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Fireball High Five

Compliment a teacher or staff member for the great work they do every day with the form below or an email to the principal and we will post these compliments here on our website.
The following are positive emails regarding our staff:
June 3, 2020
Thank you for all the work you have put into the home learning. I want to let you know that Miss Timothy and Miss Yang have gone above and beyond during such a difficult time! Their organization and thoughtful class design was so helpful for my son and I to navigate. I'm so grateful for their efforts. They made it look easy, and I know that behind the scenes, there were hours and hours of work that went into everything they did.
Thanks again!
May 27, 2020
Hi Mrs. Williams,

First, I’m sorry to add to your inbox but I just wanted to tell you how grateful I am for all you and your amazing teachers have done this year! I can’t imagine all that you had to do with the change to distance learning this year. We are forever thankful to our awesome principal and teachers!
I just wanted to share that my kids were new to Eastlake this year and they really had a smooth and great transition to a new school. My first interaction with you was at the school carnival. You were on the frontlines helping kids at the bounce house with a smile on your face and you didn’t hesitate to introduce yourself to me. You are amazing!! Thank you for making this crazy year so great.
May 1, 2020
Hi Mrs. Williams,

I just wanted to see if there is a way to nominate teachers for Teacher of the Year? We absolutely adore both Mrs. Andersen and Mrs. Hoffmann and would love to nominate them both!

Mrs. Hoffmann: My twins have Mrs. Hoffmann this year and my older son had her in Kindergarten as well. She is hands down the most patient and loving Kindergarten teacher there is. On top of making all the kids feel like they are her favorite, they have learned and grown so much in her class. We just love her!

Mrs. Andersen: My son has been so lucky and got to have Mrs. Andersen two years in a row. He’s crossing his fingers she’ll move up to 5th grade so he can have her for a 3rd year! She is so sweet and truly wants the very best for these kids. She teaches them so well! I can’t believe how organized and on top of things she’s been during this online teaching time.

This year has been amazing for our kids at Eastlake, thanks to awesome teachers and fabulous administrators. Thank you for being so great during a crazy time of life. My kids have missed actually going to school each day!

March 17, 2020
Mrs. Williams,
I just wanted to let you know how impressed I was with the process of picking up materials today for our students.  The teachers/employees were fast, cheerful, and crazy organized.  Thank you for making it super easy.
My son's teacher, Ms Sutherland, has laid things out on a daily slide that is so easy to follow and with 5 kids at home this is kind of crucial.
We look forward to normalcy but in the meanwhile appreciate the structure you and your teachers have created amidst the chaos.
Thank you.
February 25, 2020
I just wanted to express my happiness about the fact that our mental health professionals are being utilized by teachers at our school! I know that Ms. Thorpe and Ms. Walkingshaw take the time in many classrooms to talk about feelings and give students tools to cope with them. Not just when there's a crisis, but in everyday situations.
One of my favorite Mr. Rogers quotes is: "When feelings are mentionable, they are manageable." I love that conversations are taking place, and safe spaces are being created!
I appreciate them building a rapport with students, which I see builds the students up! I see students with more confidence to express feelings, listen to others, and solve conflicts.
I feel so lucky to have these resources at our school.
Thank you to everyone who provides and incorporates these services at Eastlake!
November 18, 2019
Mrs. Williams,

I just wanted to tell you thank you for being such a fantastic principal. I really appreciate your demeanor and for listening to our concerns.

I also wanted to share with you that I am a huge fan of Mrs. Cloward. What a fabulous teacher and positive influence she has had on our son. I feel that she really does understand him on such a deep level and she genuinely wants to help him succeed! Super impressed with her and her ability to connect with students while teaching them the things that she is so passionate about!

Thank you so much for all you do and for being such a kind human to our little humans!

