Spring 2021 Shout Outs

MS. GABBY

A big shout out to Ms. G. She is such an essential part of the Muirlands community. She is Ms. Versatile and jumps in and excels wherever she is needed. Her personality and energy are tremendous motivators for our students and staff. Gabby has established excellent relationships with our community, and she is a great ambassador for Muirlands.

PRINCIPAL LUNA

MS. GABBY

Gabby is always there full of energy and humor. She keeps us on our toes regarding attendance and helps with parents. She is indispensable!

MR. HEINZE - Co-worker

MS. GABBY

Thank you Gabby for always having such a great attitude and positive outlook on EVERYTHING. Such a great addition to our Muirlands team!

Mr. GRAY – Co-worker

MS. GABBY

Thank you, Gabby for the support you provide both the staff and students on a daily basis. Your positive attitude is contagious! I appreciate your willingness to contact parents and the complete and timely updates you share with the teachers. Your strong work ethic is applauded. I am always impressed that you seem to know every student at Muirlands and refer to them by them. You are kind, helpful and you make Muirlands a welcoming place!

MRS. SELBY – Co-worker

MS. GABBY

Thank you miss Gabby for following up with students and families about attendance and much, much more! Your help with parent communication is vital!!   

MRS. COX – Co-worker

MS. GABBY

Thank you, Gabby, for your organization, hard work and fantastic positive attitude. You help make Muirlands a cheerful place to work every day!

MRS. ERVIN-FUGIEL - Co-worker

MS. GABBY

Shout out to Gabby for all the attendance work!

MR. WYATT – Co-worker

MS. GABBY

Gabby is a gem! She is positive, motivating, and spirited. She is such an asset to our fabulous staff. YAY, GABBY!

MRS. PREISMAN – Co-worker

MS. GABBY

Shout out to Gabby who is the most upbeat, thorough, and productive person I know 😊. She rocks in communicating with staff, students, and parents alike, and always so calmly, so friendly, and so clearly.

MRS. MICOLINO– Co-worker

MS. GABBY

I would like to give a shout out to Gabby for always telling me where to find documents. For always helping me see things in a positive light. For always being my foodie partner, and for making work a better place. I appreciate you!  😊

MRS. ICHIHARA - Co-worker

MS. GABBY

A big shout out to Gabby. Her willingness to help students and parents so much above and beyond her "attendance" duties is amazing! She is always ready to learn so many new things so that she can be useful to our school. And she is a fun office neighbor! We love you, Gabby!

MRS. RODÉ - Co-worker

LAURA PREISMAN

Thank you for going above and beyond as a teacher! Your detailed emails to the parents and students, sharing what is happening in the classroom have been much appreciated as well as your overall positive and caring attitude. Thank you for encouraging your students to be their best. You are a gem!

MICAELA J. - Parent

MUIRLANDS TEACHERS

Thank you to all of the teachers at Muirlands Middle School for constantly adapting and evolving with the ever-changing teaching requirements during this pandemic. With the sudden change to all online learning, the new 3 period schedule day, and now the hybrid teaching model simultaneously teaching students in class and online!!!! Wow! Teaching is a challenging and rewarding profession. Although you all don't hear it enough, we appreciate you every single day! Thank you!

CATHERINE H. – Parent

FABIAN GARCIA

When I arrive at Muirlands I am always greeted by a friendly and smiling Mr Fabian. Just as it's always sunny in San Diego, so is Mr Fabian when he unlocks the door for me. I never take his kindness for granted.

FRANK O. – Co-worker

RICHARD GRAY

Coach Gray, my friend, thank you for motivating me to get out and run a quick mile with you in the mornings!  That 9-10 minutes of effort (tiny habit) has made a big difference in my energy and general physical health! 

PATRICIA C. – Teacher/Co-worker

LAURA PREISMAN

Thank you Ms. Preisman for being a terrific English teacher. I really appreciate your patience, kindness, and clear communication during remote learning.

