Clements/Parsons Elementary School counselor Julie Armstrong served as a military spouse for 23 years and sent her oldest son to seven different schools in his first 12 years of public education. Constantly moving, military children experience being âthe new kidâ repeatedly throughout their elementary and secondary careers.
âI can only imagine how my son would have been thrilled to be welcomed and included on his first day at each of the schools he attended,â Armstrong said. âThe main mission of the Student 2 Student Program at Clements/Parsons Elementary is to welcome all students, although it also benefits the militarily connected ones, to our campus.â
As teachers cleaned out their classrooms for summer, Clements/Parsons Elementary third grader and reigning Junior Mister Five Hills Nathan Garner took advantage of the opportunity to save Mother Earth.
Adrianna Foxâs smile is contagious. She lights up the room when she enters and draws everyone into her world of happiness. During a challenging school year marred by the coronavirus pandemic, Fox brought joy to many students through her enthusiasm, creativity, and zest for life.
Fox works as a paraprofessional at Clements/Parsons Elementary assisting with music, library, physical education and art lessons for students.
Music teacher Kelly Thompson described Fox as a âcreative soul.â
âI have really watched Adriana dig into the music lessons and really run with them,â Thompson said. âShe has been an incredible addition to our specials team.â
Imagine how confusing it might be to sit in a classroom that is taught in two languages. It can be daunting for students to learn their lessons in a second language. But, thatâs not the case in the kindergarten classroom of Clements/Parsons Elementary teacher Lessly Titas.
Sitting in Titasâ room, kindergartners experience encouragement, appreciation and love. Having been a bilingual student herself, Titas understands the struggles that her bilingual students face, said principal Katherine Baney.
âTo combat these struggles, Mrs. Titas has taken the time to build to a sense of community in her classroom by incorporating positive affirmations, community circles, and spiritual fitness into her teaching, making sure to balance her studentâs educational and emotional needs,â Baney said. âA bilingual classroom has so many layers and components that go beyond what you find in a traditional classroom. Days are jam-packed with activities and back-to-back lessons