that sticks out above all the rest -- to listen.
"Listen to the students, listen to the families, listen to the faculty," said Kreller, the longest tenured principal in Ellis County.
Coakley is a quick learner.
"To rely on the faculty and staff; they know what they're doing," Coakley said of things he learned this past year. "Trust their experience, trust their wisdom."
Simon, although new to the role of principal, has 14 years experience in education. And she has relied on that knowledge the past few weeks.
"Patience," she said with a laugh when asked what she has learned since coming to Holy Family in July. "And that not everybody sees things the same way. That's going to be the key: Listen to what people are saying."
Kreller said he heard a quote several years ago from Fort Hays State University President Edward Hammond, one he thinks of often.
"He said that administration is a service function, and I always remembered that," Kreller said. "My job as an administrator is to make everyone's job as easy as I can."
Coakley he said he is ready to hit the ground running for his second year. Actually, he'll be doing more walking than running.
He has been slowed by illness since this summer when he returned to his native New York to visit his mother.
Coakley was diagnosed with pneumonia in New York and was hospitalized two different times with two blood clots in his left lung.
Coakley said he is supposed to take it easy for a while, and he doesn't think he'll have any problem following doctor's orders.
"I've been really tired and have to take it slow," Coakley said. "I know I'm not taking any vacations anytime soon."
That's because he's 0-for-2 in that category since this spring. He went to visit friends in San Diego over Easter break and got stung by a jellyfish.
"I'm going to play it safe and stay in the office from now on," he said.
Maybe so.
But he still has lots of big plans for the new school year, including the introduction of PowerSchool, a Web-based student management system used to record grades, courses and other school information from which parents also can access their child's grades.
One of the biggest changes in the daily routine last year was moving the traditional weekly Mass on Wednesday from the three local parishes back to campus, at Al Billinger Fieldhouse, for safety issues.
"We're trying to steer away from the 'That's-what-we've-always-done' attitude," he said. "Sometimes change is good. If we think it's better, let's at least try it."
The principals agreed there also are some don'ts to remember along the way.
"Don't ever ask someone to do something that you wouldn't be willing to do yourself," said Kreller, who has done his share of answering phones, moving chairs and carrying tables during the last three decades.
One night at an athletic event, Kreller was called upon to clean a toilet.
"There wasn't a custodian on duty, and somebody had to do it," he said. "So I rolled up my sleeves, put my gloves on and cleaned it up."
Reporter Diane Gasper-O'Brien can be reached at (785) 628-1081, Ext. 126, or by e-mail at dobrien@dailynews.net.
In session
Classes in other Ellis County schools begin next week, all Tuesday.
Hays High School will have a full day of school, while the elementary and middle schools in Hays USD 489 will have a half day of school.
In Ellis, all schools in USD 388, as well as St. Mary Elementary School, will begin with a half day Tuesday.
Principals listen, learn on the job
By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN
Hays Daily News
Thursday was the first full day of school for students at the two Catholic schools in Hays, as well as the public school in nearby Victoria.
The leaders of those schools have a wide range of experience at their respective jobs, from the veteran of the group in Victoria to a first-time principal in Hays.
Mike Kreller began his 23rd year as principal at Victoria High School like so many years before.
Denis Coakley is in just his second year as principal at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School in Hays.
And Jana Simon begins her debut as a principal as she takes over the reins at Holy Family Elementary School in Hays.
Victoria features a plethora of experience in administration.
Following Kreller in number of years as principals in USD 432 are David Ottley, in his 24th year at Victoria Elementary School, including eight as assistant principal or principal.
Kreller said each year is a learning experience for him as well as the students. And of all the things he has learned during the years, there is one that sticks out above all the rest -- to listen.
"Listen to the students, listen to the families, listen to the faculty," said Kreller, the longest tenured principal in Ellis County.
Coakley is a quick learner.
"To rely on the faculty and staff; they know what they're doing," Coakley said of things he learned this past year. "Trust their experience, trust their wisdom."
Simon, although new to the role of principal, has 14 years experience in education. And she has relied on that knowledge the past few weeks.
"Patience," she said with a laugh when asked what she has learned since coming to Holy Family in July. "And that not everybody sees things the same way. That's going to be the key: Listen to what people are saying."
Kreller said he heard a quote several years ago from Fort Hays State University President Edward Hammond, one he thinks of often.
"He said that administration is a service function, and I always remembered that," Kreller said. "My job as an administrator is to make everyone's job as easy as I can."
Coakley he said he is ready to hit the ground running for his second year. Actually, he'll be doing more walking than running.
He has been slowed by illness since this summer when he returned to his native New York to visit his mother.
Coakley was diagnosed with pneumonia in New York and was hospitalized two different times with two blood clots in his left lung.
Coakley said he is supposed to take it easy for a while, and he doesn't think he'll have any problem following doctor's orders.
"I've been really tired and have to take it slow," Coakley said. "I know I'm not taking any vacations anytime soon."
That's because he's 0-for-2 in that category since this spring. He went to visit friends in San Diego over Easter break and got stung by a jellyfish.
"I'm going to play it safe and stay in the office from now on," he said.
Maybe so.
But he still has lots of big plans for the new school year, including the introduction of PowerSchool, a Web-based student management system used to record grades, courses and other school information from which parents also can access their child's grades.
One of the biggest changes in the daily routine last year was moving the traditional weekly Mass on Wednesday from the three local parishes back to campus, at Al Billinger Fieldhouse, for safety issues.
"We're trying to steer away from the 'That's-what-we've-always-done' attitude," he said. "Sometimes change is good. If we think it's better, let's at least try it."
The principals agreed there also are some don'ts to remember along the way.
"Don't ever ask someone to do something that you wouldn't be willing to do yourself," said Kreller, who has done his share of answering phones, moving chairs and carrying tables during the last three decades.
One night at an athletic event, Kreller was called upon to clean a toilet.
"There wasn't a custodian on duty, and somebody had to do it," he said. "So I rolled up my sleeves, put my gloves on and cleaned it up."
Reporter Diane Gasper-O'Brien can be reached at (785) 628-1081, Ext. 126, or by e-mail at dobrien@dailynews.net.
In session
Classes in other Ellis County schools begin next week, all Tuesday.
Hays High School will have a full day of school, while the elementary and middle schools in Hays USD 489 will have a half day of school.
In Ellis, all schools in USD 388, as well as St. Mary Elementary School, will begin with a half day Tuesday.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Big Brother
This is a picture from a recent session with a four year old boy and one year old girl. I really love this picture! The boy is a very good big brother and really looked out for his sister.
In case you didn't notice, these two children closely resemble my own kids (but they aren't). In fact they are so similar in hair color, height, etc, that my husband had to do a double take when he saw their pictures.
Jen
Jen
Back to school
It is so hot it doesn't feel like school should be starting. I plan to begin sessions with fall themes within the next month, so hopefully it will cool off soon.
Ryan had his preschool orientation today! The trip to school went fairly well. Ryan said he was not excited, but I caught him doing a little dance and jumping around while putting on his shoes (he thought no one was looking). He marched into the school and went straight to his room with no hesitation. For a guy not wanting to go to school he did pretty well.
Above are some pictures from this morning. My favorite is Ryan and Allie holding hands during the school tour.
Enjoy the school year and be sure to watch for information about the fall specials coming next month.
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