I would like to take this opportunity to welcome everyone back to school for another great year at Merkel High. If we all put in our best effort we can have a wonderfully successful year! As assistant principal my main duties will be attendance and discipline and as such the names I learn the quickest will be those I see the most, however I want everyone to know they are welcome to come by and introduce themselves so we can become aquainted. Because I handle discipline, I am usually seen as the "heavy". However, my main focus is the success of the students at this school. Home communication is an extremely important part of that success, and to help with that the district has purchased a mass communication software system called AlertNow. This system allows the school to issue simultanious calls and e-mails to alert parents and students of upcoming events, emergency weather information, club and organization meetings etc. We will also be using it to communicate with parents concerning attendance issues and notices of grade reports. Please do not hang up if you get a recorded phone call from me, I am just trying to keep you informed about your student. I want to thank the students and the people of Merkel for welcoming me and my family into the community. Merkel is one of the friendliest places we have ever been and we are so happy to be here!