WPHS
WASHINGTON PARK HIGH SCHOOL
ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
02
Message of Gratitude
11
Spotlight: Mr. Mann
03
Campus
13
Spotlight: Ms. Smith
04
Scholar Photos
15
Notes of Appreciation
07
Notes of Appreciation
17
A Message from WPHS
09
Scholar Photos
18
Scholar Photos
THE STUDENTS AND STAFF OF WPHS PRESENT THIS BOOK AS A TOKEN OF OUR GRATITUDE & APPRECIATION FOR ALL YOU DO!
WASHINGTON PARK HIGH SCHOOL
“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” – Karl Barth
“The root of joy is gratefulness.” - David Steindl-Rast
We Appreciate your HARD WORK
We Appreciate you BEING ALL HANDS
To the world you may an educator, and school leader, but to your students you are a HERO!
“In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us.” – Flora Edwards
Syrena Burnam Allison leads a strong team. Our current Ops team is very thoughtful and efficient. I always appreciate Mike’s unwavering commitment to high expectations for students and strong academic outcomes.
Ashling Coffey
Mike is a leader that has the courage to call out the challenges we face as a community without ever questioning if we will be able to overcome them. His confidence in both our students and our staff is what guides everyone to achieve our collective greatness.
Caitlin Stillwell
Thank you Mike for all that you do to ensure our students are getting the best education they can receive. You always have their best interest at heart! You have been a great leader through these crazy times.
Bethany Hipple
I can’t thank Allison enough for all the hard work she has done to keep our school running; From a fire, to the lights going out, to moving learning remotely, she has dealt with the impossible and continues to strive. I have learned so much from Mr. Mann as a teacher and a leader. He has a passion for his work, and this shows in and out of the classroom. He demands respect and knows how to get the job done. I couldn’t imagine North Star without him
Yvette Wade
Allison is an strong leader that we’ve all have the pleasure of working with. I admire her ability to develop and implement a clear, goal-oriented vision that encourages amazing culture with staff and students. She develops great relationships with students and always makes sure that they understand the why behind their presence in the school, whether it’s making sure they’re not wandering the halls or checking in with students to make sure they are okay. She also is great at finding specific qualities in team members and making sure they are able to perform their duties through their strong qualities. For instance, she constantly reminds me that I am the perfect fit for an Office Manager because of my bubbly, welcoming nature. When the work gets tough, it’s easy to remember my why, when I think about Allison’s description of me as an OM. I’m thankful to have met her and transition with her from CMS. Also thankful for her adoration for my cats!
Todd Leine
Mike has a way of eliciting excellence from everyone in the school—both faculty and students. I am so grateful for his leadership because he always inspires me to be a better teacher for our students. Alison’s leadership enables us teachers to direct all our attention towards improving the quality of instruction so we can better serve our students. Her consistency, positivity, and attention to detail is a huge part of what makes being a North Star teacher so wonderful.
Alyse Amato
Mike, thank you so much for your dedication and enthusiasm for our High School 2.0 program! In my first year in this role, you have served as an invaluable mentor and role model for pushing the program forward while maintaining the high expectations that are the hallmark of WPHS. We appreciate you for everything that you do—especially leading us through this online learning process with efficiency and care for our students. Allison, thank you so much for everything you have done this year to maintain the strong operational efficiency of WPHS! You have been such a valuable thought partner to me for all things High School 2.0 and otherwise. I really appreciate everything that you have helped us with this year, especially in such a transitional year for our campus. I wish you the best of luck next year and I will miss you!
Kimora Gates
Ms Smith has always been there for me since 7th grade at CMS and she's so supportive and always helps me out with anything I need.
Peace Freeman Dear Mr. Mann and Ms. Smith, I really want to thank and appreciate you for your dedication and kindness towards all the students of WPHS. Your constant effort that you put towards our education and happiness is truly amazing and touching. I want you to know that your hard work towards this school is not in vain and you have truly changed our lives for the better. Thank you!
We Appreciate Your KINDNESS & SMILE
We Appreciate You MAKING US FEEL HEARD
“A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.” – William Hazlitt
"The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them." — Ralph Nichols
We Appreciate Your "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." LEADERSHIP -John C. Maxwell
We Appreciate Your STRENGTH
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” – Christopher Reeve
MR. MANN WE APPRECIATE YOU “At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer
MR. MANN WE APPRECIATE YOU
“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.” – Lionel Hampton
MS. SMITH WE APPRECIATE YOU “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – Gilbert C. Chesterton
MS. SMITH WE APPRECIATE YOU
“Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.” – Henri Frederic Amiel
Joy Freeman Dear Mr Mann, I appreciate your hard working and diligent nature. You are consistent in your efforts to better us individually, and thus as a school. Whether its through your interesting and humorous comments during morning forum or the calm and collected way you handle unprecedented situations, I am truly grateful. I know I have personally come up to you quite a few times about my grades or something I'm concerned with and with humility and deep concern you always acknowledge and make time to address the situation. I look forward to seeing your exciting emails every morning with new and intriguing information. Thank you for being a great principal! More grace. With deep reverence and gratitude.
Joy Freeman Dear Ms. Smith, Though I have not had the opportunity of getting to know you in dept, I appreciate you greatly. The work and effort you put in behind the scenes truly is amazing and a testament to how hard working you are. Even during this unprecedented situation, your hard work is still seen through the various support offered to students. I am truly grateful for your work as director of operations. Thank you Ms. Smith.
Victoria Armstrong Happy Leadership Appreciation Day! As we’ve been working from home (as it turns out, maternity leave is totally work and not the vacation that I thought it would be), I’ve been reflecting on my North Star journey. The last five years have been by far the most challenging yet rewarding and exciting years of my life. Your leadership, clear vision, trust and dedication to not just our work, but to my goals and growth as well, have kept me invested and striving to reach the high bars that you set for yourself and our team. Over the last five years, I have looked to you as a mentor and someone who I strive to emulate. Because of your leadership and example, I have grown professionally more than I have ever thought possible. I am so proud to have gone on this Uncommon journey with you, and I am so unbelievably grateful for everything you have taught me along the way. You are undoubtedly the strongest, most determined, decisive and fearless woman and leader that I know.
Shekinah Hightower Thank you for being a role model for all students on what type of leaders we should aspire to be like. Thank you for always wanting the best for us and pushing us to get the highest grades in order for us to be successful in college and the real world.Thank you for always making sure that we are protected from what can happen outside the school doors. Thank you for seeing our own potential before we see it ourselves. Thank you for always looking to help improve the students lives as much as you can especially during these hard times in America. Mr.Mann I hope you and your family is doing well over this quarantine.
“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” – Karl Barth