Thank you, school volunteers

By Jerry Ness | The Daily Journal

Originally published 12:00 p.m., April 23, 2008
Updated 12:00 p.m., April 24, 2008

Volunteers, you are great. April 27-May 3 is National Volunteer Week, and I can’t let the week go by without publicly thanking all the tremendous volunteers who share their time and talents with students and staff in District 544.

If anyone doubts that our community cares about children, consider this: During the 2007-08 school year, we had nearly 600 community members who volunteered their time, the majority of them in the classrooms working with students. We had 200-plus speakers who came into classrooms for nearly 350 presentations on topics ranging from careers to health issues to investing. In addition, 52 businesses are participating in the Adopt-a-Class program, both financially contributing to every K-6 class and sharing their time and expertise with there “adopted” classrooms.

Volunteers provide many of the extras that enhance the work done by our teachers and staff, and it’s hard to imagine what our schools would be like without volunteers. Our students benefit so much from our community’s willingness to get involved in education and in their lives.

I know that my thank you can’t match the smiles and gratitude of the students, but I do want you to know that you are appreciated.

Severe Weather Awareness Week

Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety, National Weather Service, American Red Cross and Minnesota School Safety Center collaborated this year in producing materials for Severe Weather Awareness Week, April 21-25. Information, resources for teachers and the on-line Tornado Drill Survey can be found at www.severeweather.state.mn.us.

The statewide tornado drill at 1:45 p.m. April 24 gives schools the opportunity for their annual severe weather drill and testing their NOAA weather alert radios. A second drill at 6:55 p.m. (in participating counties) gives families a chance to practice sheltering in their homes.

All of our schools will be participating in the afternoon drill, and we encourage families to participate in the evening drill.

Administrative Professionals Day

Each year we celebrate our administrative assistants for their wonderful work during Administrative Professional’s Week, which this year is April 21-27.

I was curious about the origination of the observation, so I did an on-line search about Administrative Professionals Day, formally called Secretary’s Day. At www.holidayinsights.com I learned that Harry F. Klemfuss of the public relations firm of Young and Rubicam created National Professional Secretaries Week and National Secretary’s Day in 1952. Klemfuss recognized the value of secretaries to a business, and his goal was to encourage more women to become secretaries.

Today, the title is evolving, but the recognition is equally important. There are two new terms in use: administrative professionals and executive admins. The two terms can mean different roles at different businesses.

District 544 and Special Education Cooperative 935 have many quality secretaries who are valued employees. Please join me in thanking them for their dedication, excellence and loyalty in serving the students, staff and community.

Jerry Ness is the superintendent of the Fergus Falls school District. His column appears on Wednesday.