This has been a difficult start to the school year (I know…what a great first blog post, Mike…but I was told vulnerability is okay). For many of us the last 18 months have been hard. There have been times when I’ve wondered if I’m the right person ACS needs during this challenging pandemic. Last year [...]
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….” Those famous opening lines of Charles Dickens’ novel, A Tale of Two Cities. The novel begins with, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was [...]
Prepare yourself, I’m going to complain. Yes, it’s probably not healthy and it goes against my typically moderate stance on anything that gets posted on social media, but I’m doing it anyways. I, Karin Riemer, mother of a kindergarten student, think that Kindergarten Gradual Entry is the worst! Professionally, as an educator and an elementary [...]
I dug up some old digital photos one Sunday morning this summer. We actually had all our kids together gathered around the TV for a worship service and afterwards I played these old photos as a post-service montage. We reminisced and relived the moments of when the kids were very young. We noticed that many [...]
BY FLO KEHLER, ACS PARENT AND BOARD MEMBER Friends always knew to bring Kleenex to the end-of-year chapel when our youngest, Brett, would complete his time at an ACS campus. They knew, inevitably, that my emotions would get the best of me. They would hug me, nudge me, wink at me, and know that moving [...]
This past school year had its challenges to say the least! We navigated the two big C's: COVID-19 and construction. Both C's meant school had to be done differently. We stayed in our cohorts (another C word!), and we learned new routines like wearing a mask and using hand sanitizer whenever we moved from one [...]
What a year! Looking back on the past school year, we can all agree it’s been nothing short of memorable. Doing school through a pandemic is full of challenges and blessings. And through it all, we can see God’s grace and his goodness. We asked our elementary staff to share their reflections and special moments [...]
I love being at the elementary campus right before recess. The anticipation of going outside, getting fresh air, and being able to run and play with friends is palpable. I would dare say that for a high percentage of students, recess is a highlight of their day. Especially on a beautiful sunny day. Carefree I [...]
“If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not BIG enough.” I know what it’s like to dream, but I also know what it’s like to not be able to pay my bills. I know what it’s like to get an eviction notice. I know what it’s like to lose my job and not find [...]
“Leanne,” I wrote to my editor, “I think I just wrote a book.” Those words catapulted me into a world I had never dreamt I would be in. I mean, I teach math and science, what business do I have writing a book? I have plenty of excuses to NOT write a book: busyness, fear, [...]