February 19, 2019
I would just like to say in writing what a wonderful teacher Ms. Chen is! 
My daughter comes home so excited every day to tell me all the fun they have in class. But, the "fun" is really hands-on learning! They are doing all kinds of activities that coincide with their science lessons. Lots of fun ways to learn about how rocks form, and their different parts and processes. 
Lots of role playing as they learn new vocabulary words in Chinese. I feel like this is such a benefit to the students,  it's so much easier to remember new things when you have association like that.
Ms. Chen is so kind, yet she is firm. I appreciate her cheery disposition and enthusiasm for teaching. When I am in her classroom,  the students are well behaved,  yet they have fun. I can tell that her students adore her. And I adore her, too! I hope she is with us for as long as possible! 
November 27, 2018
Dear Ms. Bowen,
 I absolutely loved the Thanksgiving book of activities, and the costume our son brought home last week. We hosted Thanksgiving at our house, and he showed the entire family all his work. It was very cute!
Thanks for all you do. You are a wonderful teacher and our son is lucky to have you!
October 12, 2018
We just wanted to send a quick note to let you know how great our boy’s teachers are. They have Mrs. Frost and Mrs. Evans. Everyday our boys come home from school happy and always mention how great their teachers are. It gives us peace of mind to know that they are being well taken care of, learning, and having a positive time at school.

Dear Mrs. Cloward,

You have been a wonderful influence on my daughter.  She is excelling in your class in every aspect!
You have inspired her to reach for new limits and to challenge herself.  Thank you for all the time and energy you have given the students to develop their science projects.  My daughter is thrilled to be a winner of the District Science Fair!
Grateful,
 A Parent

I have loved having Mrs. Holyoke as my daughter's teacher this year. Mrs. Holyoke not only is an excellent teacher but she makes learning fun for her students, she is an excellent communicator with parents, and she takes the time outside of class for her students and her teaching partner to show that she cares.

My daughter loves to go to school and I know that it is in large part due to Mrs. Holyoke's ability to make learning fun and interesting. My daughter has improved and learned so much this year and she has enjoyed doing it. For example, in class they did a science experiment finding out which chips had the most oil or grease. Not only did this exercise teach the students the scientific method (which they then needed to replicate on an experiment of their own) but it was a fun and unique experiment that the kids enjoyed and related to. My daughter thought it was so much fun and she wouldn't stop talking about it.
I also love that Mrs. Holyoke is taking the time after school to offer the students enriching STEM activities. The grant that she received to host these activities and the fact that she is using her personal time to offer these activities shows how much she cares for her students and how she goes above and beyond for them. My daughter has enjoyed building her own robot and obstacle course and is looking forward to the other STEM activities coming up in the next few months.
As a parent I appreciate the communication from Mrs. Holyoke. Her video messages and her emails help me to know what is going on in the classroom and what events and assignments are coming up. I also appreciate that she helps the students take responsibility for knowing what assignments are due when and when things are coming up. My daughter will often let me know what is coming up before I can even open my email and read the email from Mrs. Holyoke or watch the video message with the information. She is also very good at responding to parent's emails. It may not seem like big deal but I have found that not all teachers are good at emails and communication.
Outside of the classroom Mrs.Holyoke also takes time to support and enrich her students. I liked the service project that she coordinated with her classes to collect school supplies for a small rural school in Maine. I always appreciate it when my kids have opportunities to serve others. It is important to building character. Mrs. Holyoke also attended my daughter's play in December which meant so much to my daughter. She even attended with her Chinese teaching partner with whom she works so well (and even hosted in her home when Ms. Guo first arrived in the US). Mrs. Holyoke is kind and truly cares for her students.
I feel very blessed that have Mrs. Holyoke as my daughter's teacher
I am so grateful for awesome teachers that care for their students outside of class as well as in school.  Whether it is sending birthday cards to former students, attending their plays, sporting events, baptisms, etc., teachers like Ms. Wang, Ms. Scow, Ms. Mueller, and Ms. Simi make Eastlake great! - (from a parent)
Dave Bankhead, the custodian, is the best!  He is so helpful and kind!  I am super grateful for everything he does.  I also appreciate the office ladies.  - love ya!
Mrs. Simi,

 Cool! Also I told my daughter to plan on tutoring unless you tell her otherwise. I told her to walk home with her friends if there isn’t any. Can you make mention there isn't any today and tomorrow?  Thanks so much for all you do. Good teachers help but great teachers change their lives. Thanks for being that great teacher!!

