After a trying year with quarantines and resets. Sean Martinson and Clayton Lindner have been consistent and calm throughout every change that was handed to us. Their ability to remain calm and consistent have been the building blocks for our staff to do the same. We really appreciate them!

I just wanted to share a major note of appreciation for our GRHS tech guy, Randy. Randy always makes certain that I have everything I need to make the tech part of my lesson run smoothly. For years, he has made sure to have my classroom set up perfectly to be able to video call with numerous guest speakers. These sessions have opened up the world (quite literally) for my students and provided them experiences that they may not be able to have without technology. The photos below show my students Zooming with Sayed, a refugee from Afghanistan, as we learn about migration and refugee situations throughout the world.

I want to acknowledge Kimberley Powell for going above and beyond her nursing duties yesterday! After finishing her busy day at the school, she took her personal time to pick up groceries and supplies for a family who could not get to the store due to the entire household quarantining.

Jennifer Morrison is a fantastic para. She is organized, hard-working, has good rapport with students, is calm, determined and also very helpful and supportive of other staff. Although new to our district, she is a real leader, obviously experienced and a positive person, an invaluable member of Independent School District 318. I am blessed to share a classroom with her.

I want to thank Gigi Pehrson and Julie Rasmussen. Last Thursday, we were notified that middle and high schools now need to offer saliva testing for students. Each of them took it in stride and had an organized plan adapted and additional test kits ordered by Friday morning.

I know both of their plates are already overflowing, but instead of complaining, they took it in stride, and did just what they needed to keep kids safe and the district in compliance. We are so lucky to have them with us! And it’s just one more example of why we have the best Admin Professionals around!

Out of the blue my son who is in 8th grade asks me, "do you know why Ms. Holm is my favorite teacher mom?" I said I assume it's because it is gym class? He said, "no, she is the only teacher that gives me compliments and makes me feel like I am good at something." Thank you Ms. Holm for supporting these kids in some of the most difficult years of their lives developmentally and during this most difficult school year. You are a Rock Star!

Thank you to Liz Cherne and Emily Hermel! They do such a great job managing new enrollments, address changes, and everything necessary for new and returning students. I know the job has gotten harder with moves to and from homeschool and online schools too. Not every district sees the number of incoming students that we do during the year, but these two handle it with ease. Thank you for being the first welcome to our new kids and families.

Thanks to the GRHS staff for being so helpful to subs. Willing to show us around, show us where things are, etc. Kindness is appreciated!

A BIG shout out to the GRHS Staff for filling in for each other in times of absences. As substitute teachers are in short supply, our teachers are willing to give up their precious preparation time or add onto their class sizes to take on students from absent staff. Team work!
An additional shout out to third floor teachers - without your smiles, humor, great ideas and support this tough year would be a lot tougher!! It is so great to be able to walk into anyone's room and get an enthusiastic greeting! Thank you!!

I would like to give praise to the Cohasset Elementary staff, who on a daily basis, execute the most safe, well-run, efficient student pick-up line! Special kudos to Mrs. Lindner, who seamlessly connects the faces of the parents with their students since Day #1 - simply amazing! The pick-up line is just another example of the kind and caring staff at Cohasset Elementary who go above and beyond. Thanks for everything you do for our students!

A student's mom sent this text to Zak Edminster: "thanks Zak! you have no idea how much you mean to our family and how much we appreciate your love and dedication to our son." I am so grateful to be surrounded by professionals who truly care for the kids in our care and it clear parents are just as appreciative and grateful for loving, caring, compassionate, empathetic professionals at the GRHS.

I want to acknowledge Mr. Galinski and Mrs. Dekich who are teaching art and music to Connect Ed students at East Rapids Elementary. Every week I see amazing creativity and innovative thinking in the activities they assign kids. Engaging with students on Seesaw can be extremely challenging, but these two have risen to the occasion and given our distance learners something to be excited about! It is not easy to come up with activities that require little to no materials for both art and music, and yet these two continue to amaze me every single week. My students love doing art and music and I love seeing their work! Thank you for your hard work and dedication to teaching ALL of our students at East Rapids!

My daughter has been in ConnectEd all school year. She has always struggled with math. One evening she was having a hard time doing her IXL's. Erin Pocquette (Bigfork Math teacher) was kind enough to go on zoom with her for well over an hour, taking away from her family/personal time and helping my daughter immensely. Erin is not even her math teacher this year. (Her ConnectEd teacher rocks as well), and still went above and beyond to make sure she understood it all and could succeed in math. ALL teachers have dealt with so much during this pandemic and at the same time helping students in all aspects of life. Thank you Erin! :)

My husband and I would like to thank you very much for the way that you have taught our daughter this year. She has often struggled in math class in the past, and her confidence suffered. The way that you have structured your class builds her up, and she sees her own success. She has had a rough go of it lately, and I can’t tell you how thankful we are.

