As you are winding down your year one thing you need to think about is keeping your drama department growing.  In this time of drastic educational cuts, the arts are taking a beating.  We know how important they are and most of our students would agree as well, but the general public is not always aware of their importance. 

I have to honestly admit that during my years of teaching I never truly appreciated the support I received from my administration as well as my parents.  I guess I just expected the drama department to remain strong year after year and the parents to support our school mill levies as well.

As I was reviewing my last 15 years of teaching I came across a letter I wrote to my Drama 2 parents in the mid 90s, see Letter to Students' Parents. I had had an exceptionally great advanced drama class and wanted the parents to know how much I appreciated their kids. This got me to thinking — wasn’t each year’s classes exceptional in some way? Why didn’t I write the parents each year?  Yes, of course, it takes time, but time well spent.  If I may, I would suggest to all of you drama teachers/directors out there to take the time right now and write a letter to your parents thanking them for their support. In this age of computers the trick is to make it personal. Take the time to print it out, sign it and send it by mail, not email.  Please. Every parent loves to hear how special their child is and this is just another way of enforcing that strong positive bond between school and home. 

I mentioned in my last blog about performing in Richard III — it is up in the air right now but if I do I would love to relate my experience in further blogs. I will be taking a summer break but do know that next fall I have lots of things to share such as commercials, critiques, and mimes, to mention just a few. So be sure to tune in!            

Date

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Johnson,

I would like to take this opportunity to write you a short note to tell you how much I have enjoyed having Sissi in class.  This is not something I regularly do but this year has been exceptional and I felt you needed to know how much I have enjoyed teaching Drama 2 this year.  We have achieved so much with our two major productions as well as our smaller productions.  Every teacher dreams about classes that want to be there every day and are willing to do extra to get the job done.  My classes have indeed done that this year.

I have watched many of my students grow up, many of whom I had as freshman.  This caring and devotion to the Sentinel Drama Department and me has not gone unnoticed.  It is with students like these that our drama department has gained a fine and enviable position in the state of Montana.  Thank you for sharing your child with me.

Sincerely,

Margaret F. Johnson