AMEN

JANUARY ALPINE TEACHER LUNCH

The first lunch of 2020 was held at Olive Garden.

Attending were:

Don & Paige Beckstrand

Ann Searle

Ann Mitchell

Rudy & Cheryl Dominguez

Diane Durrant

Cathy Tibbitts and sister, Barbara

Lane & Analee Wiser Brown

A DOUBLE WHAMMY

MY HEART IS FULL

And, some days, you read a

comment like this that really

makes you feel that 33 years

of teaching 5th grade was all

worth it . . . and maybe, just maybe,

I made a difference!

 . . . Eric Oliver

THE MAFIA

DEFEND YOUR ANSWER

WINTER BREAK LUXURIES FOR TEACHERS

SOOOO TRUE!

EXCEPT, I WOULD TAKE OUT #3, 

AND REPLACE IT WITH

"DRINKING A DIET COKE BEFORE IT GOES FLAT!"

AND NOW . . .

THAT WAS MY LIFE

YUP.

This was my life!

And, it got worse with every year!

I did learn a HUGE help my first year of teaching!

My first big unit ever was "Colonial America."

I had the unit due the last day before 

Christmas Break.

I kept telling the kids,

"Just turn everything in together,

and I'll check it."

HUGE MISTAKE!!!

I spent my ENTIRE Christmas Break

grading the units . . . ALL DAY,

EVERY DAY!!!

After that fiasco, I would check things as they

turned them in.

Besides saving my sanity, it helped

the kids.  

If a student had lost something, I would

have a score for them.

Besides units, there was daily work,

homework, weekly spelling and language

tests, etc.  Everything my kids did,

was recorded!!!

Even having weekly notes and

planners!

It was HARD!!!  

Kids and parents could always check

Skyward, and know where they stood!

I was extremely good at staying

on top of grading!

But, my last 4 years, I worked until

about 12:30 a.m., and was back

at it at 4:30 a.m.!

I remember how shocked I was when a

teammate only had one score in the

computer for each subject!

ONE!!!

I was trying to get science grades

from him to put in my computer.

When I saw that, I asked him how

parents and students could see all 

their work!

Parents and students always

appreciated that I had scores in

quickly, and thoroughly!

Before computers, I had to add everything

up on the calculator, and figure

the grades that way.

When I had the high school aides,

one of their assignments was to

total up the scores on each point sheet page,

and put the total on the last column.

Then, I had to figure out the 

percentage and grade.

My last few years of teaching,

I did have my classroom aide check

the weekly spelling and language tests.

I also had "weekly notes" each

week.  EVERY SINGLE WEEK for 33 years!!!

The weekly note showed parents

if they had missing assignments, and

their tests were stapled to the back.

The last test stapled on was the

spelling test.  Then, the students

turned that paper over, and wrote

their new spelling words.

The parents LOVED IT!!!

They, and their kids always knew

where they stood, and it was

very much appreciated!

The reason I did all of this, was a

result of my very first

parent-teacher conference.

7:00 a.m. on Friday, November 9,1980.

The boy had low grades.

The parents never knew when anything

was due, never saw any test scores, etc.

WHAT????

You mean, he couldn't tell or show

his parents like I did???

Well, not everyone did this!!!

So, I came up with the plan.

With the weekly note, parents had

to actually sign it!

And...that was 10 points on their

language grade!!!

Not only did the parents appreciate it,

but the kids did, too!

I always got lots of comments from

them on Facebook, or seeing them later.

They all said it was the best thing ever

to help them with their advanced schooling!

Short story long (hahaha) . . . this photo of

the plaque on the desk brought back

a TON of memories, and I do not miss

grading papers ONE LITTLE BIT!!!

MY FAVORITE TEAM

I HAVE TAUGHT WITH MANY, MANY PEOPLE!

I STARTED ON A TEAM OF 3 . . . ME, CALVAN VANCE,

AND ROGER OLSEN.

I ENDED MY CAREER ON A TEAM OF 3 . . . ME,

CONDITA WASHBURN, AND MATT GOFF.
IN BETWEEN, I TAUGHT IN TEAMS OF 3, 4, 4 1/2, 5, AND 6.

MOST OF MY TEAMMATES WERE VERY POSITIVE

TOWARDS ME.  I LOVED GOING TO WORK EVERY DAY

WITH TEAMMATES LIKE THEM!

THIS PHOTO IS OF MY ABSOLUTE MOST FAVORITE TEAM!

YES, WE ARE DRESSED ALIKE.

IT WAS "TWIN DAY."

CALVAN AND DON DRESSED ALIKE, RIGHT DOWN TO

THE EYEGLASS CASE IN THEIR SHIRT POCKETS!

THE WOMEN ALL WORE BLACK PANTS, THE

SCHOOL TEE SHIRT, AND A CUTE WOODEN NECKLACE

THAT ANN SEARLE'S DAUGHTER MADE FOR US!

THIS WAS SOMEWHERE IN THE MID-90'S.

(FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT . . . THEN BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT)

1.  CALVAN VANCE

I TAUGHT WITH CALVAN THE LONGEST . . . 17 YEARS.

HE WAS MY FAVORITE TEAMMATE.  HE WAS EXTREMELY WISE,

CARING, WITY, HAD A DRY SENSE OF HUMOR, AND HELPFUL!  I ADORED HIS FAMILY!

HIS WIFE, MARGARET, IS THE BEST DIVINITY MAKER AROUND!

SHE WAS ALWAYS WILLING TO TAKE MY BYU FOOTBALL

TICKETS WHEN I COULDN'T GO!  

(OF COURSE, CALVAN WOULDN'T GO . . . BUT, WE KNEW THAT!)

HIS CHILDREN WERE DOUG, BLAIR, JODY, AND DEBBIE.

AND I LOVE THEIR SPOUSES AND FAMILIES!

DOUG:  BECAME OUR HEAD SWEEPER.  HE IS CURRENTLY THE

HEAD CUSTODIAN AT WESTFIELD EMEMENTARY.

HE AND JEANIE WENT ON A CARIBBEAN CRUISE WITH ME.

JEANIE IS AN AIDE AT ALPINE ELEMENTARY.

ASHLEY WAS A SWEEPER AND AN AIDE AT ALPINE ELEMENTARY.

CARSON WAS MY STUDENT AND A SWEEPER AT ALPINE ELEMENTARY.

GARETT WAS MY STUDENT AND A SWEEPER AT ALPINE ELEMENTARY.

ALL OF THE KIDS WENT TO A JAZZ GAME WITH ME.

CARSON, GARETT, AND THEIR WIVES WENT TO A JAZZ

GAME AS A WEDDING PRESENT FROM ME.

BLAIR:  BLAIR MARRIED LAURETTE VAN WAGONER, WHO

GREW UP IN MY WARD.

BLAIR IS A 3RD GRADE TEACHER OUT BY VERNAL.

JODY HEALEY:  JODY HAD TO HAVE A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

WHILE I TAUGHT WITH CALVAN.  
HER BROTHER, DOUG, WAS THE DONOR.

JODY'S HUSBAND, RYAN, ATTENDED ALPINE ELEMENTARY.

HER SON, JASON, WAS A SWEEPER AT ALPINE ELEMENTARY.

DEBBIE: DEBBIE WAS MY STUDENT MY 4TH YEAR AT ALPINE ELEMENTARY.

SHE ALSO WORKED FOR MY EYE DOCTOR.

ON THE 24TH OF JULY AFTER I RETIRED, MARGARET AND THE ENTIRE

FAMILY INVITED MY MOM AND I TO THEIR HOME FOR A BARBECUE.

THREE WEEKS BEFORE HE RETIRED, CALVAN FOUND OUT

THAT HE HAD CANCER ON THE EARLOBE.  THE BOTTOM

OF HIS EAR WAS CUT OFF RIGHT AWAY.

THE CANCER HAD SPREAD.

CALVAN PASSED AWAY ON EASTER SUNDAY, 2000.

2.  DON BECKSTRAND

DON TAUGHT 5TH GRADE WITH ME OFF AND ON.  HE WENT

BETWEEN 4TH, 5TH, AND 6TH . . . RETIRING FROM 6TH.

DON MET HIS FIRST WIFE, MARLENE, WHILE SHE STUDENT

TAUGHT UNDER HEIDI PARK.  HER BROTHER, GLEN, AND SISTER

CARREN, WERE IN THE BAND WITH ME.

SHE TAUGHT 3RD GRADE AT SEGO LILY AND SNOW SPRINGS.

SHE PASSED AWAY A FEW YEARS AGO.

DON AND HIS CURRENT WIFE, PAIGE, ARE SERVING

AN LDS MISSION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF INDIANA,

TEACHING INSTITUTE AND WORKING WITH YOUNG ADULTS.

3.  JODY FASSETT KYBURZ

JODY WORKED AT ALPINE ELEMENTARY FOR 7 YEARS.

ONE YEAR WAS IN 4TH GRADE, THE REST, IN 5TH.

JODY WORKED IN THE SUMMERS AT TIMPANOGOS CAVE

AS A GUIDE.  SHE MET HER HUSBAND, KEN, WHILE DOING THIS.

I ATTENDED THEIR WEDDING AT THE MOUNT TIMPANOGOS TEMPLE.

JODY TEACHES 5TH GRADE AT SNOW SPRINGS.

KEN WORKS ABOUT 5 MONTHS OF THE YEAR AT YELLOWSTONE AS

A RANGER, AND THE REST AS A CUSTODIAN AT

TIMPANOGOS HIGH.

HE HAS ALSO WORKED AT PROMENTORY POINT,

WHERE THE GOLDEN SPIKE WAS DRIVEN.

JODY IS CURRENTLY HER STAKE PRIMARY PRESIDENT.

SHE SPENDS HER SUMMERS HELPING KEN AT YELLOWSTONE.

