DRIVE-BY RETIREMENT

Lynnell (Shelley) Fox has been one of my dearest

friends since the mid 1960's.

I met Lynnell in 2nd grade.

Renae's grandfather is Lynnell's great grandfather.

George F. Shelley.

Namesake of Shelley Elementary.

(You can't name schools anymore after

people or towns)

We went to school together.

Had dancing lessons together.

Lynnell went to Weber State with Raylene & Renae.

She married Terry write before we started teaching.

She started teaching in Ogden where they lived.

Then, they moved to American Fork to live in

her grandfather's home, across the street from Renae.

She taught at Geneva Elementary, then she began the

"Frisky Fox Preschool"

After 19 years, she was hired to teach at

Greenwood Elementary.

(Renae's dad was the first principal,

and was there for years.)

Lynnell taught 19 preschool, and

19 in 2 districts.

Terry was a policeman in Ogden and

American Fork.  

Then, he was the Chief of Police.

After retiring from that, he was a policeman

at BYU.

I saw him a few times at games.

Good luck with retirement!!!

AUGUST ALPINE ELEMENTARY RETIRED TEACHERS' LUNCH

The Women of Alpine Elementary

On Tuesday, August 20, we celebrated the start

of our 7th year of monthly retired lunches!

We always go the first day (even if it's not a Monday)

and we always go to the Blue Lemon in Highland.

Row 1:  Karen Peterson (1st & 2nd), Linda Dibb (1st, 2nd, & 5th),

Ruth Anderson (Kindergarten), Bonna Hanson (Media), Diane Durrant

(Kindergarten)

Row 2:  Cathy Tibbitts (1st, 6th, BYU Cohorts), Carolyn Hutchings

(1st, 2nd, & 4th), Cheryl Dominguez (4th, 5th, & 6th), Adonna Iverson (1st)

Diane Walter (Resource & 2nd), Mary Sampson (2nd, 4th, 5th, & Reading Recovery), 

Joy Alldredge (Kindergarten), Ann Mitchell (5th)

Some teachers transferred to other school, and had different

assignments.  These are their assignments while at

Alpine Elementary.

RIP:  Wayne McDaniel, Calvan Vance, Paul Thompson, Jane Boulter

APRIL RETIREMENT LUNCH

OUR ALPINE ELEMENTARY RETIRED TEACHER'S LUNCH WAS HELD:

MONDAY, APRIL 29, AT CHUBBY'S IN PLEASANT GROVE.

THE FOOD WAS SOOOO GOOD, WE'LL DEFINITELY BE RETURNING!

THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WERE:

ME, CATHY & BRAD TIBBITTS, JOHN POOL, VICKY & JAY HAWS,

DON & PAIGE BECKSTRAND, ADONNA IVERSON, CHERYL DOMINGUEZ,

DIANE WALTER, AND ANN SEARLE.

WE ARE WRAPPING UP 6 YEARS OF DOING THESE LUNCHES,

AND I HAVE BEEN TO EVERY SINGLE ONE!

IT'S THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY MONTH!!!

MARCH ALPINE ELEMENTARY RETIRED TEACHERS' LUNCH

WE HAD A GREAT TIME AT OUR MARCH
ALPINE ELEMENTARY RETIRED TEACHERS' LUNCH AT

THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WERE:  

BRAD & CATHY TIBBITTS

DON & PAIGE BECKSTRAND

KARL & NANCY POPE

(UP FROM ST. GEORGE)

NATALIE POPE TAYLOR & BRINLEE

CAROLYN & LYNN HUTCHINGS

CHERYL DOMINGUEZ

DIANE DURRANT

DIANE WALTER

BONNA HANSON

JOY ALLDREDGE

ANN SEARLE

ANN MITCHELL

ON THE WAY OUT,

JACK & CHERYL BROWN

CAME AFTER THEIR WORKOUT 

AT THE REC CENTER

ALPINE ELEMENTARY RETIRED TEACHER'S LUNCH

When I left our September lunch early to take mom to the

foot doctor, I said 2 things to those picking the October date:

If you want to go to Gardner Village for lunch

(and the "Witches") don't go on . . . 

