Dear Parents,

I have always treasured family stories and I will never forget the time my grandfather told me about one of his favorite fishing holes, Lost Lake in eastern Washington. "...and you pret' near had to hide behind a tree to put a worm on the hook!" What a humorous image that phrase created in my mind. I can still picture my grandfather crouching behind a tree with the lake on the other side, large trout jumping onto the shore trying desperately to get at the worm my grandfather was working out of a Prince Albert tobacco can to place on his fish hook. As he told me that story, he had that certain glint in his eye and the telling wrinkles on his face that soon turned into his distinctive laugh that was always so infectious.

As I was reminiscing, one of the Discoverer students peered at me through the door to his classroom and whispered "Hello Russ." He wore a full-face smile that instantly brightened the room and was at least as infectious as my grandfather's laugh. A parent who was volunteering at the front desk saw what was going on and smiled as well. Soon our conversation turned to last night's parent meeting and she told me that both her and her husband were very impressed by the positive energy and the light-hearted family feeling that they experienced at the meeting.

As I led a visitor from Colorado through the school yesterday, she observed this as well. During the tour I watched her become more and more animated as she talked with several staff members, observed children engaged in learning, and listened in on choir practice. She immediately filled out two applications for her daughters, commented on what a joyful place our school is, and was worried only that one of her children would be on a waiting list to get into our school.

Kids' laughter, happy teachers, smiling parents... it is that joy for living and learning that makes Swan School such a special place. When you add in the cheery classrooms and the spring flowers, it's simply a wonder that smiles just haven't become completely stuck on our faces :-)

Well I've got to get going, it's recess time and I just can't resist all of those smiling happy children.

Russ