We had a symptomatic staff member with a test kit at home, but he does not have internet access or a smartphone. Our tech guy, Denny, was here and helped us figure out a way. We could not get our internet to work anywhere outside of the building's walls, so Denny ran a 50-foot cable from our reception desk out the front door. The ill staff member drove his car up on the sidewalk to the door, and we brought a laptop out to his car which we connected via the cable. He sat in his car with the computer to do the test, then called us to come get the computer when he was finished. It attracted a lot of questions, but it worked.

Pam Francisco is an amazing teacher. She goes above and beyond to make sure everyone is enjoying themselves. Here she is outside before anybody else gets here blowing the sidewalks off to make sure everything is perfect for our final pickup day in Bigfork!

Thank you for everything you did to make graduation special and meaningful for the kids in Bigfork!

We had the privilege of delivering breakfast and lunches to students this spring and we got to wash buses together! Thank you to our school district for providing jobs for us! We had a blast together and the employees at the bus garage were great to work with!!

Saying THANK YOU just doesn't seem like enough when it comes to our Food Service, Bus Drivers and Paras. We have been getting meals delivered for a few weeks now and it has been stress-relieving, hope-instilling, and sanity-saving all in one. The highlight of my children's day is meeting the school bus to say “Hello” and “Thank you” to the Bus Driver and Para(s) delivering food. They always have a smile on their face and are day-makers for two little girls. As a mom working full time from home, this has been a sanity-saver for me. THANK YOU to our Food Service Staff; THANK YOU to our Bus Drivers; and THANK YOU to our Paras for brightening my children's day and saving my sanity!

The custodial team at RJEMS is simply wonderful! I have yet to meet a single staff member that doesn't go above and beyond his/her normal duties to keep the school running like a well-oiled machine. There are always smiles on their faces and a continual willingness to help students and staff alike. We greatly appreciate all you do for us! Thank you.

Our GRHS Custodians always go above and beyond, especially for our home events at the high school. I wanted to also thank them for cleaning the hallway of trophies and cases, that is a huge task, and they look awesome.

I would like to send a shout out to our awesome secretary Geraldene. She is always so kind and thoughtful and always doing things for our staff, students and families. We have watched her handle very stressful situations with grace and a smile and she makes our days better by being here. We appreciate her so much!

A great big thank you to office staff Sandy Anselmo, JoAnn Jorgensen, Kim Powell, food service, bus drivers, and all the ESPs for helping organize and carry out day care organizations, meal deliveries & pick up, and materials pick up. They have been so patient in answering parent & teacher questions. We couldn't do anything without you!

Big shout out to everyone in the Technology Department and specifically Bill, Nichole, Denny, and Chris for always answering questions with a smile and sense of humor. Bigfork Elementary Team had a lot of questions regarding SeeSaw, Google Hangouts, etc. and you were always available to help us and answer our questions. During the Distance Learning Planning Period, things were changing fast and the Technology Department was consistently taking calls, answering questions, and problem-solving for us. Thanks for being so helpful, happy, and supportive of staff during this unique time!

Rob Eide is top-notch! I have had him help me with my son's lost iPad, and he came on the same day I put in a request to have a student iPad fixed. He does a great job and is always kind and courteous. Our tech department does a fantastic job taking care of all the devices we have in the district. Thank you!!  

I am so thankful that I can go to work and know that Cohasset School will be plowed out and our walkway cleared so we can safely walk to work. Thank you to our maintenance peeps who are up extra early to do this for us and the entire district!!

Bruce Goodwin has come into Murphy this year and done a fantastic job! He listened and learned and then has done everything in his power to find success. He constantly shows how much he cares about the kids, their families, and the staff. We are so lucky to have him, and so thankful that we do!

I was asked to email Greig Olson at the Bus Garage about a student who left his backpack on his AM bus (thinking that the student would get it on the way home). Not long after, Greig called to see what color it was and then surprised us by showing up at Cohasset with the backpack knowing it would make a difference in this student's day - especially for this student. Thank you, Greig, for going out of your way!

Our Student Support Specialists deserve huge props. They are such wonderful supports to our students and our teachers. They take the time to ensure that our students feel safe, welcome and are so great at balancing so many things throughout the day. They are truly appreciated!

Dave Lostetter has stepped in to the role as Forest Lake Principal and has been doing a great job! He knows how prioritize what our building needs and is willing to help in whatever way.

Melissa King is a true team player at Southwest Elementary. She is always working with teachers, paraprofessionals, and parents to ensure the success of her program and students. She is willing to have a voice to speak up and advocate for students and families. She takes great pride in our school and works diligently to ensure it is a positive environment.