Dear Star Lake Families and Friends,
Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year. This is my second year as the principal of Star Lake Elementary. My full name is Melinda Muchmore-Thompson, but I prefer Mindy Thompson.
I began my teaching career at Lake Grove Elementary where I taught 5th and 6th grade plus multiage GATE 3-5. Our former principal, Mrs. Lemmel and I moved to Star Lake in 2006. At Star Lake, I’ve taught 4th and ELL students and served as the Dean of Students.
Before I was a classroom teacher, I was active in my sons’ school as a PTA volunteer and worked as a para-educator in the Puyallup and Sumner school districts, including recess duty! In 1993, the citizens of Puyallup elected me to the Puyallup School Board where I served two terms as school director.
My four sons and two stepdaughters range in age from 22-38. I am blessed to have 10 grandchildren already! I have a home in Puyallup where I live with two cats named Eva and Simba. My hobbies include walking, reading, playing word games, watching BBC comedies and surfing the Internet!
I look forward to serving your students and you this year. I am proud to be the leader of such a vibrant learning community. We anticipate 475 students in grades K-5 that bring a treasure of diverse ethnicities and languages from all over the world.
My vision for Star Lake is two-fold. First, every child matters and every moment counts. "Every child matters" reflects the heart of Star Lake. Every student is a valued and integral part of our community. "Every Moment Counts" reflects the urgency of our teaching task. Every Star Lake student will receive excellent instruction in critical content from our start bell to our dismissal bell!
My second vision is for Star Lake is Successful Teams Achieve Results.. Our highly qualified teachers and support staff at Star Lake demonstrate every day a passion for helping children to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. We know that working together, we can achieve more! So, this year we strengthen our collaboration to ensure that your child experiences safety, kindness, and ongoing productivity every day.
We look forward to your partnership in working toward our district goal: All Means All. How can you help? Parent involvement is crucial to the success of your students in school. (1) Join PTA and work on a committee. (2) Set aside a time each evening to read with or to your child. (3) Contact the classroom teacher when you have a question or concern. (4) Volunteer to help in the classroom, the library or the office. (5) Provide a distraction free, quiet area where your children can complete their homework. (6) Make sure your child is at school every day and arrives on time. (7) Attend school wide events and student-led conferences. (8) Hold your child accountable for their behavior at school.
Together we can build a world-class learning community for every child! I look forward to meeting you.
Sincerely,
Mindy Thompson
© 2008 Federal Way Public Schools