By MARK GRUEN
Royall School District superintendent
The fall has really flown by, perhaps so quickly that by the time you read this, you might have already missed our first holiday concert of the season. If you did miss the concert, my apologies. Please check out the chronological list of the rest of them below, and plan on joining us.
• 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12 — Seventh- and eighth-grade concert in high school gymnasium
• 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12 — high school concert in high school gymnasium
• 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19 — 4-year-old-kindergarten through third-grade concert in elementary school gymnasium
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As we roll into the holiday season, please be aware of those less fortunate. For many of them, the holidays actually are depressing and stressful. Let this be my reminder to you to reach out and help form a positive memory whenever you can. Hopefully this will instill some “hope” into those less fortunate.
Recently, there was an article that stated that a Gallop poll found that “hope” was the No. 1 indicator of student success, and this is the reason for putting an emphasis on hope this holiday season. That fact really hits home at Royall, where we deal with a large amount of poverty on a daily basis. The gift of hope may very well be the best gift that any of us can give during the holiday season.
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Also right around the corner is our annual Booster Club Alumni Weekend. It is planned for Jan. 13–14.
We kick off Friday night with a spaghetti dinner put on by the Royall Booster Club. Our wall of fame inductees will be unveiled at halftime of the varsity boys game that night.
On Saturday, we will have alumni basketball and volleyball starting at 9 a.m. On Saturday night, we will have an alumni social at the Kendall Community Hall at 6 p.m.
Please consider joining us for all or part of the special weekend. The booster club puts a lot of energy into this annual fundraiser and certainly would appreciate your support.
On the topic of the wall of fame, please consider nominating someone for this prestigious award. You can contact me directly for the application process.
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The next lunch with the superintendent will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12. It is very simple: Join me for lunch to discuss whichever topic you choose, such as budgeting, scheduling, staffing, or even politics. Please call ahead to let me know you are coming so we can plan for the appropriate space. I am also willing to come to you with information. Please give me a call and let me know where you would like to meet, when you would like me to attend, and what to prepare for, and I will be there.
Gruen can be reached at 462-2600 or gruenm@royall.k12.wi.us.