1. October 15, Professional Development Day

2.  October 29, 2 days before Halloween

Of course, they didn't listen to me!

October 29 was the day!  

Don & Paige called me and said it was a 

90 minute wait!!!

I never got out of the car, because of how

crowded it was.  On a school day.

I think it was full of homeschoolers.

We decided to go to the

Midvale Mining Café.

I've been there once with Renae.  

It's her favorite!

Those attending were:

Cathy Tibbitts, Vicky Haws, Analee & Lane Brown,

Don & Paige Beckstrand, Diane Walter, and me.

1ST DAY OF SCHOOL . . . RETIRED TEACHERS LUNCH

Today is the start of the 6th year of our

Alpine Elementary Retired Teachers Lunch.

I have been to every lunch.

This is #61!

Attending were:

Joy Alldredge, Vicky & Jay Haws, Carolyn Hutchings,

Bonna Hanson, me, John Pool, Linda Western,

Mary Sampson, Cathy Tibbitts, Cheryl Dominguez,

Loretta & Kenny Stevens, and Don & Paige Beckstrand.

Our favorite principal, David Stephenson, also

came to visit, with Kimberly Bird from District office.

David brought us all a gift package:

cards, chapstick, and shirt with the district

theme for the year!

PULLING A FAST ONE

When I was going to retire 5 years ago, I had a plan.

 I had missed the retirement deadline.

The district let me retire because I had over 

30 consecutive years (33) with them, and a doctor's letter.

At my April AEA meeting, the president told me

not to sign anything when I went in later that month

to meet with the district.  He said to bring the

paperwork to the May meeting, and he and the

executive board would look over it.

On Friday, April 12, the 5th grade in the district had

a math class all day.  It was hard to get ready for a sub!

I sat by my team, and also Kindra Reid.

Kindra and I met the summer before at the

Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute.

We both had foot problems.

Anyway, her foot was in a boot . . . again.

We were twinners!

Then, I heard a "pop" and Kindra said,

"Oh, nooooo!!!"  She took her boot off, and the

staples in her foot had popped open!

I leaned over to her and whispered,

"I'm done!  Don't tell anyone!!!"

Also, I looked at my calendar.

A science class the day after school got out,

the next week was district training for

Common Core math, the next Monday was

Ropes Course recertification, then 5 collaboration days

with the team (the summer before, one teammate

wanted to work 10 half days!)

I was D-O-N-E!!!

I would never heal!!!

I met with the district on April 15.

That morning, when Lori dropped her twins

off at jr high, I told her I was going to retire.

 Nancy came to my room so I could tell her.

Nancy had been my bff at Alpine since she

came in 1983-1984.  We even went to Hawaii together!

Heidi took me to the meeting, since she lived close

to the district office.  My mom was waiting there.

The meeting went great!

All my questions were answered.

They gave me the paperwork for the principal to sign.

I had decided to not turn anything in until the

absolute last day of school!

I knew if word got out, I would be pressured to

turn in the paperwork, so the school could hire the

best candidate available.

Well . . . this time, it was all about ME!

My last foot dr appointment in May was the

Friday before Memorial Day.

Dr. Ridge said I had been in the "destructive phase" (March 20),

and was still in the "healing phase."  

He definitely said to retire!

Even if everything went well in surgery with

the best case scenario, standing on the carpet with

pretty much no padding, being outside, P.E., Clear Creek, etc.

it would never heal!

That's all I needed to hear!!!

The next day, I told Don Beckstrand.

