Greetings!

I'm sitting down to write this month's column the day after one of the busiest 24 hours I've experienced as a principal… busy, but most memorable. Yesterday morning, I got to school at 6:30 in preparation for the arrival of the WASC Accreditation visiting committee. We were having our three-year mid term review. On a day like this, with so much at stake, you want the campus clean, the staff prepared, the welcome mat out and your best foot forward. In other words, the adrenaline is really pumping. You're not nervous… just wired! The team was scheduled to arrive at 7:45 for an estimated 4½ hr visit to ask questions, tour the campus, visit classrooms, meet with focus group leaders, etc. At 8:10 there was still no sign of the team! While watching for their arrival, I was down in the MPR helping out with introductions for a marvelous theatrical production put on by 6 teachers in front of almost 800 students to pay tribute to "Women in History" month. On my way back to my office to see if the team has arrived, I stopped to see our head custodian making preparations for the staff Bar-BQ at 12:00. He had made a brand new grill and was making his own charcoal by burning down logs of cherry wood. Later that day, the entire staff was treated to a real feast! As I moved down the corridor closer to my office, I checked up on about a dozen art students putting the finishing touches on their 8' x 8' sidewalk chalk art displays (three total). They were beautiful and these kids were amazingly talented. The time approached 8:30 and we saw the visiting team arriving. They "ran into significant traffic on the 118 freeway" coming from Oxnard. The exchange of pleasantries and quick reminiscing from their last visit (3 years ago) gave way to the task at hand… fielding every question imaginable about our test scores, state ranking, various programs, student populations, engaging our parent community, using data to drive instruction, etc. Afterward, they met with all Action Group leaders for more questions… about an hour and a half of them! Since they wanted time to talk candidly with them without my being present, I ventured out to inspect the bronze plaques that were installed that morning on our new Legacy Wall. These plaques were installed to pay tribute to deceased students who were previously honored in some way on campus before modernization. We opened up the amphitheater for students to get onto our new grass that morning and just watching them standing on the turf was very rewarding. I ended up using another office space to get a little work done since the team was using mine. I start ed making a few phone calls to double check on the preparations for the next day's "Bowling for Books" staff fundraiser. I heard that everything was running "smoooooth". By the way, that fundraiser brought in more than 150 new books for our recently opened library. Every strike that was bowled by a staff member meant another book for the Saugus Library. We finally got an opportunity to tour the campus around 11:30. They were impressed at our new facilities and even more impressed at some of the instruction they observed. But even that tour presented a challenge or two. While walking from the Science Building (great labs and demonstrations prepared for that day) to the new Library, it began to hail. Having no umbrellas, we ducked into a classroom and the visitors had a chance to take in some additional instruction. When the WASC team left for the day, I'm happy to report that their findings regarding our campus were "glowing". They were extremely positive about our staff, our kids, our campus and the direction we were going. So now we can relax, right? Not a chance! Open House was only a few hours away and it was time to get everything set up for two assemblies, 52 exhibit tables, multiple performing groups and much more. The rain was off and on throughout the day and we had to make a call as to holding the general assembly outdoors (as planned) or inside (which would have had logistic repercussions). The 8th Grade Orientation in the gym was packed at 5:30, well over 1,000 in the bleachers. It's always great to see parents taking a vested interest in the future of their kids. During the general assembly outside in the Amphitheater, I had a chance to pay tribute to three wonderful friends who will be retiring this June. They are fantastic teachers and three of the most pleasant and gracious people one could ever know. Doug Worley (31 years at Saugus) is one of the last of the original faculty members and his Strategy class has impacted the lives of thousands of students over the years. Jenk Stephenson has served Saugus for 30 years in the Business Department and everyone has relied on his expert help on computers at some t i m e . K a t h i e Davidson has been an integral part of the Saugus Math Department for 27 years and is leaving behind a legacy of inspired students and gifted teaching. The teachers were absolutely fabulous on Open House night. What a variety of classroom activities on display! While walking through the Art building, I had a feeling that I was strolling through a real gallery. I have to say, we have some very talented students on this campus. While visiting the Anatomy class, I was quickly tested by the students on the skeletal system. I'm happy to report that I still remember almost every bone (except I missed the "distal" part of the phalanges when questioned). We got out of here around 10:00 after making sure everything was all wrapped up and put away. Overall, a very, very successful day… and a long one! You know what the ironic side is to this recounting? Simply this… they called this a "minimum day"! As always… It's great to be a Centurion!