SHIRA K. - Parent

MARK HEINZE

Dear Emperor Heinze, I am so thankful to be your padiwan this year. You are such an inspiring instructor and make learning history so interesting and fun. I wish there were more teachers in the world like you. I am booked for the Washington trip and I am so grateful to have this legendary opportunity that you gave me. I wish I could meet you in person Monday but my parents aren't vaccinated yet and my dad travels weekly for work so I don't want to be a liability. Can't wait for your class on Monday and stay safe from all those filthy animals in class!!!

MAX P. – Padiwan

EMILY NEWMAN

Thank you so much for such a great school year, it really meant a lot to me and it was so kind of you to give me a chance to redeem myself and end the year with an A. I am very grateful and am super excited to meet you in person someday!!!

MAX P. – Student

RICHARD GRAY

Coach Gray, I really appreciate how motivational you are all the time. You have inspired us to create mini habits and follow through with them. Also, to become a better team player and get to know others better. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!

SAMANTHA C. & ELLIE F. – Student

RICHARD GRAY

Coach gray I really appreciate the way you told jokes and stories to bring up the class energy. It definitely made me engaged to just always see your positive energy waking up the class. It keeps me on my toes and let's me see all the other kids in class. I just wanted to say thanks for making online P.E fun.

CRISTIAN P - Student

MICHAEL PHILLIPS

Mr. Phillips, thank you for teaching the third period class, you are a great teacher and let me understand math in a new way. Thank you for your time and work responding to emails and staying on Zoom meetings longer so that students can learn more.

LUKE D. – Student

RICHARD GRAY

Coach Gray is a great PE teacher and makes PE a lot more fun by telling jokes and having his students always interacting in the chat. He has taught us alot of things that many people should know, such as eating habits, how to start the day off better, and just basic things that everyone should know in life.

PALOMA A. – Student

NATASHA FOGT

Ms. Fogt is a great math teacher and even thought we had to go at a fast pace I still learned everything super well.

PALOMA A. – Student

LAURA PREISMAN

You've always been a really fun teacher that genuinely cared about your students and did a very good job of making class fun. You were the perfect teacher to have in the stressful time where you go from elementary school to middle. The class environment was always fun and enjoyable and it made every day fun and happy. Thank you for shaping me into the person I am today.

TREVOR D. – Student

PRINCIPAL LUNA

Thank you so much for being so AWESOME during this time. I really appreciate your transparency with us students because, I always feel that we are being left out of important decisions and actions. I really want to thank you for doing that awesome principal's chat. It was very helpful and all of us (students) could see how committed you are to getting us back safely and telling us about these things. Thank you so much for working so hard to help us. We all really appreciate it!!!

SOLAINE B. - Student

SUZANNE SERAFIN

Hey Mrs. Serafin, I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy your class.... A LOT. Your class has brought so much to my life, I learn so much in your class. You are always so enthusiastic and it really lifts me up. Through your class, I have begun to really appreciate working out and giving your all to better yourself in many ways. I just really want to thank you for being so AWESOME. Journaling, meditation, savasana, yoga, hard workouts, tabata, muscles, tendons, ligaments, Believe in YOU, motivational videos...I've learned so much that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I know online learning has been hard for teachers but you have hit it on the nail!! I just really wanted to tell you "Thank you. Thank you, thank you, Thank you!"

SOLAINE B. - Student

RICHARD GRAY

Coach Gray really motivates and teaches us the benefits of exercise, personal motivation, self care and holistic well-being. In his class I really appreciate his energy for life and everything we learn, which is not just about physical exercise but subjects that give us knowledge about the whole body and how good it is to be healthy. Coach Gray's classes have inspired me to start doing a lot more mini habits that have made me a more organized and focused individual l. By the time everyone has finished his class you learn something new and become a better team player. Thank you Coach Gray for all that you do!

