Trantwood Times
Love. Learn. Lead.
Kudos
~A huge THANK YOU to Hannah, Jan, Julie for supporting our students who are participating in the Battle of the Books! Y'all are awesome! Tania
~Sue, thank you for everything that you do on a daily basis to help me and everyone else at Trantwood! Tania
~Thank you to Brooke, Sue, and all of the Kindergarten teachers and assistants who have been assisting our Kindergarten students with stations during their library lessons. Tania
~Thank you to Kim Catt, Azul Emede, and Parthena Savides for keeping the grade level ball rolling while I was in an IEP meeting. I couldn't survive this year without each of you! - Melinda Pezzella
~Thank you Carolyne McCoy and Amanda Feliciano for getting my new student up and running quickly! - Melinda Pezzella
~Kudos to Ashley for leading a great Math Congress with both my classes! I LOVED seeing students persevere while they worked on a VERY challenging math problem! THANK YOU! ~ Azul
~Kudos to Michele, Amanda, T, Pam, Persi and Devon for always being willing and able to help at a moment’s notice! Lisa Lee
~Kudos to all the hard work all the teachers put in to report cards and parent teacher conferences this week—as a parent it helps tremendously to know what is going on and how we can support our children! Lisa Lee
~Kudos to Tim and Megan for the awesome Spirit Week, Pizza Party, and getting the Canned Food so organized!! Lisa Lee
~Kudos to everyone who has helped with SCA events this year, we are so successful because of all of the teamwork! -Megan
~Thanks to Brooke and Tania for being flexible with our Rigamajig groups ! The students LOVED the time they spent building. Melissa
~Thank you, Tricia Gray, for your diligence during PT conference time... this week has been a long week! Couldn’t have made it without ya! Melissa~Thank you, Claire and Maria , for always being there, y’all are seriously awesome! Melissa
~Thanks to Terri Hawley for being ready to go on a last minute task! Melissa
~Kudos to Team Trantwood for keeping that smile during a HECK of a week! Melissa
~Congratulations to Claire Johnson, our Reading Teacher of the Year! We also recognize our fabulous nominees on the ballot: Jenny Delashmutt, Krista Booth and Tricia Gray! Thank you for all you do to support literacy!-Jan
~Tremendous HUGE shout out to my partner in crime/most amazing TA EVE, Theresa Muncy! You are my lifesaver and I can’t thank you enough for doing such a wonderful job with our class while I was on maternity leave! Sarah T.
~Stephanie, Krista, Sule and Kristen I don’t know how I can make it any more obvious how much I love you and appreciate you all! You went above and beyond for me and made sure to help Theresa while I was out, THANK YOU!!!! Sarah T.
~Trantwood - thank you for making me feel loved as I ventured into full time working mom this week! Sarah T.
~A special thank you to Mrs. Williams (BJ) for putting on her running shoes to help keep the students in room 30 safe! It takes a village!!! Berkley, Marianne, Barrie
~Kudos to all the fun-loving and spirited staff who have dressed up for spirit week! You all make try is such a fun place to come to work! Pam
~Kudos to Theresa Muncy and Kari Drury for being such an amazing duo and setting up my Sarah for success upon return from maternity leave! Stephanie
~Kudos to Sarah Tortolano for creating such a handsome little man and transitioning back into teaching like the pro she is! Stephanie~Kudos to Sule & Lisa for supporting me during a tough conversation with parents. You kept my spine in tact and I thank you! Stephanie
~Kudos to Beth Wik for creating our 3C tree. That was an incredible amount of work you took on, and we appreciate you! Stephanie
The Power of One! This is worth the read...
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn’t play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant.
It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X’s and then putting a big F at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child’s past records and she put Teddy’s off until last.
However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy’s first grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners…he is a joy to be around.”
His second grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is an excellent student, well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle.”
His third grade teacher wrote, “His mother’s death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn’t show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren’t taken.”
Teddy’s fourth grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is withdrawn and doesn’t show much interest in school. He doesn’t have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class.”
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy’s.
His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume.
But she stifled the children’s laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.
Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, “Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to.”
After the children left she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, and writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy.
As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her “teacher’s pets.”
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he’d stayed in school, had stuck with it,and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor’s degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer. The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.
