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Hello Elementary Friends,

During Term One of this year my principal, Malcolm McDonald, asked me to think of an idea from home that I could share with Beaumont Road this year.  Several years ago Mortensen had an emphasis on being a kind and compassionate school, and we implemented a program called Rachel's Challenge.  Here is some information on the program:

Rachel Joy Scott was the first person killed in the Columbine High School shooting on April 20, 1999. But that was only the beginning of the story. After her death, many students that Rachel reached out to shared stories with the Scotts about the profound impact her simple acts of kindness had on their lives; even preventing one young man from taking his own life. They soon realized the transformational effect of Rachel’s story and started the non-profit organization that is Rachel's Challenge today.

Since 1999 when we lost twelve innocent lives, including Rachel, her legacy has touched 22 million people and is the foundation for creating programs that promote a positive climate in K-12 schools. Her vision to start a chain reaction of kindness and compassion is the basis for our mission: Making schools safer, more connected places where bullying and violence are replaced with kindness and respect; and where learning and teaching are awakened to their fullest. And it works!

Here is a link to the Rachel's Challenge Website:

Rachel's Challenge

So - I decided to bring a component of the program to Beaumont Road.  We are calling it the Friendship Links initiative.  Students and teachers write messages of appreciation to each other on colored strips of paper and then link them together.  The chains have really taken off, and are growing across the campus!   The local newspaper (The North Shore Times) heard about it and wanted to publish a story about the exchange program and the Friendship Links!


Here is a link to the digital edition of the North Shore Times.  The article is in the August 11th edition and found on page 33.

North Shore Times

Toward the end of the year we will have a ceremony where we will take all of the Friendship Link Chains outside and connect them all to each other and see how long our chain is!  I am grateful that the Beaumont Road Community has embraced this initiative and that the students are seeing positive results of focusing upon the myriad of acts of kindness that are shown each day!

Even Though I am Overseas, I am Starting Year #35 in an Elementary School!

It is hard to believe that another school year is about to begin in Jefferson County, Colorado.  Even though I am not physically there, I am beginning my 9th year in Jeffco and amazingly, my 35th working in an elementary school!  Mortensen teachers and staff have done an amazing job in getting everything ready for a new school year.  I love the beginning of a year - it is filled with so much enthusiasm and hope for all of those boys and girls.  Our theme this year at Mortensen is "Learning is Magical."  Here is our logo for the year:



I certainly hope that the office staff reserved a T-Shirt for me for when I return!


Each year at the beginning of school I enjoy preparing an inspirational presentation for the staff as a "Send Off for a New Year!"  I was grieving the fact that I would not be able to present this year, and lo and behold, Linda (Interim Principal) asked me to prepare a video for the staff!  That was just enough to get those "mystical" juices flowing.  Here is a very amateur and cheesy send off.  Some of the rest of you may enjoy it because I show you around my school here, and you get to see some of my very amazing students!

Enjoy!

Welcome to a New Year Mortensen!



Finally, we continue to be intrigued with the numerous small restaurants and food stands on all of the streets.  We came upon this one last week about 10 minutes from our home.  I must say that I lived in Texas for over 50 of my nearly 60 years, and I never knew that Texas is known for it's Charcoal Chicken!  We bought some, and it was quite tasty, but unlike anything we ever had back home!




Until next week - have a magical beginning of school and go enjoy a charcoal chicken!



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