Like it or not, students are heading back to school

Principals and teachers eager for school year to get
going despite budget cuts
by NATHAN WRIGHT, Staff Writer
Maureen Grafeld is planning on growing some children in her
school’s new greenhouse. The principal of Windsor Creek Elementary
watched the local Rotarians donate and build a greenhouse over the
summer, and Grafeld is anxious to get started.
“Children are our little seeds,” she said. “We’re ready to go.
We’re jazzed. We’re excited!”
The theme of this school year at WCE is gardening, and Grafeld
gave each of her teachers a book called “Mrs. Spitzer’s Garden,”
which tells of a teacher who teaches her children with a garden.
“It’s a book written by a parent to thank teachers for what a
wonderful job they do,” said Grafeld.
Despite the cuts to statewide education, Grafeld and principals
throughout the Windsor Unified School District are finding ways to
stay positive. “We’re excited, with budget cuts and all,” she
said.
Cali Calm/cac Charter School is also using a garden to teach its
students. The school hosts culinary arts students from Windsor High
School, who show students how to cook.
“We have a new cooking station,” said Cali Calm/cac Principal
Ginger Dale, “so kids can prepare meals right out in the
garden.”
The school will also be getting a new two-story classroom
building and a gym later this school year. “We have very little
parking right now because of the construction, we’re asking
everyone to be patient,” said Dale. “We’re asking parents to just
drop their kids off.”
It’s business as usual for Mattie Washburn Principal Benita
Jones. “We’re ready to go,” she said. “We’re just looking for
another great year.”
The school was given a fresh coat of paint this summer, and
Jones said “it looks beautiful.”
The school’s music program continues to thrive, thanks to
community fundraising.
“Thanks to the Windsor Educational Foundation we have new
microphones and a sound system for our music program,” Jones said.
“We were also able to purchase some new play equipment and game
tables with money from box tops for education.”
The school also received $2,000 from the Cash For Class program,
and will be looking for some exciting ways to use it, Jones
said.
Brooks Elementary, like Cali Calm/cac, is also getting new
facilities. A new office, library, and a computer lab complex are
all under construction, and will be ready sometime this school
year.
“It’s going to be very nice when it’s done,” said Brooks’ new
principal, Shannyn Vehmeyer. “It’s supposed to be done in
January.”
Because of the construction, Vehmeyer is asking parents to avoid
the construction area when dropping off their students. “We realize
it’s going to take some extra time, but for the safety of the
children, we’d prefer they only drop off at the front of the
school,” she said.
Despite the construction, the school will be continuing with its
reading program, which survived the budget cuts. The reading lab on
campus offers small group instruction for students struggling in
reading, something of great importance to Vehmeyer.
“I strongly believe all kids can learn,” she said. “It’s our job
to find the niche that works for them.”
The population at Windsor High School continues to grow, with
about 150 more students coming through the doors this fall. The
school was able to add teachers because of the growing population,
and vice-principal Patricia Law believes that it will be a great
year.
“We know it’s going to be tough with budget cuts, but we have a
dedicated staff who are committed to students and their education.
We have some great new staff members who come with a lot of
experience.”
AVID, a program designed to prepare students for college, is
being initiated at WHS for 11th and 12th graders; the football team
has a new coach; and Law believes that this year’s leadership group
is going to do some great things for the school.
Windsor Middle School opened its doors to approximately 970
students, all of whom will be doing with a little less space for
lunchtime and break activities. The campus is involved in a major
construction project, which will create seven new classrooms and a
bathroom complex. The project is scheduled to be completed by fall
of 2004.
Over the summer, a climbing wall was built in the school’s gym.
“It’s an exciting addition to the Windsor Middle School campus,”
said Principal Loren Barker. The wall will be used by students in
the coming year as part of the growing physical education
program.