ELIZA G. - Student

JERRY RUIZ

Mr. Ruiz, I really like how you use peardecks to make the class lessons more interactive. This way, our class can learn what we need to, rather than going through the things we already know. I just wanted to say thank you for making the learning experience more interactive and fun.

MAGGIE H. - Student

SUSAN EDELSTEIN

Dear Mrs. Edelstein, I just wanted to say thank you for making 6th grade amazing. You were my favorite teacher and made me love writing.

RICHARD GRAY

Coach gray I really appreciated the way you encourage us in PE and how you always bring smiles to us. I would like to say Thank you for everything.

JESUS B. - Student

NATASHA FOGT

Ms. Fogt I really appreciate how you teach your math class. I like math, but the way you are organized, and helpful make me really enjoy it even more. I like the way you always answer everyone's questions, and never make anyone feel nervous. I just want to say thank you for being an awesome teacher and helping me succeed this year.

MATTHEW W. - Student

ANDREA CARLSON

I really appreciate how you help me a lot.  It is important because it really helps me with my work. It makes me feel like I always have someone to help me.  I want to say thank you so much!

PRESTON D. - Student

ROBERT TINDALL

I really appreciate your hard work for us and how you take time to explain anything. Even though sometimes you might be a little strict, it really helps learning. Thank you for your effort.

MERCAN F. – Student

MARK HEINZE

Shout out to Mr. Heinze for being a good teacher.

JULIE LATTA

Dear Ms. Latta, I really appreciate how you make our class fun and you always come to class in a good mood. It's really fun and it puts a smile on my face.

ERICA STRAUSS

I really like how you do the ISN because it helps me be organized and how you put us in breakout rooms a lot so we can interact with each other like in regular school. I wanted to say thanks for being a great teacher and parent.

PATRICIA COX

Mrs. Cox, thank you for teaching me these past nine weeks. I do not usually do art and don't think of myself as a great artist either, but your class kind of forced me to be one and for that I thank you. I say forced, but that was only really in the beginning, very quickly I learned how fun art could be if I knew how to do it and learned some strategies. You have inspired me to do more art and also taught me some techniques to use. All of the projects you had us do for the Digital Sketchbook were fun and worth learning, as well as the Creative Challenges of course. I also greatly appreciate that we were not being forced to learn about the same Renaissance artists because I cannot tell how many times I have heard that Van Gogh cut his ear off. Thank you again for teaching me, even if it was for only nine weeks.

AVIV A. - Student

RICHARD GRAY

I really appreciated the way you are always energetic. It was important because you made me do exercise more and that made me feel better. I just wanted to say that you are amazing. Thank you for teaching me about exercise.

OWEN O. - Student

SUSAN EDELSTEIN

"Hi Ms. Edelstein, I miss having you for English and I wish I could have finished 6th grade with you in person. You are a great teacher and I hope to see you on campus when we go back!"

SUSAN EDELSTEIN

I appreciate how not every day was the same and how you let us control different things such as organizing the books in the back or passing stuff out. I also liked that you would always help when we had questions.

ALEKSEY K. - Student

LISA GRANGER

Ms. Granger I really love your class and I am glad that I received you again this year. I wanted to thank you for being a great teacher. I cannot wait to come back to your classes virtually next semester.

LAURA PREISMAN

Ms. Preisman, I really appreciated the way you made learning fun. I specifically enjoyed how you taught us a lot about MLA format. It has really helped with my writing this year. Thank you.

JOSE CISNEROS

Mr. Cisneros I really appreciate how you explain everything thoroughly, giving well thought out explanations to everyone. It's easier to understand Spanish with the activities we do in class thanks to you. I just wanted to say thanks for making Spanish an easy to understand class.

ELLA C. - Student

RICHARD GRAY

Coach Gray I really enjoy the joyful energy you always have and bring to the classroom. It really changes my mood and makes me excited for PE.

RICHARD GRAY

"Coach Gray, I really appreciated the way you make us do exercise sometimes. It was important because it makes me feel more awake and do more thing. It made me feel happy and energetic.”