The story doesn’t end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he’d met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.
They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson’s ear, “Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.”
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, “Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn’t know how to teach until I met you.”
At some point we have all met a Teddy in some aspect of our lives. We might not have known it and may have missed the chance to be the ONE that truly makes a difference in someone's life. Take the time to get to know our students - REALLY know them. No matter what area of the school you work in, YOU could be that ONE person who makes all the difference in someone's life.
Congratulations Claire Johnson, Trantwood's Reading Teacher of the Year!
Nov, 11 - 16 , 2019 Thanksgiving Basket Food Drive
- Veteran's Day
- Schools Closed
Tuesday, Nov. 12
- PAC Meeting, collab room, 3 pm
- Mad Science, 2:45 - 4:00
- PTA Board Meeting
Wednesday, Nov. 13
- LAM OTB, am
- Art Club, 2:45 - 4:00
- Girls on the Run, 2:45 - 4:00
- Harry Potter Club, 2:45 - 4:00
- Chess Team, 2:45 - 4:00
- Spanish Club, 2:45 -4:00
- Battle of the Books, 2:45 - 3:30 pm
- School Planning Council Meeting, library, 3:15 - 4:15 pm
Thursday, Nov, 14 - Mr. Quinn, Great Neck MS AP, here all day
- Happy Birthday Bernette Owens!
- Chess Club, 2:45 - 4:00
Friday, Nov. 15 - Wear Red Day in honor of our deployed Military
- Hugs and Kisses Assembly, Kg- 5, cafeteria, 9:00
- Gr. 1 Gifted Screening
Saturday, Nov. 16
- Happy Birthday Parthena Savides!
Nov. 18 - 22, 2019
Monday, Nov. 18
- Operation Smile Club, 2:45 - 3:45
- Girls on the Run, 2:45 - 4:00
- KL OTB, am
- Coach Meeting, conference room, 9:20 - 10:00
- Mad Science, 2:45 - 4:00
- Staff Seminar, 3:00 - 4:00
Wednesday, Nov. 20
- Girls on the Run, 2:45 - 4:00
- Battle Of The Books, 2:45 - 4:00
- Chess Team, 2:45 - 4:00
Thursday, Nov. 21
- Ukelele Club, 2:45 - 4:00
- Chess Club, 2:45 - 4:00
- Plaza MYP Info Night
Friday, Nov. 22
- PTA Glow Run, 6:30 pm
I Make a Difference!
The "I Make a Difference Award" is going to Lynette Samalot, our Spanish Immersion Assistant! No matter what we are doing in the classroom, she jumps right in and is always willing to help! She continually focuses her attention on what the students need and she encourages the Spanish Immersion students to use Spanish and always does it with a smile! She has been WONDERFUL addition to Spanish Immersion!
Principal's Packet Memos sent via email to all staff:
- Adjusted Dismissal Schedule Nov. 27 2019 and Dec. 20 2019
Future Planning
- Nov. 13: Report Cards Sent Home
- Nov. 15: Gifted Screening for All 1st graders
- Nov. 15: The ONLY gifted testing window for students in grades 2-5
- Nov. 15: Hugs & Kisses assembly
- Nov. 19: Staff Seminar
- Nov. 22: PTA Glow Run, 6:30 pm
- Nov. 28: Thanksgiving
- Dec. 5: Spanish Immersion PLC, Alanton ES
- Dec. 7: PTA Snowflake Breakfast
In our thoughts and prayers...
Mrs. Feliciano's grandfather
Mrs. Jerasa on the recent loss of her brother in law
Mr. Riddick, will have surgery on Nov. 20
Wacky Wednesday pictures from guess who?
SCA officers developing their leadership skills at the Leadership Workshop last Saturday!
We are surrounded by such cutie patooties!
We have the greatest staff!!! Thank you for supporting our students!
Put Students First ● Seek Growth ● Be Open to Change ● Do Great Work Together ● Value Differences
LouAnne Metzger, Principal
Email: louanne.metzger@vbschools.com
Website: http://www.trantwoodes.vbschools.com/
Location: 2344 Inlynnview Road, Virginia Beach, VA, United States
Phone: 757-648-4000
Twitter: @LouAnneMetzger