Executive Director Notes

By Elaine Stancliffe

The first trimester has given us many reasons to be thankful.

Two of our third graders, Breyanna and Cassidy, made a generous donation of $58 to the Library Fund.  The girls spent this summer making and selling bookmarks and friendship bracelets for this purpose!

The AT&T Foundation awarded us a grant for $10,000.  This allowed us to purchase the equipment needed to start up our new library: a computer, inventory software, check-out scanning equipment and much more!

The Timken Foundation awarded us a grant for $75,000 to be used in two ways.  It will purchase our new custom shelving in the library.  It will also allow next summer’s construction to include safety features we have added to the design such as bullet resistant glass at our new entrance.

Our librarian, Mrs. Clancy, assisted by her crew of parent volunteers, has undertaken the job of labeling each of our library books, adding it into the new inventory program, and covering books.  We are expecting our new shelving to be installed in mid-January, with our grand opening of the library shortly after.

Our new library will be called Emily’s Place in honor of Emily Barlow, who passed away last year.  Emily loved reading and writing.  She was the daughter of Malcolm and Susan Barlow.  Malcolm is a local attorney who has served on the Odyssey Board of Trustees and in other volunteer functions for the school since 1996 when Odyssey was still in the planning stages.

Thanks also to the students, parents and staff who participated in our fall fundraisers.  Our goal was to purchase additional Chromebook computers.  We raised enough money to purchase 11 additional computers which can be signed out for small group or classroom work.

Last, but never least, thank you to the group of parents and students who met me on the playground on a beautiful October Saturday to trim back our bushes and plantings.  Your efforts were much appreciated and you left a much neater garden area in your wake!