Hello Everyone:
My calendar says June 30, 2010. This is my last day as your President of the Thomas Jefferson Raider Parent Movement. It has been a quick and exciting 3 years for me and I wish to extend a very sincere “thank you” to all the parents, faculty and staff who have participated in RPM. We have had some inspiring collaborative efforts from so many individuals and we have truly made a positive impact on TJ. The gift of time and talent has been remarkable. Thank you!
The following list may be long, but it is appropriate:
Thank you to Sherri Jarvey who served as Co-Treasurer and to Jan Eldridge who served as Vice President of the RPM Board this past year. Thank you for your service to the Board.
Thank you to MaryEllen Maccio who chaired our Auction for the past 2 years. Incredible job! TJ has benefited immensely from your leadership. Thank you to all who assisted her as liaisons and sub-committee members. People like Christina Reagle, Dara Mandeville, Lisa Ziccarelli, Steve Smith, Steve and Ann Mayer, Stuart and Cindy Crowe, Diana King, Keri Bird, Michelle Cooper, Ladonna and Brian Arthur, Agnes Goldingay, Teresa Bach, Lea Ann Jackson, Morgan Folsom, Anna Falls, Nicole Moore, Sherry Stewart, Jean Mullen, Jeanne Lunde, and probably some more names I have forgotten. What a wonderful group of volunteers!
A big thank you to Steve and Ann Mayer who will be the Auction Chairpersons for next year.
Thank you to Jeanne Lunde who chaired our RPM Scholarship committee.
Thank you to Bobbi Dominquez for organizing a wonderfully successful Australian Exchange Program.
Thank you to Dara Mandeville for managing the Concession Stand all year long. Now there’s a tough job that you performed exceedingly well!
Thank you to Julie (and Jerry) Allmaras for ALL those “things” you did “behind the scenes.” You are truly a gift to our school.
Thank you to Ann Mayer for handling the sometimes mind-numbing job of Membership Chair.
Thank you to Eileen Restrepo for being the webmaster of our website: www.tjrpm.org
A big thank you to the entire TJ faculty. Our organization has grown in large part because of your commitment to be an integral part of RPM. I must single out Tommy Decker, Mike Lewis, Tom Norris, and Bill Miles for your incredible desire to make a difference. Also, kudos to Tim Stewart, Fidel Coronado, Dean Peck, Dobrila Markinkovich, and David Fink for your willingness to lend a hand.
Thank you to Forrest Griek for all the help.
Thank you to Grady. Yes, we all know you as Grady. Could the school even operate without Athletic Director and General All-Purpose Leader Mike Grady?
Thank you to Interim Principal Grant Hosford who so ably stepped in at the end of the year to lead our school. What a marvelous gift for all of us to meet you!
A special thank you to Dr. Mark Marshall for your tireless leadership and your desire to work with RPM to help weave our organization into the fabric of the entire TJ Community. We wish you the best in your new job in California.
And lastly, a HUGE thank you to the individuals who have stepped up to serve as RPM Board Members for 2010-2011:
Joe Williams, President
Dan Papke and Sue Hendricks, Co-Vice Presidents
Kelly Thoreson, Secretary
Karen Wylie, Co-Treasurer
Lynn McQueen, Co-Treasurer
Karen will be in her second year as Co-Treasurer and Joe served as Secretary this past year. The remaining 4 individuals are new to the Board. This is a great group of parent volunteers. I strongly encourage everyone to give Joe and the entire Board all of your support and help in the next year. The torch has been passed.
The Graduation Ceremony on June 12th was exceptional. I heard several comments, some of them from individuals who called themselves “old-timers”, that this was perhaps the best graduation ceremony they had ever witnessed! The Class of 2010 are now Alums and all indications point to remarkable success stories from these newly graduated Raiders!
Again, I thank each and every one of you for your participation in RPM and your involvement in your son’s and daughter’s education. I encourage all of you to remain involved in some way or another in our High School Community. It is crystal clear that success in education is most affected by parental involvement in the student’s education. Believe it and let’s continue to lead the way! In the Federal Way School District, the Thomas Jefferson Raider Parent Movement is viewed as the model to emulate. This is a big responsibility to live up to. But we’ve earned it. Let’s keep up the great work and strive to be viewed as the model Parent/Teacher organization in the entire State of Washington. As we continue to support the 4 A’s of Education---Academics, Athletics, Activities, and the Arts---we know our efforts will be an Investment in our children’s education…...we will Raise the Bar of Excellence…....and we will ultimately leave a lasting and measureable Legacy.
And, I say again………why not? After all, we ARE named after Thomas Jefferson!
Sincerely,
Mike Radford, Immediate Past President
Thomas Jefferson Raider Parent Movement
Tel: (253)-838-0955
Cell: (206) 841-9910
m.radford@tjrpm.org