Others that knew were:  Paul Finlayson (I was his matchmaker),

Lisa Hoover (secretary . . . she had to help me with my

Foundation money), Dean Turner (custodian),

Maureen Wallace (tutor partner), Heidi Park (she drove

me to my district meetings, and 2 AEA meetings at

Mountain View High School)  

I also told Jeanie Vance, an aide.  Her father in law

was my favorite teaching partner.  (RIP, now gone 18 years.)

I had some cubbies his dad built, a teacher manual organizer,

and paper organizer.  Jeanie had to ask her brother in law,

Blair, who taught 3rd grade out near Vernal, if he wanted them.

I definitely did not tell my team!

They would have gone to Cami, the principal,

and get her to demand I turn the work in so they could

get a good teacher.

But, mainly, the reason I did not tell Condita was she

was going to miss most of May to go home to 

South Dakota to donate a kidney to her mom.

I didn't want to add stress.

I didn't tell Matt, cuz he'd tell Condita.

I believe Heavenly Father was watching over

everything with the teachers!

Matt transferred to Fox Hollow, where he met his wife!

The new teachers, Jon Horan and Allyson Jones were perfect additions!

I had decided to write a blogpost, and publish

it at midnight after school was out!

The blogpost explained everything.

http://missmitchellsfabulousfifthgrade.blogspot.com/2013/05/i-was-born-to-teach-my-retirement-story.html

I really didn't even see most of these comments when

people found out.  I was exhausted.

It never ever came up on my Facebook memories

(On This Day), until today!

It was fun reading them.  

I wanted to save them.

Former student in Class #5.  

Taught 3 of her children.

 

Former teacher at Alpine, parent of a

student in class #5.

Parent of 2 students.

Taught her sister-in-law.

Former Ward Member

Former teacher at Alpine in the 1980's.

Former teacher at Alpine.

Caroldean, Victor, and Glynis Neves.

Taught 8 children from 2 Neves families.

(comments also from other family members)

Former teacher at Alpine.

One of my dearest friends.

Her and Brad were on a mission

(actually a mish.cation ---a cross between

a mission and a vacation.)

Prince Edward Island, Canada

aka Anne of Green Gables home.

Back to the Neves families.

July Jolley was an aide at Alpine.

Taught her daughter.

So, yes, my retirement was pulling a fast one!
I got to have my retirement celebration the next
year with Don & Diane.

Today would have been my last day (age 59 1/2)
but, Heavenly Father knew best!
I had lots of foot problems, and a few health issues.
My mom had 2 surgeries, with TONS of doctor appointments!!!
I could not have done all that, and teach and do sub plans!!!
(Sub plans was the #1 thing I disliked about teaching)

When you hear the term,
"pulling a fast one", this was the best of them all!!!

FIVE YEARS IN THE BOOK

May 30, 2013 - May 30, 2018

Five years of retirement in the books!!!

Retirement is the BEST!!!

When my foot doctor said that I needed to retire,

if I could afford it, I started the process.

I was diagnosed March 20, 2013 with charcot foot.

A dozen broken bones in the foot.

When I met with the district on April 15, I had

already made my decision to retire.

Very few at Alpine Elementary knew.

The AEA president told me before I met with

the district to not sign anything.

Just bring the paper work and let the AEA board review it.

I guess that's a privilege for having been the

school rep for 1/4 of a century!!!

The board looked it over, and said,

"Happy Retirement!"

(2018 would have been my last year)
I did not tell my principal or have her sign
the paperwork until the day after Memorial Day.
Needless to say, she was SHOCKED!
I had a foot dr appointment the Friday before.
I wanted to leave the door open . . . just in case.

When my great nephew, Preston, was going

to sing the national anthem at preschool graduation

that year (he'll be in 5th grade next year),

I was determined to never miss family fun stuff again!

I missed all of my 6 nieces and nephews activities!

