“Goodbyes” are often bittersweet - The pleasure of having enjoyed each other’s company balanced against leaving and the uncertainty of when you will meet again. In the School Community, teachers, principals, parents and students experience these “goodbyes” at the end of the school year. This years’ goodbyes at the
Pleasant Hill Elementary School will be particularly emotional.
First, a little background... Our family’s introduction to the Waukesha School District began with a Pleasant Hill school tour 18 years ago. My wife and I were evaluating where to enroll our most precious household commodities and our initial Pleasant Hill impressions hold to this day – A caring, compassionate, personal, dedicated, and great family atmosphere awaited us. It was one of the best early parenting decisions we made. Today my kids are a reflection of the educational start they received at this wonderful school. They experienced “life’s lessons” on a daily basis.
Clinically speaking, this year will be classified as a “transitional year” for the school: New
hires including a new principal, several new teachers, and fresh approaches to educating next years’ students. On a personal level, we will be saying goodbyes to several
people who ultimately became
friends and partners entrusted with molding and preparing our children for their education journey.
And while the vacated teaching positions will be filled, these people could never be “replaced”: Ms’s. Kathy Hillyer, Gail Gaffney, Mary Fredericks, and Robyn Havican. Your passion for our children’s education will be reflected in the successes for entire generations of Pleasant Hill graduates.
A special thank you is extended to the retiring principal, Mrs. Joy Smogor. Where have the years gone…Joy joined this tight-knit community in the early 90’s. It was her first and only principal experience. I was a PTO VP at that time, and I clearly remember our introduction at a Chancery summer lunch. She voiced her personal concerns about joining and leading a staff that was this tightly-knit. Her reservations and openness were refreshingly candid. The “proof is in the pudding” – staff turnover was almost non-existent; family acceptance was immediate; and the educational process flourishes to this day. Joy, I think you can relax now; …the kids are doing fine…
My position as Chair of the
Waukesha Education Foundation Board now provides introductions and insights to staff and administrators District-wide. By and large, the commitment and educational opportunities mirror those offered at Pleasant Hill. But you have to sit-up and take notice when the smallest school in the District; the school where the graduating student numbers will be diluted as ½ of the graduating students will eventually go to South and the rest to North; when this teeny little school then produces 9 out of the “Top 20” North 2007 graduating students cited for scholastic accomplishment. Clearly, something very special was instilled in these students with their early educational underpinnings at Pleasant Hill.
This year’s goodbyes at Pleasant Hill are accompanied with my heart-felt congratulations and best wishes to all moving forward. The school mission statement reads:
” We, the Pleasant Hill School Community, are dedicated to providing a quality education by developing well-rounded individuals, addressing their needs and challenging them to reach their full potential in our increasingly complex and technological world… Together we will encourage an appreciation for learning that will last a lifetime.”Mission accomplished! On behalf of the hundreds of Pleasant Hill families who have been “touched by the magic” - Thank you!