Suzie and Kristie--
Hello!  I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for Mrs. Ackley and let you know what an amazing teacher she is.  She comes up with the best acronyms,  which sounds funny,  but it is so fun for the kids!  She believes in the kids and verbally praises them for doing well and improving instead of pointing out shortcomings.  I volunteer in her class and have never seen her raise her voice with a student.  Also,  she has been so incredibly supportive of my son.  I could not ask for a better teacher in his life.  Last week I explained the idea of teacher professional development to my son and he responded that he didn't think Mrs. Ackley needed those courses because she was already perfect.  My son has challenges, but Mrs. Ackley is always right there ready to comfort and help him navigate his world.  
 
Additionally,  we couldn't ask for a better principal and assistant principal.  You both have made our time at Eastlake fantastic. I hope you both have a wonderful day!
Best,
A Parent

Dear Principal Williams,

We would like to express our appreciation.  Our daughter is in third grade with Mrs. Demass, and she has already made such a difference in her life this year. We appreciate how Mrs. Demass is outside each morning giving each child a genuine greeting in line, even when it is not her turn to bring in all the classes. She is so positive and gives individualized attention to the students. We hear about her kindness and enthusiasm for her job, and we appreciate how that has influenced her outlook towards school. Our daughter is excited to go to school each morning and has since decided she would like to be a teacher when she grows up!
We know that a positive learning experience for children depends on many factors. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful neighborhood school with caring administrators, office personnel, teachers and volunteers. Thank you for all you do to make Eastlake a successful school! We know much of what you do may go unnoticed and possibly unappreciated, but we truly thank you, Mrs. Demass, and all others who make our school such a great place to learn.
Sincerely,
A Parent

Mrs Williams,

I just want to say thank you for being such a positive, bright principal for our kids at Eastlake! I am always impressed when I see you with how respectfully and kindly you interact with each student, and you know students names! An impressive feat for a large student body. I know that means a lot to my son.
I was so impressed with how you worked with that adorable little first grader today. She broke my heart. It's so comforting as a mom to know that if my child had a problem at school, they would be treated so warmly and with care when I wasn't there to give that to my child myself.
Thank you for being such a wonderful force for good for our school!

Mrs. Simi - You've been an answer to our prayers. Our daughter wanted to be home schooled and when she found out her friend was in her class she changed her mind... then came home the last two days from being around you and she has been so happy she made the choice to go school. I know you'll be a lasting impression on her. We feel blessed. Here is to a great year!

Hi Mrs. Williams,
I wanted to congratulate you and thank you for such a great year for us. Like every family, we had a few issues, and I appreciate how things were handled with my son  and his playground trouble this year. I was able to keep from going 'mama bear' because I knew I could trust you (and Kyle) to be on top of things.
I also wanted to brag on one of your teachers. I truly hope she stays at Eastlake, because I dearly want her to teach my other kids. As you probably already know, Lori Ackley is an AMAZING teacher; honestly the best my kids have ever had. I feel like we hit the lottery with her. I've never seen a more organized, thoughtful, tender but firm, comforting teacher. First grade is such a big deal, and she does it so very well. Her curriculum is a dream, and her classroom runs so smoothly and with a seemingly effortless grace.
We are staying at Eastlake, and I hope we have you as principal at least until 2028, when my youngest will leave elementary school. ??
All the best-

Mrs. Williams,

I’ve been a fan of Eastlake for many years now since we moved here in 2011 but you’ve taken it to a new high in my book.  Now I’m not only a fan of Eastlake but specifically a fan of Suzie Williams.  The way you handled our son who crossed a line that disappointed me was a great lesson for both me and my wife.  Your positive nature is infectious.

My wife and I look forward to the remaining time at Eastlake for our children.  Thank you!