I only got to 2 science fairs, because they were at night!
I went to only 3 full high school graduations.
(You couldn't attend during a school day without
a full dock.  Besides, the superintendent wouldn't
grant it, because they were not my children.)
I made it to one graduation when they were
starting to read the names.  
Another one, I met everyone after at the
Brick Oven.  They had ordered for me,
and as soon as I sat down, my order came.
That was fabulous, but I still missed her in her cap and gown!
(I did get to dance recitals and games that were on
Saturdays, night, of summer)

So, what have I been up to in 5 years???
I've added 3 great nieces and 2 great nephews (from 11 to 16)

Youngest niece, Katie, married C.J.

2 baptisms (2 more coming soon)

Stake Relief Society Presidency . . . 4 years
(Besides everything that included, I spoke in 10 wards in
Sacrament Meeting, including the Spanish Ward, where I
didn't have a copy of my talk for the interpreter . . . bleh)

President for Utah of Alpha Delta Kappa . . . teacher sorority

for outstanding women educators

In charge of 1 state conference and 1 state convention for ADK

Attended ADK International convention in New Orleans

(going to Anchorage in 2 months for regional conference)

Appointments at 8:00 a.m. instead of 4:30 p.m.

Mid morning swimming

1 high school class reunion
Not getting up at 4:30 a.m.  aka . . . sleeping in

Temple attendance and temple road trips during the day

9 dance festivals (one school covered 5 kids, another 3)

2 World Fairs

3 6th grade graduations

5 preschool graduations

1 kindergarten graduation

12 Christmas Sings
Interviewed over 300 high school juniors to attend
the Leadership Academy at Valley Forge
4 luncheons for the high school junior scholarship winners

Visiting all great nieces and nephews classes in

preschool and elementary and making a donation to their teacher

2 "Utah" programs

Watching CJ playing in the NBA

Science Fair Judging:  2 elementary, 1 jr high, 1 district
4 Tulip Festivals
4 Museum of Natural Curiosity
1 Museum of Ancient Life

4 trips to St. George

1 trip to Cedar City
58 Alpine Elementary Retired Teachers' Lunches

And, of course, attending basketball games, football games,

soccer games, clogging, choir concerts, piano recital,

dance recitals during evenings, summer or Saturdays.

I always thought that when I retired, I would visit

at Alpine Elementary a lot.

I went to 2 3rd grade Christmas programs, the

50 year anniversary of the school being at the current location

(my classmates were in 2nd grade during the move)

Judged 2 Science Fairs, took up retirement announcements,
and did my Christmas shopping at the 
"Buy One Get One Free" book fair.
And, that's it.

(I've also dealt with a partially torn achilles tendon,

2 ulcers on foot, cutting thumb and getting stitches, broken toe

and of course, the charcot foot.)

I have loved, loved, loved my 33 years of teaching at
Alpine Elementary, and all the fabulous students, parents 
and faculty that have come in my life!
It truly is the best place to teach!!!

I am really enjoying my time as a 
Stay At Home Aunt!

All 6 nieces and nephews and their spouses with my mom.

All 16 great nieces and nephews, 11 girls and 5 boys,
ages 17 1/2 - 2
(Plus Heidi holding Jacob)

MAY ALPINE RETIRED TEACHER'S LUNCH

OUR ALPINE ELEMENTARY RETIRED TEACHER'S LUNCH

FOR MAY WAS HELD ON
MONDAY, MAY 21, AT

MAGLEBY'S FRESH IN LINDON.

 NOTHING SAYS FUN LIKE A

"CAROLYN SELFIE!"

FRONT ROW:  ADONNA IVERSON, CATHY TIBBITTS, CAROLYN HUTCHINGS,

LYNN HUTCHINGS

BACK ROW:  CHERYL DOMINGUEZ, VICKY HAWS (HUSBAND, JAY'S

HAT IS BEHIND), ME, LINDA DIBB, JOHN POOL, JOY ALLDREDGE,

BONNA HANSON, DIANE DURRANT, BRAD TIBBITTS

APRIL ALPINE ELEMENTARY RETIRED TEACHERS LUNCH

Our Alpine Elementary Retired Teachers's Lunch was held:

Monday, April 16

at Chili's.

