Carl Hankey K-8 School is celebrating 30 years of educational excellence this year, and I feel very fortunate to be the new principal of such an outstanding community school.

Our K-8 school was named after Mr. Carl H. Hankey, an influential south county public education advocate. He served on school planning committees that worked to ensure quality education for children and turned the barren hills between Capistrano, Laguna Beach and Santa Ana into schools. Mr. Hankey volunteered in classrooms and talked to grade school and high school students about early Orange County history. He was also famous for growing and arranging gladiolus for local Capistrano public schools graduation ceremonies.

Carl Hankey's family continues to be active members of our school community. They bring gladiolus on his birthday and participate in important school milestones. I look forward to celebrating the anniversary of our school's dedication on October 26, with our entire Hankey family.

For the past 30 years Carl Hankey Elementary School has committed itself to student learning and producing productive young citizens for a culturally diverse and technologically advanced society. Through our many evolutions over the years, we have maintained a collective belief that all students must learn the essential language arts and mathematics standards to excel. Our outstanding educators use a variety of instructional strategies to intertwine basic skills and knowledge with higher-level thinking and problem-solving skills to create stimulating learning experiences for all students.

Consistent with our tradition of innovation and outstanding student learning, this year we will have our first 8th grade class and will become a complete K-8 school. Our middle school and our elementary school have motivating and gifted teachers and caring and supportive staff committed to student learning. Our school has added an academic advisor, a library technician, and a counselor this year to benefit and serve all Hankey students.

Our PTA theme for 2008-2009 is Movie Magic, and I hope all our parents and school community will get into the act by participating in PTA activities and school functions this year. I feel this is a very appropriate theme, because all of our students are stars, and it is our mission as educators, support staff, and parents to make them shine.

I'm looking forward to a wonderful 2008-2009 school year at Hankey School, and my family and I feel blessed to be part of such a special place… where students learn and grow.

Go Hawks!