Eagle News 4/25/2022

Monday, April 25 is a Teacher Work Day. No school for students. The second-grade classes are performing “Glow” this week. Your child’s teacher should have communicated the time of the performance.

We all view life through different lenses, shaped by our own personal experiences. On Friday, we had a Math Madness Week Pi Assembly, as 20 different students shoved pies into my face celebrate meeting their math goals during Math Madness Week. The students, staff, and I had a fun and enjoyable experience. There was one student, however, in the audience who saw the event though a different perspective. We have two Ukrainian refugee students, a boy and girl, both 5^th graders. The young lady was in tears as she saw pie after pie shoved in the principal’s face. It is safe to say that students in Ukraine don’t shove pies into the face of a school leader, and she viewed the pie-in-face assembly as disrespectful to an adult who should be respected. These students left siblings, pets and homes behind in Ukraine, and they can quickly Google the city where they lived and see where bombs have been dropped in their beloved homeland. Though the vast majority in attendance had a lot of fun at the pie assembly, the experience of our refugee student is an important reminder that the world is a lot bigger than Alpine, Utah, often with life changing realities in faraway places.

On Friday, I announced to students, parents and staff that our “One and Done’ fundraiser had brought in a little over $13,000. I forgot that our PTA is donating $5,000 for the purchase of Chromebooks, so in fact we raised $18,000; consequently, we exceeded our $15,000 fundraising goal! I will definitely be sleeping on the roof before the end of the school year. Thank you so much to everyone who donated for “One and Done”, enabling us to purchase updated Chromebooks for our students!

Mrs. Menssen, who has taught 5^th grade this year, will be moving to 4^th grade to be the English Partner Teacher in our Chinese Immersion Program. Mr. Finlayson now needs to hire a 5^th and a 6^th grade teacher. See the attachment for next year’s current staffing assignments

Please submit any Teacher Requests by April 29. The Teacher Request Form is attached and is also available in the office.

Just a reminder that you can bring your ink and toner cartridges to our Staff Room where we have a recycle box. The recycle program brings money to Alpine Elementary.

The following students were recognized as Students of the Week on Friday, April 22. Teachers nominate students who are consistently demonstrating the character traits of the Alpine Big 3: Being Respectful, Responsible and Ready to learn. Congratulations, Students of the Week!

Spencer Anson-5th grade, Mrs. Chang

Armor Arkell-1st grade, Ms. Johnson

Pete Ballif-1st grade, Mrs. Faux

Linden Bateman-6th grade, Mrs. Monson

Eliza Christensen-4th grade, Mrs. Vipperman

Benjamin Cluff-2nd grade, Mrs. Orgill

Rosie Ence-1st grade, Ms. Johnson

Easton Hogge-Kindergarten, Mrs. Aitchison

Joy Hung-6th grade, Mrs. Monson

Valentino Mendez-4th grade, Mrs. Keller

Thomas Simmons-Kindergarten, Mrs. Aitchison

Cora Spencer-5th grade, Mrs. Chang

Daisy Taylor-4th grade, Mrs Keller

Marshall White-5th grade, Mrs. Menssen

Akselander Wilcox-1st grade, Mrs. Faux

It was a joyous week in the Perdue family! Our oldest son, Brady, and wife, Whitney, have been trying to start a family for over five years. They have spent thousands of dollars on in vitro procedures, and two of the IVF attempts were unsuccessful. They of course have been devastated by the unsuccessful in vitro attempts.  And Laura and I have experienced the crushing heartache that comes when what one of our children and spouse so desperately want does not happen. Their faith and resolve have been tested, but they continued to believe that one day a child would come into their lives.  Though Brady and Whitney live in Rapid City, SD, IVF attempt number three (first two procedures in Arizona) at a fertility clinic in Pleasant Grove was successful. And at 5:45 am on April 21, Lily Bea Perdue arrived three weeks early, weighing 6 lbs. 4 oz, and measuring 19 inches long! This is grandchild number 15 for Laura and me, but Lily in our hearts and minds is a miracle baby, so our entire family is elated at her safe arrival.

I fully understand that there are many couples who face issues related to infertility, and that not all couples have the outcome that our son and his wife have had. I have a more profound empathy for those wanting to start a family but are unable to do so.

Have a great week, and as always, remember that it is a great day to be an Eagle!