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455 N. Woods Mill Rd.
Chesterfield, MO 63017
Phone (314) 415-8100

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Welcome!

 

Dear Carman Trails Families,

Welcome!  Welcome!  Welcome!  As each new school year begins, we know that we are welcoming many new families to our school community.  We want you to know that we are glad you are here.  A big "welcome back" goes out to all of our returning families also!  One of the many things that we take pride in at Carman Trails is the positive, welcoming environment that can be seen and felt every day.  This year will be especially special because we have brand new classrooms for every grade level.  The construction has been going on all summer and word has it that they are on schedule.  This is good news for us because currently, every single item that needs to go into the classrooms still sits in our cafeteria and gym.

This summer I had the privilege to take a trip to Alaska.  I can now say that I have been to all fifty states.  It’s time to start over again!  I have to say that we have many beautiful states and wonderful places to visit in our country.  On our way to Alaska, we had a stop in Vancouver, Canada.  I had heard great things about this city so I added an extra day to our stay there so we could spend time exploring the city.  I had also heard that Canadians are very friendly.  I thought, “That is a pretty big generalization, to say everyone from one country is friendly.”  Well, they are!  It makes a big difference when so many people you don’t even know smile at you and ask if they can help you in any way.  In the beginning of our trip, my husband and I took the train from the airport to downtown.  When we stepped out of the train station onto the city street, I pulled out my map to figure out our route to our hotel.  Within thirty seconds, two different people came up to me and asked if I needed help.  This friendly “outgoingness” happened continually throughout our stay, all the way to the taxi cab driver who took us away from the hotel when we left. 

                I have to compare this to Carman Trails.  This is the climate that you will experience at our school.  Last spring, another administrator stopped by Carman Trails to deliver something.  She later told me, “I love the positive feeling I got just walking into your school.”  Two of our most recent field trips were to a nursery and to the zoo.  On both of these trips, the people in charge commented on how well behaved and friendly our students were.  They specifically asked what school the students were from.  We love hearing this because it tells us that our modeling and teaching is getting passed down to our students.  This is not something we take lightly.  We are genuine, yet intentional in our teaching and we relish the opportunity to teach and influence your children in such a positive way.  We look forward to our continual partnership with you.

We are very close to adding another section of second grade and possibly kindergarten.  Once we get the “go ahead” from our Human Resource Department, we can firm up our class lists.  We know you are anxious for these but we don’t want to send them out and then have to change them due to an addition of a class.  We are very excited to see your children on the first day of school, Tuesday, August 14th.  Our hours are 9:05-4:00.  It will be a great year!           

                                                                                                                                                                                With warm regards,

                                                                                                                                                                Beth Wendling

 

 

 

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Hello, Carman Trails!

To say that I am excited about continuing my journey as your new Assistant Principal at Carman Trails would be an understatement. I look forward to meeting you, your children, and becoming part of this wonderful school community. Fortunately, I have been part of the Parkway School District’s south area since 2001. For the last three years, I have enjoyed my position as the administrative intern at Wren Hollow Elementary School. Prior to that, I enjoyed eight years as a chemistry teacher at Parkway South High School where I met my wife, Steph. Together, we have two sons, Jacob who is three, and Kyle who just turned one.

During my time in Parkway, I have been fortunate to have worked closely with different members of the Carman Trails staff and learned quickly that Carman is a wonderful place for kids. We are fortunate to have a high-quality staff, a supportive community, and a rich student body. I am honored to be joining the Carman Trails family and pledge my very best as we move forward learning together and achieving together.

I couldn’t help but think about Carman Trails during a recent trip to Seattle while visiting Pike Place Fish Market. If you are not familiar with the fish market, it is well known for more than selling fish. This is the place you may have seen on television that toss fish of all sizes when they are sold through the air from one fish monger to another in a fun-loving, cheery atmosphere. My wife and I stood there for quite a while amongst a large crowd enjoying the ambiance. In fact, the place is so popular that it served as inspiration for the best-selling book, Fish!  by Lundin, Paul, and Christensen. The authors describe the Pike Place Fish Market as, “world famous and wildly successful thanks to its fun, bustling, joyful atmosphere and customer service.”

I can already see that Carman Trails is a similar place, where staff and students bring “energy, passion, and a positive attitude” to the workplace everyday. Yes, school is a workplace for our kids, and we want them to be challenged as they become curious, confident, and capable learners. At the same time, nothing should keep us from a school that is also fun and exciting to attend.

So, I invite you to bring your energy, passion, and positive attitude to the new school year. I know that I will bring mine. Together, I am confident we will accomplish wonderful things. Again, I am very excited about becoming part of the Carman Trails family. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you, your children, and this school.

And when you visit our school this year, watch for the flying fish!!!

Sincerely,

Robert Villigram