Paula Gillispie’s Blog

Can you believe it? Summer vacation is almost over! As soon as one school year is over, we begin planning for the next. In June, I remember thinking we had so much time ahead of us as we approached the first day of school, 2008. How did we get here so quickly?

From the looks of things this week, you would think we were already in session. Parents and children in and out of the building, preliminary meetings, inquiries, teachers working in rooms - it truly is a hub of exciting activity as we anticipate the arrival of our students!

I hope you are visiting the HRA website and checking out the Lower School information. Please note the following information sent home in the July mailing:

• Aug. 14, 6:30 pm - New Parent Orientation - an evening planned for parents new to HRA. We will meet in the Lassen Auditorium.
• Aug. 21, 9:00-11:00 am - Lower School Student Orientation - for parents and students - please drop by your child’s classroom, meet the teacher, and receive information and books. If you have purchased school supplies and want to bring them on this date, please do so. We hope to see you all on this important orientation morning.
• Aug. 21, 9:30-10:30 - Lower School Safety Patrol Training - with Mrs. Glauner and those fourth and fifth grade students wishing to serve as Safety Patrol members for the 2008-2009 school year. Please meet outside Mrs. Gillispie’s office.
• Aug. 22, 8:15 am - First Day of School
• Aug. 22, 1:30 pm - Gator Celebration
• Aug. 28, 7:00 pm - HRA Back-to-School Night - Open House

With the few summer vacation days left ahead of us, some have asked, “What should we do to make sure our children are ready on the first day of school?” At this point, I would suggest that you relax and enjoy the days with your children, for the days do pass so quickly when we are busy. You have prepared your children well for what is ahead at school. We look forward to partnering with you on this next “leg” of your journey. We will love your children and take good care of them while they are in our charge. And that brings me back to the title of this entry.

Some of you may remember Simon and Garfunkel - a duo “back in the day.” They said it best as we approach the end of the summer…”slow down, you move too fast; you’ve got to make the morning last…”

I hope you will do just that. Take time to relax and enjoy the days ahead. We will be waiting for you!

Fondly,

Paula

The summer is quickly passing by. HRA has been a hub of activity as the maintenance crews refurbish the building, teachers drop in to work a bit, and we all prepare for a new school year.

I hope you will take a moment to browse the entire HRA website at www.hra.org. If you go to “Students” and drop down to Lower School, you will find pertinent information. We will post Lower School news here until the new site is up at the end of October.

Currently,  my husband and I are traveling to Atlanta to visit my son and his wife in their new home. In the back of the car are the baseball, football, and basketball cards WE collected over the years, as well as his beginner Ben Hogan golf clubs he had as a small child. He is quite an accomplished golfer as a young man. He has requested, and now they will pass to my son for safekeeping since he is past the college, roommate stages of his life. YES!!! As I gathered the treasures together last night - safely tucked away in a closet for years - so many memories flooded my mind and the room. Some of the best times in my lfe so far - and he admits his, too - were sitting in stadiums - football, basketball, baseball - on golf courses, whether he was playing, or we were watching others. Over the years, we were fortunate to be a part of great T-ball, Little League, and school competitions and to witness the Dallas Cowboys win the Super Bowl, Atlanta Braves win the World Series, Michael Jordan play in the old Chicago Bulls arena, and of course, our beloved Georgia Bulldogs win conference Championships and Bowl Games. All of it came back last night. By now, you are wondering about my personal notes on the Blog…

I share all of this to remind us all that our children are precious to us, and they do grow up so fast. It seems that just a while ago he was a baby, then I was driving back and forth to school, camps, practices, monitoring homework, and doing all the things moms do. Now, today, I am traveling to visit my 30 year old son in the home he and his wife (my former 7th grade English student) just completed building. What a ride it has been, and now we enter a new phase of the journey!

Hold your children close, cherish every minute, and guide them the best that you can. What a gift they are!

More to follow…

Fondly,

Paula

Welcome to my Blog and first entry!

By now, my hope is that you are taking advantage of the opportunity to relax and enjoy all that summer brings. The extraordinary June temperatures send a strong message that summer is definitely underway!

I will be placing entries on the Blog pages throughout the summer and into next school year. I hope you will find them both informative and interesting, if not humorous at times.

Today, the halls of the school are quiet and mostly empty as it approaches 4:00. It can be quite lonely without the sounds of children, teachers, and parents. If the summer goes as quickly as the last school year, we will be back in session in no time.

Until then, stay in touch, be safe, and enjoy a terrific summer!

Fondly,

Paula