WIESBADEN, Germany - Traffic safety, new administrators and the high school's Student-2-Student program were topics at the Installation Advisory Committee Meeting May 9.
During the quarterly IAC forum at Aukamm Elementary School, which brings Wiesbaden school administrators together with parent, garrison and unit partnership leaders, members recognized outgoing principals Sue Gurley of Aukamm Elementary School and Chuck Fannin of Wiesbaden Middle School. "We are saying goodbye at the end of the school year to two of our community stalwart supporters," said Col. David Carstens, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden commander.
Gurley, who will retire after having served for three years as Aukamm's principal and for 27 years with the Department of Defense Dependents Schools, said, "It's been my pleasure to be the principal of this school and to have dedicated all of my career to military children."
Debbie Parks, who will take over as principal of Aukamm in August, is currently serving as the Garmisch Elementary Middle School principal.
Fannin, who served for the past two years as the principal of Wiesbaden Middle School, will be followed in school year 2012/2013 by Dr. Susan Hargis, currently principal of Kaiserslautern Middle School.
Safeguarding students in the housing areas near schools was another topic. Carstens addressed ongoing concerns about speeders in Aukamm Housing, explaining that ongoing German and American police spot checks and warnings "just aren't getting it done. I'm going to press forward with the city to find a permanent solution."
He also talked about the new crosswalk recently installed in Hainerberg Housing on Florida Strasse near the new sports field, saying it was the result of ongoing concerns by residents for the safety of children, coordination with the city and work by the garrison's Directorate of Public Works.
Penelope Miller-Smith, principal of Hainerberg Elementary School, also raised concerns about additional buses next school year resulting in more traffic and obscured vision at crosswalks. The commander asked Directorate of Emergency Services staff to look at the issue and to ensure everyone's safety.
Several Wiesbaden High School students, members of the school's Student-2-Student program, talked about how the program has evolved over the years attracting more and more volunteers to help newcomers make the transition to Wiesbaden. Besides providing newcomers with a warm welcome, introducing them to the school and teachers, the program also helps when students move on to other schools, Student-2-Student members said.
"This program has been building for the last seven years with more and more students willing to volunteer," said Undra Robinson, a Wiesbaden High School guidance counselor and program sponsor.
Ongoing school partnerships between local units and the four Wiesbaden schools, and the many opportunities available during and after school at local Child, Youth and School Services facilities were also covered. The principals explained that parents can pick up information about trips and other summer CYSS happenings from registrars at the schools.
For more information about school happenings and opportunities contact your local school or Peter Witmer, Wiesbaden's CYSS school liaison officer, at civ (0611) 4080-129.
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