Those in attendance were:

Diane Durrant, me, Cheryl Dominguez, Nancy Pope,

Bonna Hanson, Ann Searle, Joy Alldredge, Carolyn Hutchings,

Jane Boulter, Cathy Tibbitts, Diane Walter,

Adonna & Sam Iverson.

It was Sam's first day of retirement.

MARCH ALPINE ELEMENTARY RETIREMENT LUNCH

On March 12, our Alpine Elementary Retirement

Teacher's Lunch was held at La Costa, near my condo,

in American Fork.

Photo, left to right:

Cathy & Brad Tibbitts, Cheryl Dominguez, Vicky Haws,

Ann Mitchell, Joy Alldredge, Analee (Wiser) & Lane Brown,

Diane Durrant, Adonna Iverson, and Diane Walter.

This just shows how close all the faculties at 

Alpine Elementary were!

Only Me, Adonna, and Diane Walter retired from 

Alpine Elementary!

Cathy retired as assistant principal at Grovecrest.

Cheryl, Traverse Mountain.

Vicky Haws, Principal at Westfield.

Joy Alldredge, Westfield.

Analee Wiser Brown, Forbes.

Diane Durrant, Barratt.

ALPINE ELEMENTARY RETIRED TEACHERS' FEBRUARY LUNCH

Our Alpine Elementary Retired Teachers' February Lunch

was held Monday, February 12, at

Habit Burger Grill in American Fork.

I had never been there before.

The food was great!

I had a tri tip sandwich.

Those in attendance were:

Vicky Haws, Me, Carolyn Hutchings, Adonna Iverson,

Diane Durrant, Nancy Pope, Jane Boulter, Brad and Cathy Tibbitts.

I love these monthly get togethers!

I have been to 55 of these lunches since my retirement!

I have never missed one!!!

It's just a way to get together with my dear teacher friends!

I have had a big void in my life for the last 20 years.

It started when Ann Searle changed jobs in the district,

and Calvan Vance retired.

The biggest change was in the year 2000, when our school

split when Westfield was built.

My Alpine Elementary Faculty & Staff were my family!

Especially the day I went to the temple for the first time.

My escort was my carpool buddy of 17 years.

A couple of teachers wanted to come.  Ann said to invite

the ones I wanted, and give a general announcement for the others.

Well, most everyone on the faculty came!!!

Some that couldn't come to the temple, came to the lunch!!!

My last 4 years were really difficult!!!

My 3 best teaching buddies had retired, or transferred.

(Cathy, Carolyn, Jane)

Linda Dibb had retired from the team.

Cheryl Dominguez had also transferred.

I felt my only great friends left were Nancy, Lori, and Paul.

Several new teachers were coming in, and they did not

value our traditions that were in place since long

before I came.  

Now, all my teacher friends since before 2000 are retired.

Over the years, most of them have attended a lunch.

This year, 2018, would have been my last year teaching.

I would be 59 1/2 and taught 38 years (just like my mom)

After my 6 years health insurance that I would get,

I would only have to pay 2 months for insurance.

As it is, I have 1 1/2 years left.  Then I have to be on 

Cobra and pay about $560 a MONTH.  

After the 1 1/2 years, I go back on EMIHealth and

pay a little more, for 2 1/2 years.

Then (gasp) Medicare!

But, I will have insurance and secondary insurance!

And, unlike those hired after 2010,

they have no health insurance after they retire!

(the 4, 5, or 6 years we had)

Also, no 3% stipend or any stipend that we got

if we were hired before 1990!

Soooo glad I was in at the right time!

I am sooo thrilled that my entire career was

at Alpine Elementary!!!  I have made lifelong friends

on the faculty, and also with parents and students.

The Lord knew where I needed to be!