FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS : August heat ushers in brand-new school year
Posted on Tuesday, August 5, 2008
If you're wondering why in blue blazes the weather all of a sudden decided to switch on the heat and turn to the nastiest part of summer, you need look no further than Harmon Field.
The defending state champion Bulldog will gather at Woodland Junior High's cafeteria, which will enable all in attendance to see the spiffy makeover of Woodland's exterior along Woodland Avenue and the remodeled lobby and offices.
The veteran teachers will return to work on Thursday to begin their professional football team and Macy's Parade-bound Bulldog Marching Band began practicing Monday, which always means it's time for the thermometers to do their three-digit dance. Insert your favorite "it's hotter than... "line here, and don't lean on that car !
It also means that the start of school is imminent. It's even more imminent for Asbell and Happy Hollow elementary schools. Their teachers have been back in their classrooms for a few days, and the year begins for them at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
The rest of our schools will wait until Aug. 18, but every building is now humming with activity. I won't even attempt to try and list all of the back-to-school activities that are taking place between now and the first days of school, but check the Web site - www. fayar. net - for your child's school for the latest info.
We hired approximately 75 new teachers this year, and they began their in-service training Monday. I say approximately since there are still a couple of vacancies to fill. The employee buyout that we initiated earlier this year resulted in a higher number of vacancies than usual, since we normally have around 50-60 positions to fill in any given year.
The new teachers will be introduced today at our annual New Teacher Luncheon with the Northside Rotary Club. We development classes and prepare for the coming year. Certified staff members in Arkansas public schools must complete 60 hours of professional development each year to remain licensed. Many of those hours can be obtained in these prior-to-school classes.
Another back-to-school tradition is the annual Education Expo with the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, which will be held this year at 11: 30 a.m. Aug. 15 at the Randal Tyson Indoor Track Center. The center is probably the perfect venue for this event, which features booths from dozens of area businesses and lots of food, goodies and door prizes for the teachers. The chair massage was the most popular booth last year, with long lines for the free five-minute back massage.
After that, there is nothing left to do but scurry to and from air-conditioned places and get ready for the first day of school. Yeah, it will be hot, just like it always is. However, the memories of crisp fall mornings, the smell of smoke coming from the chimney from the first fire of the fall, and the promise of cool weather ahead will sustain us until it actually arrives. Until then, have some more ice cream !
Alan Wilbourn is the public information officer for Fayetteville Public Schools.
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