Mr.Kleats

2610 McKenzie Street

Penticton, British Columbia,

V2A 6H7

May 25, 2011

Mr.Kleats

Central High School

123 Main Street

Sportstown, British Columbia

V2A 1W3

Dear Mr. Kleats

My name is Avery Lawrence and my daughter Arabella, has been a part of your athletic team for a good portion of the year.  Firstly I would like to start on a positive note and personally thank your for your efforts towards her soccer team. Your commitment and diligence towards the children’s learning is much appreciated. I am thankful for your seemingly warm-hearted attempts to better our community.

While Arabella immensely enjoys her sports and has no criticism of your coaching strategies directly, I can not quite argue the same. While attending a variety of practices and games I have noticed some behaviours that have arrived that come as a concern to me as a parent.

While dropping Arabella off, I have observed that you have not been present and your punctuality could be more pristine. This presents concern as a parent, with my child being unsupervised which comes with unease in this day and age of all the predators that seem to be lurking. In addition all the children look up to you, Arabella included, and I believe by demonstrating good attendance to them, it would in turn teach them the value of being punctual for any activity they may participate in. 

In addition to being active and exciting the practices seem to lack a general sense of organization. As a full time Pediatrician myself I understand the strain of trying to fit in a job, alongside parenting, let alone a whole soccer team into your schedule. If I may suggest, I think an assistant coach would work wonders for the team. It would let you be a little more relaxed and less rushed in your life. As well as structuring the practices and aiding in the children's skill development. This addition would let you focus more on the skill development of each child rather than what drill is next and how you are going to set it up.As a parent I can affirm that my child has a better sense of learning when there is structure, whether that be in a practice or during school hours in class.

Even I can contest that winning is important and reflects directly with the players abilities. Yet at the age of 5 Arabella and her teammates are not at a level where one player should play longer than the next. All parents pay the same registration fee, which in turn should reflect their child's playing time. I completely understand the importance of winning, as on the sidelines I love to hear the roar of the children after a win. Yet I believe it should be more fun than the pressure to win, and the disappointment when that goal is not achieved. However with that said I understand the concept of drilling it into their heads that we play, to play our best and not to fool around.

Lastly Arabella is a very shy child and at times you excitement can get the best of you, likewise the parents on the sideline. Unfortunately I have observed that your excitement comes across as frustration, which seems to put the children in a stage of unease. Nevertheless I understand that you as any of us parents can get caught up in the game which is understandable from time to time.

With this said, I hope you take into consideration what has been mentioned. You are an amazing coach Bill and I would be more than happy to talk to you in person if it is to your liking about the concerns mentioned.

Sincerely,

Avery Lawrence

Nobody Panic, They Know What Is Best!

In an age where academics and course load, are both meaningless necessities towards the outcome of our future; we are left with the hope that our education system will fail us in our basic needs. Deflect our rights as students, and cancel out all courses that may help us in the future.

Here at Princess Margaret Secondary School the administration is competent in its disposal of language classes. Yes, they made the perfect money saving technique. They pushed their pennies to go further! By making enough money to get that second cup at Starbucks, rather than educating 16 or so pupils in the fundamentals of Spanish 12. Really, it seems to be a fair trade, by letting our teachers get that boost of afternoon caffeine, which proves to help them reach that three o’clock bell. We in-turn were let off the hook to take a class we really wouldn’t need anyways.

We as students should be thankful that we were relinquished the responsibilities to gain knowledge that is of no use to us in the future. We should be thankful, that we didn’t have to anguish over the stress of adding that extra course to our online university application form. Come-on who really needs Spanish 12? And as for the graduates in 2012, who really needs French 12?

The seniors at this institution of basic learning have the teachers to thank. We have been given the apex of opportunities, the summit of underlying care, and the crown of all dreams. Which is, by the way, the experience of a lifetime, before I introduce this holy experience; I believe a drum roll is in need. Yes ladies and gentlemen we have been given the golden key that will unlock an opportunity so rare, it is unheard of. An opportunity so out of this world you might need to take a seat to prepare yourself. Young children and pregnant women should leave the room, as what is about to be revealed has been proven too much to bear for some. We have been so lovingly forced to spend hundreds of dollars at a university to cover the costs of what could have been learnt in our graduating year.

If I may speak on behalf of all graduating students, we are thankful that we are encouraged to throw our money away so easily. Really, we only worked hundreds of hours to make it. And if it gave you that little extra money to take a trip to Starbucks, it is so worthwhile. In all of my 18 years on this earth, I have never been allowed to be in the presence of a school so gracious and professional, to give an opportunity like this. It would have taken an idiot to transfer schools to take Spanish 12 and miss this rare opportunity. I thank the administration at our school that allowed 16 students this year, and another 13 next year, to go without a course and for looking out for our best interests, rather than for the concerns of a couple dollars. Sincerely, we owe all of the administration many thanks.