PYP: Ode to old Hayden Meadows

For the last eight years I have been a very active parent at Hayden Meadows Elementary school.  Four years ago when we were told (no, it was not a choice) that we were going to become a PYP/IB school I was skeptical then.

I am disappointed in our local school board that this program has been allowed to infiltrate our local neighborhood school. It is disappointing to me that a few very vocal proponents have been able to take our school away from us. Hayden Meadows was a great school before PYP was here with many, many great teachers and staff. One thing we always loved about Hayden Meadows was that every year the third graders would put on a wonderful Veteran’s Day program. My two older children who are now in middle school displayed such pride when they were able to bring in and share pictures of their great Uncle Jim who served and died in WWII and their Grandpa Dan who also served.  

Mrs. Windisch, the former music teacher always performed a wonderful Veteran’s Day program and veterans from our community were invited to attend. It would bring tears to my eyes to hear these wonderful children sing patriotic songs in honor of these great heroes who served this great country of ours. I was disappointed this year when my third grader’s music performance was a recorder recital. For the last two years Hayden Meadows third graders have not performed a Veteran’s Day program. I have seen the school change over the years that I have had children attend there and I am just plain disappointed that my youngest child will attend his last two years of elementary school elsewhere where PYP/IB is not in the curriculum.   

ANGIE HANNON

Hayden Lake