Wow! I can't believe it is the month of June already. This year is a very special year to me, because we have been through a lot together, and your support is totally appreciated! I want to thank all of you who went to the community meetings, gave your feedback to the Community Advisory Committee, and supported us through this process. The good news is your feedback was heard and the most recent recommendation, May 30, is for Fairmount Park to merge programs with High Point Elementary at their building, starting in September 2007.

Remember, whatever happens, we still need to focus on our children! Our children are always my first priority and that is the only reason I come to work every day. I thank each of you for sending your most precious treasures to us to care for, to love, to protect, and of course, to educate. It is our privilege to have the chance to educate your children.

As my partner, I would like to share some of my strategies regarding parents' and children's relationship - ah ha, during the summer? Sometimes, some parents spend most of their time and energy controlling the behavior of their kids. Parents tend to focus on, was your child in compliance with rules and expectations? Parent might think that control and compliance must precede learning.

Naturally, the resulting relationships with their children are based on control and compliance. Other parents focus on and spend most to their time and energy on learning and supporting their children as learners.

Consequently, their relationships with their children tend to be more nurturing and mutually respectful. In reality, a focus on learning results in positive control because students choose to comply and don't need control imposed on them.

As my partner, I also want to let you know as well, I am also learning different strategies every single day from my colleague, by that mean your children, to update, adjust, and adapt my knowledge, my ability and my wisdom to work with your children. I hope that you don't mind, when I call your children, my children. I love them, I always think of different strategies to work, support, and assist them in any way I can!

Come in and let share our strategies together so together we can!

Davy Muth is principal of Fairmount Park Elementary School in West Seattle and wrote this to parents. She can be reached via wseditor@robinsonnews.com