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Summer offers students opportunity to recharge
I think most people have seen the memes on social media that show teachers in August compared to teachers in May. In August everyone is put together, excited, and ready to go. In comparison, the May teacher looks disheveled and like they have been through a tornado.
Wildfire danger increases
As we cross the halfway point of July, wildfire danger continues to increase across the state. On Friday, Texas A&M Forest Service firefighters responded to 15 new wildfires that burned 651 acres. As of Sunday, there were eight active wildfires; the largest was the Nethery Road Fire in Kimble County, involving an estimated 3,500 acres. It has been 70% contained.
Finishing well
The late Dr. Robert L. Smith and Ethelyn Hughes Smith, his bride, fell short in precious few areas of life, but when they did, it was never by intent. By a few weeks in each case, they missed a 70th wedding anniversary, he failed to attain age 90 and she was just short of her 97th birthday when she died recently.
My mom’s perfect pet
My mother has found the perfect pet. She just doesn’t realize it yet. A clever little red squirrel has been trying to get my mother’s attention for months. “He’s such a pest!” my mother complains. But the squirrel does not give up.
How to live in evil times
A new king took the throne in Egypt and looked upon the people of Israel with contempt. They had lived under the Egyptians in peace for generations, but things dramatically changed with the new Pharaoh. They were turned into slaves, oppressed and treated ruthlessly for decades. At one point Pharaoh ordered all sons born to Israelite women to be thrown into the river to die. Day after day the cries of the people of Israel ascended before God, praying against the wicked acts of Pharaoh and for their deliverance.
Wrong ride, right attitude
When it comes to thrillseeking, I’ve always embraced being one of the wimpiest of the wimpy. Why ride a roller coaster when you can watch all the fun from the sidelines? Rhetorical question, to be sure.
TEA releases STAAR results for grades 3-8
The Texas Education Agency has released the 2022 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness results for grades 3-8, which showed acrossthe-board improvements in all grades and subjects, with especially significant gains in reading.
Reflections on going ‘home’
Thomas Wolf, the author who insisted that we can’t go home again, got it wrong. One can indeed do so, but “home” may hardly be recognizable, and/ or – truth to tell – noticeably improved.
Ushered to a concert by magical dragonflies
I was “up north,” walking through the woods with an escort of dragonflies on either side, as if I were a visiting dignitary in need of protection.