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Welcome to Fourth Grade!
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Congratulations to our February Award winners:

Academic Acheivement:  Halana Rivera
Personal Acheivement:  Jade Page
Core Quality (acceptance):  Jacob "Wolfie" Woolery
Kiwanis Student of the Month:  Chriscerica Reyes




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Wolfie and class on his last day in the class.
Announcement Page updated March 13.


Check out the new photos from Dr. Seuss night in the Image Gallery!




A little about me:

kristen_and_i_at_dads_weekend.jpg My daughter Kristen and I at Dad's weekend at Oregon State University last Fall.

I was born and raised in upstate New York in a small town along the Erie canal between Rochester and Syracuse.  Both my parents were school teachers.  My Dad taught at the High School and my Mom in the Junior High in the same school district I attended so it was hard getting away with much at school!  They both taught Social Studies and SS remains my favorite subject to this day!
My Mom, brother, sister and I on our summer trip in 1974. I'm the one in the back standing in the state of Utah at the 4 corners monument.
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I was the oldest of three kids.  My younger sister, Melissa lives in Sacramento, California and is a Physician's assistant.  Her 8 year old boy (Jack) is starting 3rd grade this year.  My younger brother Jeff lives in Orlando, Florida along with his wife and three boys.  They are in 6th, 3rd and 1st Grades.

After High School, I went to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA and obtained a bachelor's degree in International Relations.  I then obtained a Masters Degree in International Relations from Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY.  I met my future wife, Karen while at Lehigh, and we were married right after graduating from Syracuse in 1984.

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My three nephews (Jeffrey - 3rd grade, Jakey - 1st grade and Rocliffe - 6th grade) and I outside the Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse Universtiy.


Our Honeymoon was the trip to my first duty station in the US Army at Fort Huachuca, AZ.  I also spent time at Ft. Irwin, CA, Ft. Benning, GA and Ft. Lewis during my 8 years of active duty and 2 years of reserve duty.
An Abrams tank at Live Fire excercises at Fort Irwin, California
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After the Army, I held odd jobs like selling cars, selling loans and selling pizza before I decided that I didn't like selling anything.  I went back to school and got another Master's Degree, this one in teaching from City University of Seattle.

I started teaching in 1999.  I was a substitute teacher in both the Bethel and Franklin Pierce School Districts.  I was the long term substitute for my youngest daughter's 2nd grade class.  My youngest, Kerilynn is now a senior at Franklin Pierce HS and my oldest, Kristen is a sophomore at Oregon State University.  Along with my wife, Karen, all three help me out alot in the classroom. 
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My wife Karen helps out a lot in the classroom.  She is a nurse and works with new Mom's at the women's clinic at St. Jospeh's hospital.


I started teaching full time in February 2004.  I became a second grade teacher when Mrs. Ard retired.  After my first year, I spent the next 4 years teaching 4th grade.  Last year, I moved back to 2nd grade and this year, I'm back up to 4th again.  I feel a little like a ping pong ball!  It's been hard for me to pick a favorite as I love both grade levels.
My daughter Kerilynn and I on our recent summer trip.  San Diego is in the background. summertrip09_083.jpg


When not teaching, I enjoy sports officiating.  I referee girl's basketball during the winter and boy's baseball during the spring and summer.  I also enjoy traveling and have been to all 50 states and to 2110 US counties.  Click here for a map of the counties I have visited.



Chess Club News
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