testimonials
Great Expectations® unifies us and sets the foundation
upon which we can begin teaching lifelong skills.
| I wanted to take the time to tell you how much I enjoyed visiting with you on Thursday. It was such an amazing experience to be able to share my staff’s great teaching with you. I am a very fortunate administrator to have such dedicated and energized teachers! I am so proud of their values and skills! I feel that their character is due in part to the Great Expectations® (GE) philosophy. I think that GE unifies us together as a team and sets the foundation upon which we can begin teaching lifelong skills. |  Lone Grove Primary Elementary receiving the GE Model School Award (2009) |
As you know, our small town was hit by an EF4 tornado on Tuesday, February 10th. The destruction and devastation left in its path looked like a war zone. The tornado took lives, homes, businesses, and vehicles, but it did not take our spirit. That very night, many of my staff members had made contact with me letting me know they were alright. Then, the next words out of their mouths were, “What can we do?” By 7:00 am the next morning, administrators had a plan in place. By 9:00am many of my staff members were at school making phone calls to our students and checking on them. Once we knew whom had been affected, other staff members immediately went shopping to purchase tubs, trash bags, wipes, paper towels, and a full change of clothes for the families. These families had these items in hand that afternoon or the next morning. My staff continued to use esprit de corps to acquire clothes, food, and toiletry items throughout the week. On Thursday, staff members worked all day to make sure that their rooms were ready for Friday’s Valentine Parties. They purchased the food, décor and extra Valentines for the students to make once they arrived. We felt the normalcy of the day would help our students begin coping. It was the best thing we could have done. I feel that the rewarding benefits that GE has provided my students, my staff, parents, and the community allowed us to endure this horrible tragedy. The compassion, effort, and fortitude shown by my staff members to the families that were affected by the devastating tornado were a true testament of the GE’s Philosophy. For this, I say thank you!!
Tonya Finnerty, Administrator
Lone Grove Primary