THEY HAVE GONE TO SOME JAZZ GAMES WITH ME.

4.  ANN SEARLE

ANN TAUGHT 1 YEAR IN 5TH GRADE WITH CALVAN,

PAUL THOMPSON, AND I.

THIS TIME, SHE JOB SHARED WITH DON.

WHEN DON WAS TEACHING, ANN SUPERVISED THE INTERNS

AT OUR SCHOOL.  WHEN SHE WAS TEACHING, DON DID

THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL STUFF.

I GREW UP IN ANN'S STAKE.

ANN HAS SERVED AS PRESIDENT AND COUNSELOR

IN EVERY ORGANIZATION IN THE LDS CHURCH.

SHE WAS THE STAKE PRIMARY PRESIDENT WHEN

I WAS IN A WARD PRESIDENCY.

ANN AND HER HUSBAND, LARRY, HAVE 8 CHILDREN.

SCOTT, GREG, JEFF, SHAUNA, STEVE, MINDY, BECKY, AND ANNETTE.
I KNOW ALL OF THE CHILDREN AND SPOUSES VERY WELL.
GREG & SHAUNA, JEFF & LEANN, AND STEVE & ALI LIVED IN MY WARD.
(STEVE & ALI TWICE!)
GREG'S WIFE IS SHAUNA VAN WAGONER. SHAUNA GREW UP IN MY WARD.
SHAUNA'S SISTER, LAURETTE, IS MARRIED TO CALVAN'S SON!
SHAUNA AND I SERVED TOGETHER IN A COUPLE OF CALLINGS TOGETHER,
MORE THAN ONCE!
WHEN SHAUNA WAS THE SACRAMENT MEETING ORGANIST,
I WAS THE CHORISTER.
WHEN SHE WAS THE PRIMARY CHORISTER,
I WAS THE PIANIST.
GREG & SHAUNA LIVED NEXT TO ME.
STEVE AND HIS WIFE, ALI LAMB (WHO WAS A STUDENT
AT ALPINE ELEMENTARY), LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE
WHEN GREG & SHAUNA MOVED.
STEVE AND ALI JUST MOVED FROM MY CURRENT WARD,
AFTER BEING HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS.
ANN WAS MY ESCORT AT THE TEMPLE.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE SEALINGS OF MINDY, BECKY, AND ANNETTE.
ANN & LARRY SERVED AN 18 MONTH MISSION IN SOUTH AFRICA.

5.  ANALEE WISER BROWN
I TAUGHT WITH ANALEE FOR 8 YEARS.
WHEN SHE CAME TO ALPINE, HER HUSBAND, LORIN, WAS
WAITING FOR A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT.
HE WAS ABLE TO GET ONE, AND LIVED A FEW MORE YEARS.
SHE ALSO WAS A MEMBER OF THE
MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR UNTIL SHE TURNED 60.
IT WAS GREAT TO GO TO THE CHRISTMAS CONCERTS
AND GET CD'S AS GIFTS.
WHEN ANALEE WAS IN COLLEGE, SHE TOURED
SOUTHEAST ASIA WITH THE USOS, ENTERTAINING THE TROOPS
IN THE VIET NAM WAR.
WHILE I KNEW ANALEE, SHE TAUGHT AT GREENWOOD,
ALPINE, WESTFIELD, AND FORBES.
I ATTENDED HER SON, JOSH'S WEDDING IN THE SALT LAKE TEMPLE.
THEY WERE MARRIED BY ELDER RONALD A. RASBAND.
HE WASN'T AN APOSTLE THEN, BUT WAS
JOSH'S MISSION PRESIDENT IN NEW YORK CITY.
HIS WIFE, MELANIE, IS THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF MY
HISTORY TEACHER AT DIXIE.  SMALL WORLD.
JULIE WISER KELLY WAS IN HER MOM'S 5TH GRADE CLASS.
I ATTENDED HER AND HER HUSBAND'S WEDDING AT
THE FALLS AT THANKSGIVING POINT.
EVEN THOUGH LORIN WAS ON OXYGEN, HE WAS
ABLE TO WALK HER DOWN THE AISLE.

ANALEE ALSO LIVED IN MY WARD AT TIMES.
SHE LIVED ONE CONDO COMPLEX OVER FROM ME.
WE WERE IN THE 11TH WARD TOGETHER WHEN SHE
FIRST MOVED IN.  THE NEXT WEEK, WE WERE DIVIDED.
AFTER 4 OR 5 YEARS, WE WERE BACK TOGETHER.
HER AND HER CURRENT HUSBAND, LANE BROWN,
HAVE SINCE MOVED NEAR THE TEMPLE.
I ATTENDED THERE WEDDING AT THE LITTLE
CHAPEL AT "THIS IS THE PLACE" PARK.
THEY TRAVEL.  ALOT!!!

EVERY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE WERE NOT JUST MY TEAMMATES,
BUT, THEY HAVE ALL MADE ME FEEL LIKE A PART OF THEIR FAMILIES!

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)