LAURA PREISMAN

Ms. Preisman, I really appreciated how you made the class feel comfortable, and adapted to each kid's learning style. Even when we had to do online learning, you organized it amazingly and let students feel comfortable in your class. I believe this is very important because, I think the best way student's learn is when they are comfortable in class and get to learn how they want to. I also loved how you made a special connection with many students. This made me feel important and valued as a person, no matter my home life. I just wanted to say that you are an amazing teacher and I hope you have a great day!

ANABEL W. - Student

RICHARD GRAY

Coach Gray, I really appreciate how you taught us about mini habits. It is important for me because now that I do mini habits every day, I found that I don't procrastinate as much as before. It made me feel more accomplished because the mini habits make me want to keep going. I just want to say thank you for teaching us to become good team players.

MAYA G. - Student

MARK HEINZE

Mr. Heinze I appreciate the way you made class more fun and added more games. I also liked how you talked about current events in class as well. These changes made your class more engaging. It made me feel more interested in the lessons. I just wanted to say thanks for making history class awesome.

LUCAS GORMICAN

"Mr. Lucas, I really appreciated the way you helped me through my problems and my confucian I would have weather it was for math in second semester or for science which was for this first semester, it really helped me get through my last class in a non-stressful way. It was important because without your help that you provided not only to me but to many other students in other classes I might not have made it through with a grade that I was hoping to achieve this year. It made me feel very proud of myself and made me also feel accomplished that I reached the goal I had set for myself in the beginning of the year. I just wanted to say thank you for all the support and help that you have been giving me to get through this year not only feeling more confident in myself but feeling happy and accomplished on what I have done over these semesters.

FRIDA T. - Student

JOEY BUGBEE

Miss. Bugbee, I really appreciated the way you helped me through math. It was important because if you did not help me I would get an F in math. It made me feel welcomed and I just wanted to say thank you.

EMMA M. - Student

MICHAEL PHILLIPS

Mr. Phillips I really like how you encourage your students to ask questions and also be okay with making mistakes. It makes me feel less shy when I need to ask a question. It also makes me feel better when I make mistakes. Thank you for putting so much effort and time into your class to make it fun and interesting!

CAITLIN H. - Student

NICOLE ERVIN-FUGIEL

Thank you for being the best English teacher I’ve had during middle school!

AARON RUBIN

Mr.  Rubin I really appreciated how you always tried different things to try to make learning fun and different.

ROBERT TINDALL

I just want to say thanks to you for help on math.

BILLIE W. - Student

JOEY BUGBEE

Ms. Bugbee I really appreciate you coming into the break out rooms in math and really helping us with our homework. You’re really good at explaining math so it is nice to be able to ask you any questions in the break out rooms. You’re also really nice and patient.

ROBERT WOOD

Coach Wood, thank you so much for teaching me this year. Your classes were always engaging and I think that the questions drew me in at the beginning and helped me lock my attention onto you. I am sure you out of most of the teachers had to adapt a lot to this whole new zoom thing, as P.E. is usually pretty interactive and present. I truly wish I could have been in class and on the field with you as the teacher. I hope I have you next year.

JOEY BUGBEE

Dear Ms. Bugbee, you always help in math class, I really appreciate you, you give us examples of how to make math easier, you always offer to help with math and help so many kids. Thank you for what you do.

BELLA C. - Student

RICHARD GRAY

Coach Gray, I really appreciate your enthusiasm every day in class. It makes class fun when you have the spirit days that brings energy to our class. The excitement you bring makes me pumped up in your class. I just wanted to say thanks for being enthusiastic.

IAN S. - Student

MICHAEL PHILLIPS

Mr. Phillips, I really appreciated the way you teach. It was important because you make learning the curriculum much easier. It made me feel excited to learn. I just wanted to say thank you!

DENVER H. - Student

RICHARD GRAY

Coach Gray I really enjoy the joyful energy you always have and bring to the classroom. It really changes my mood and makes me excited for PE.

