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Palmetto Elementary teacher looks forward to challenge of teaching in new school
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Collier County first day of school
Collier County first day of school happened on Wednedsay August 20th. Schools across the county welcomed students for the first day of full day classes.
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NAPLES — Posters lined the walls of Loretta Lee’s classroom.
There were Dr. Seuss knick-knacks everywhere, and brightly colored bins filled to the brim with books were stacked in every nook and cranny.
It was Wednesday morning, and Lee sat in her rocking chair holding a Cat in the Hat doll. It was her first day at a new school, and the 30-year-old first-grade teacher wanted to make a good impression.
“Good morning, my name is Mrs. Lee,” she said to her class. “I know we’re going to have fun this year.”
Lee is one of about 40 faculty and staff members at Palmetto Elementary School in Golden Gate Estates. The school, which opened Wednesday, is one of three new elementary schools built in Collier County this year.
This is Lee’s sixth year as a teacher. She taught at Avalon Elementary in East Naples for five years before going to Palmetto.
“I’m coming from (one of) the oldest schools in Naples to the newest school,” she said Friday as she decorated her classroom. “It’s a process.”
The process started in May, she said, when she needed to pack up her Avalon Elementary classroom. Since Palmetto Elementary wasn’t finished yet, Lee said she, like many teachers, needed to take her boxes home and store them there.
“Our husbands were thrilled with that,” she joked.
Lee began getting her classroom ready last week, and was working until late Monday to make sure everything was in place. But even as the first day of school inched closer, there were bumps in the road that made preparing a bit difficult.
Things were back-ordered, and packages containing everyday supplies were still arriving Friday.
Missing supplies was the least of Palmetto Elementary teachers’ concerns. Tropical Storm Fay made landfall early Tuesday, delaying the first day of school by a day. The school, though, didn’t experience any damage, Principal Marilyn Moser said.
“We’ve had such a smooth opening,” Moser said. “It’s been great.”
Schools across the district started with few problems Wednesday, district spokesman Joe Landon said. Standing water from Tuesday’s storm did mean that some buses in Golden Gate Estates were running late.
“They were able to get through the water, they just had to slow down, which caused a bit of a delay,” he said.
But even late buses couldn’t put a damper on Lee’s, or her students’, first day of school. As students prepared to tour their new school, Lee shared with them her nickname for the school.
“I call this my castle, our castle, because it’s so big,” she said with a smile. “We’re going to have lots of fun this year.”
Staff writer Katherine Lewis contributed to this report.
Comments
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Gee Ms. Lee, A/C wasn't working well at Avalon?
#1 Posted by upnorth on August 20, 2008 at 9:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Upnorth,
Just proves what a sad existance you must live if you have nothing better to do than pick on a teacher. You must be a real big man to take jabs at someone who takes care of our future on a daily basis. I've worked at at Avalon and it's a great school. If you are that bored maybe you should go volunteer in a school upnorth, because we sure don't want any one with your upstanding attitude and personality in our schools!!
#2 Posted by Calmer77 on August 21, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gee Calmer,I guess teachers should be exempt from any criticism, only they can complain? Should you be picking on someone who pays your salary? How ungracious! School is almost ready to start, please stop blogging on the computer that my tax dollars paid for.
#3 Posted by upnorth on August 21, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms. Lee,
I can't wait 'til next year when my kindergartner is in first grade, I really hope he's placed in your class!
Thanks for doing so great with my fifth grader when he was at Avalon. You're a great teacher.
You were right...PES looks like a castle.
Good luck for this school year!
BTW upnorth, I have known Ms. Lee since high school. We have been in this town most of our lives. We remember when there were only four elementary schools. (Avalon being one of them)
She was merely stating a fact of irony.
NDN wrote a really excellent article about Palmetto Elementary and Ms. Lee.
It's really sad that you couldn't allow us to just enjoy one positive thing that happens in this town. Our town!
Maybe you should encourage Ms. Lee to do her part in educating our children and teaching them to be positive and respectful.
Like no one ever did for you... up north.
#4 Posted by NOT2MINCHIN on August 21, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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