Monday, August 13, 2012                                                                                                                                               

             Dear Parents,

 

        Welcome to Second Grade!  I am very happy to have your child in my class this year.  I am beginning my 25th year of teaching.  I have had the honor and privilege of teaching at Eden Gardens for the past 19 years, most of which have been in Second Grade.  I came to the “Garden” first as a parent.  My son, Chad, spent six wonderful years here and went on to Caddo Middle Magnet and Caddo Magnet High.  He is now 27, and he is a graduate of LSU with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He lives and works here in Shreveport, and will be getting married in September.  Being the Mother of the Groom is a role I am enjoying very much!!   I love sharing stories about Chad’s growing up years with the children. I cherish the foundation he received while at Eden Gardens, as I hope you will too, as your child grows and soars as an “Eagle.”

     My husband is Van Wray.  He is a Community Liaison Officer with the Shreveport Police Department.  “Officer Van” stops by to see the children in my class often.  I have two step-children, Chandler, 12, and Leilani, 19.  Chandler attends school at Calvary Baptist Academy where we also attend Church.  Leilani works for Regions Bank.  We stay very busy as a family with sports, fishing, and traveling.

     I consider you an integral part of our team here at Eden Gardens.  I encourage your input and welcome your help in making this a great year for your child.  Please mark your calendar for our Second Grade Parent Meeting which will be held Tuesday, August 28 at 6:00.  After a brief meeting with Mrs. Hughes in the auditorium, you will be invited to the classroom to hear about plans for this year.  You will find this meeting to be very informative, so please make every effort to attend.   I will have a sign-up sheet that night with many volunteer opportunities available.  I will also be giving you a detailed schedule of what the children will be doing each day; however, I want you to know that our lunchtime each day is from 11:30 to 12:00 if you would like to make plans to join your child. (Student lunches are $1.60, and adult lunches are $3.90.)  

     I look forward to getting to know you and your child and working closely together to make this a positive and successful year.  If you need to reach me during the day, please call the office and leave a message.  I will return your call as soon as possible. 

   Eden Gardens is a truly wonderful place to grow up, and I am thrilled and honored to be able to share this year with you and your child.

 

                                                        Yours truly, Colleen Wray