MAX M - Student

NICOLE ERVIN-FUGIEL

She works so hard and makes it easy for her students to learn.

MARIA H. - Student

FRANK OLDEFIELD       

Thank you for making all my classes this period more fun :)

ERICA STRAUSS

History is my favorite subject this year. Thank you :)

CAROLYN S. - Student

LORI TROMBLEY

"I'd like to send a shout out to Lori Trombley who was part of an awesome article in the La Jolla Light about the fabulous science teachers we have in our community! Way to go, Lori!"

SUSAN E. – Co-Worker

DEMIAN HARTMAN

"Dear Mr. Hartman, I really enjoy my history class because your lectures provide a lot of depth to our reading. I also enjoy getting to work on CECCs with my classmates - it's a great way to collaborate and get the assignments done efficiently."

RICHARD GRAY           

"Thank you for making PE really fun and interactive! I'm really happy to have you first thing in the morning because you get us up and moving and give us interesting videos to view and reflect on afterwards."

JOSE CISNEROS

"Mr. Cisneros, I really appreciate all the immersive ways you help us learn Spanish! Thank you for making us feel understood and giving us opportunities to improve."            

ROBERT TINDALL

"I wanted to thank you for being such a great teacher this year.  Despite all the challenges of being remote, I appreciate you taking the time to proactively communicate with us.  These classroom comments have enabled me to follow-up with my student, to give her kudos and identify challenges early. Thank you, and I hope to meet you in person soon. "

MARK HEINZE

"Mr. Heinze, thank you for bringing history to life for both my kids! Pandemic or not, your class remains an all time favorite. Keep up the great work!"        

SYLVIA & BRUCE B. - Parent

SUZANNE SERAFIN

"Thank you! We really appreciate the way you've created a warm, welcoming space in your PE class that focuses on the whole person--physical, emotional and social. You're a strong leader, and a dedicated teacher. What a privilege for our daughter to have you in her circle of strong, female role models!"

SYLVIA & BRUCE B. - Parent

PRINCIPAL LUNA

"Thank you for leading our school since last summer. Our community is extremely fortunate to have you at the helm to lead meetings, communicate with diplomacy and grace, welcome feedback, and listen to our concerns as we navigated the uncertainties and frustrations of this challenging year."  

SYLVIA & BRUCE B. - Parent

JULIE LATTA

"Where can we possibly start to thank you! We are hugely appreciative of your dedication to students, to teaching, and to caring about our kiddos wellbeing! Every thing you do is done with so much zest, and your love of science is contagious (in the best way!). We really appreciate your extra support during this past year, it's been such a challenge and we couldn't be more grateful to you!"      

SYLVIA & BRUCE B. - Parent

SUZANNE SERAFIN

"Ms. Serafin, thank you for making PE class this year fun and engaging, and for being a great teacher on zoom."      

AIKO B. - Student

JULIE LATTA

"Dear Mrs. Latta, I really appreciated the way you were so patient with me when I was having trouble with my work. I just wanted to say thank you, and thank you for sending the flower seeds!"

TOREEY B. - Student

EMILY NEWMAN 

"So much gratitude for the way you've taught math to both our girls over the years. I especially appreciate how you solicit an introduction to the kids with your "Million Words or Less" request, so you get to know the whole student, and not just how the student shows up in your class. We really appreciate your excellence in teaching math."         

SYLVIA & BRUCE B. - Parent

MARK HEINZE

“Mr. Heinze you make learning so fun by telling stories and moving fast so that we do not get bored, I know that a lot of people appreciate your interactive learning style because it helps them pay attention more or they want to participate in class. In your class, it is much easier to pay attention than in some of my other classes. I just wanted to say thanks for making class more fun.”

