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On Aug. 12, Whitethorn School’s staff and parent volunteers got together to spiff up the school. The group spent five hours organizing, painting, power washing, mowing, pulling weeds, and “fluffing” the playground wood chips. Until this volunteer effort, the maintenance, grounds keeping, cleaning, and preparing for this upcoming school year has been the sole responsibility of the teachers who are not paid during the summer.

It seems that a support staff will be in place soon to help with the many duties that are necessary for the smooth operation of a school this size. Whitethorn School’s staff has always been so grateful for their amazing families who are so supportive - the work effort was a shining example of this kind of care and dedication.

The school’s new principal, Julie Bair, was out there working on the new portable and organizing storage sheds. Ms. Bair was impressed with the volunteer turnout and is pleased to have the school looking so good for the beginning of the year.

Whitethorn is starting the school year with just over 100 students. They will have four classrooms, one of which is a new portable that will house the 6th/7th grade class and provide much needed space for resource and speech programs.

The school just hired two new teachers, Shelly Brantigan, who will be teaching the 2nd/3rd grade class, and Tiffany Gilbride, who will teach the 6th/7th grade class. Both teachers are excited about the new school year.

Teal Cyrek will return as the 4th/5th grade teacher. Lead teacher, Erica Gray who’ll be teaching K/1st this year is thrilled with her new teaching team and support staff.

photo captions:

1. The cleanup crew of parent volunteers and school staff.

2. Teacher Shelly Brantigan fluffs up the wood chips on the playground.

3. Teacher Tiffany Gilbride outside her brand-new classroom funded by Measure L.