In the category of what we model for our children, consider this scenario:
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen, and filled three pots with water.

In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners, fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl; she pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl; she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a third bowl.

Turning to her daughter she asked, “Tell me—what do you see?”
“ Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” the daughter replied.
Mother brought her daughter closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did, and noted that they were soft. Mother then asked her to take an egg out and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, Mother asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its richness. “What’s the point, mother?” she asked.
Mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity—boiling water—but each reacted differently.
The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water it softened and became weak. The water had changed the carrot.
The egg had been fragile; its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior but, after sitting in the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The water had changed the egg.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however—they had changed the water.

Question of the day: When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? As a carrot? An egg? A coffee bean? Don’t we all want each of our children to grow up as a person strong enough to use his or her skills and character to work with change rather than always reacting against it?

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Coyote Creek’s champion speller, Jack Z., then traveled to Northeast Elementary in Parker on February 23 to compete for a spot on the Douglas County School District’s team that will be going to the Colorado Spelling Bee.
Jack made the team! He will be representing Coyote Creek and Douglas County on Saturday, March 19 at the Denver Convention Center. Congratulations, Jack, and best of luck!!

Readers are encouraged to submit items for this column. Often we at school do not know the accomplishments of students outside school. Please include your phone number so we can reach you if we need more information.

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We have two volunteers nominated for February’s Volunteer of the Month. They are Jamie Lavigne and Jean Theobald, two great room parents for Ms. Coslet.
Jamie has 3 sons at Coyote Creek. Troy is a 6th grader in Mrs. Loomis’ class. Tyler is in Mrs. Robinson’s (Ms. McCann) 4C class and Trevor is in Ms. Coslet’s Kindergarten class. Jamie has been volunteering at Coyote Creek since Troy started school here in 1998. Jamie has also served on the School Advisory Committee for several years.

Jean has two daughters attending Coyote Creek. Payton is in Ms. Coslet’s Kindergarten class and Taylor is in Mrs. Robinson’s 4C class. Jean has been an active volunteer since Taylor began attending Coyote Creek in 2000.
Thanks to both of these volunteers for giving so much of their time to our school community. It certainly makes the classroom environment a better learning place having dedicated volunteers like Jean and Jamie involved. Thank you both for everything!
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Some reminders that will keep our students safe………
• Please remember to leave access to the Handicapped Parking spaces clear for parents who are parked there. Recently families legitimately using the Handicapped Parking spaces have been blocked in by other cars and have not been able leave.
• Recently there have been media stories about children who miss their bus and decide to walk home. Please make sure your child knows what to do if s/he misses the bus or if you are late getting to school to pick them up. The safest plan is for them to come back into the school (through the main door) and come to the office so we can begin notifying you of the missed ride and find a safe way to get your child home.
• In the same vein, we often have students in the office after school because their parents have not picked them up. We call parents and others on each student’s Emergency call list, but often find that a half hour or more after dismissal parents still have not picked up their children. If you find that you are going to be late in picking up your child, please make alternative arrangements.
• We have recently had reports of parents making U-turns in our “loop”: on the north side of the building, and in our parking lot. This is not legal and is very dangerous. Please do not make U-turns while on Coyote Creek property.

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Check our Lost and Found barrels near Door #4 (by the cafeteria). There are many lunch boxes and miscellaneous coats and jackets to be found there! Girl Scout Troop 1073 will be emptying the contents for donation to a local charity the week of March 14.

Field Trips

March 18 3 B & C
Colorado History Museum
April 13 5th & 6th ACD
Paramount Theatre
April 14 3 A & D
Colorado History Museum
April 19 6 A & D
Denver Art Museum
April 22 Kindergarten
Greg & Steve
April 25 3 A,B & D
Adams County Park
May 18 6 B & C
Denver Art Museum
May 25 K A, B2, C
Teikyo Loretta Heights

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