Focus on TUSD - December 2006

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Happy Holidays to Everyone!

Tax Credit Donations Help TUSD Students
Taxpayers have until Dec. 31 to designate state tax credits for TUSD activities or schools. Married couples may designate up to $400 and single taxpayers or heads of household may designate up to $200. Taxpayers do not have to live within TUSD to give to District schools. Tax credits are used only for extracurricular activities. To participate, fill out the form available at all district schools and at the Morrow Education Center, 1010 E. 10th St., accompanied by a check payable to the school to which you are donating and deliver or postmark it by Dec. 31. Participants can also designate tax credits by credit card using the online tax credit form.

Utterback Monitor Turns 80
Most folks recognize Norris Neale's distinctive white hair and wide smile as she patrols the halls and grounds at Utterback Magnet Middle School. What they wouldn't recognize is her name.

They know her as "Grandma," a fitting title because she turned 80 years old on Nov. 24. School staff and students celebrated that milestone in style two days earlier with a large cake and a 12-foot banner created by the Service Leaning class. The staff gave her over $300 they collected.

"Oh, boy, it was overwhelming," Neale said. "I enjoyed every minute. It was very, very nice. I thought maybe they'd give me a soda or something. I was very surprised at what they did."

The students are not surprised, though, at the kindness and concern that earned Neale her nickname. "She's like a mommy bear protecting her cubs," said eighth-grader Melissa Burcham, who helped make the banner in Yvonne Roepke's class. "She treats everyone the same. When I'm late, she takes me to class and tells the teacher, 'It's OK, she was with Grandma.' And it really is OK then."

Years ago, when Neale's grandson started classes at Utterback, Neale came along, shadowing him to make sure he didn't skip school. That grew into her seven-hour- a-day, five-day-a-week monitor position, a mix of paid and volunteer time.

"I love the kids," Neale said. "They all say I'm their grandma. One asked if I'd be her grandma forever and I said I would. A lot of them don't have grandparents."

Parents hear about Neale from their children. "They come to school to see if I'm real," Neale said.

She's never been sick and said she doesn't feel her age. But even so, eighth-grader Melinda Lopez said, "I'm surprised that she gets up and works. Usually people her age don't do as much as she does. That's why I think she's very unique."

Burcham agreed, saying, "She must be caring to give up her free time and come to be with us because teenagers are moody and all that. Grandma always walks. She's in good shape to walk the halls."

Neale, a Trinidad native who has lived in New York, has four children and one grandchild, Christopher Michael George, who attended Utterback.

Students in Utterback's Service Learning class joined Grandma (Norris Neale) for a birthday photo: Back, from left, Bianka Lopez, Marisol Durazo, Lizeth Valenzuela, Celina Serrano, Jancely Martinez and Melissa Burcham; Front, Karen Victorino and Melinda Lopez.

 

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The deadline to submit material for the January Focus is Friday, Jan. 12. The Focus will be published Friday, Jan. 19. Email submissions to Chyrl Hill Lander or Sharon Dunham in the Communications & Media Relations Department or use the Focus Online Submission Form.