SKYE O. - Student

DANIELE RODE

“Thank you, thank you for being the most supportive, reliable, knowledgeable, encouraging and capable Chief Financial Officer any school could ever have!!  Your support to our art department and clubs is always top notch!!“

TRISH C. - Coworker

JOEY BUGBEE

“I really appreciated the way you help me through math. It was important because I am struggling a bit. It made me feel welcomed to the new school and I just wanted to say thank you :)”

EMMA M. - Student

MICHAEL PHILLIPS      

“Mr. Phillips, the way that you taught the class was really good and easy to learn the content. I never got behind because you didn't present things in a confusing way which was really helpful. Thanks for having a great teaching style and doing to fun hoop shot.”

TY T. - Student

MARK HEINZE

“Mr. Heinze K, you are very comical and amusing to be with. I can tell you will have a long life with many different moments that you will remember forever. I appreciate you giving me opportunities that are/were life-changing. Thank you so much for all the effort and support you give to all my peers and myself. If you’re wondering why I named you Mr. Heinz K, it’s for Ketchup!”

SELIN T. - Student

STEVEN PETERS            

“Thank you Mr. Peters for helping me improve my test scores with the study guides and kahoots.“

MAX R. - Student

ROBERT TINDALL        

“You are such a good math teacher. You make learning fun!”

REESE R. - Student

DANIEL MORENO

“So kind, helpful and caring.”

ARI K. - Student

SUSAN EDELSTEIN        

“Ms. Edelstein, thank you for everything you have done and will do in this school, you make me feel very content and make me a more superior writer/reader. Thank you for all the work you've put in to every assignment and task!”

SELIN T. - Student

JULIE LATTA     

“Ms. Latta, you work very hard and put lots of effort in everything you do. You put a smile on my face every time I see you, and I appreciate your wonderful method of teaching science to me. When I become a doctor, I will never forget that you assisted me through this process. Thank you for being phenomenal every day!!!”

SELIN T. - Student

JULIE LATTA    

"Hi Ms. Latta, every time I hear anyone mention heat I always remember your lessons and I’m always considering the second law of thermodynamics. I miss having you as a teacher and I wish you taught 7th and 8th grade science too. My brother Braedon who did Inspective detectives with me is still hoping to get you for 6th grade for Science.”

EMERY H. - Past student

PATRICIA COX

“Thank you for being such an awesome art teacher! ❤”

MIRA M. - Student

LAURA PREISMAN

"Mrs. Preisman you are such a caring and kind teacher. You always put so much effort in to teaching me and my classmates. You are one of the kindest teachers I have ever had. I am always excited to go into your class on zoom even though I don't like online school. I am so grateful for you to be my teacher.”

MILENA M. - Student

NICOLE WEHRLI          

“Thank you for helping me transition into this school!! “

SAVANNAH P. - Student

LAURA PREISMAN       

"Ms. Preisman, I really appreciate the way that you always bring enthusiasm to our classroom. It makes distance learning awesome. Your energy always makes the classroom a better place, and I just wanted to say that I appreciate your hard work.”

SARAH B. - Student

TRACY S. - Parent

JEFF LUNA

"THANK YOU for your constant positive attitude and smile that you always show.  I can only imagine how challenging a year this has been as a Principal, not to mention it being your first year!  You make it look seamless - as if you've been doing it for years!  Thank you for taking the challenge and being there for all the children, teachers and parents.  Your hard work is very much appreciated!!"  

TANIA L. - Parent

MEHRAK SELBY

"Thank you Ms. Selby for your amazing attention and dedication to helping the kids in your class stay on top of their learning.  As a parent, I really appreciate your commitment to keeping the kids on track and the parents updated.  Your feedback (good and bad), during this online learning, has been a saving grace, you have really gone above and beyond!  Thank YOU!!"

TANIA L. - Parent

LAURA PREISMAN

"Mrs. Preisman, I really appreciated the way you teach, boost the learning, and enlighten our classroom. It was important because this helps me interact with zoom more and you make school so enjoyable. It made me feel so happy and excited to learn. and I just wanted to say thank you so much for making learning so fun and enjoyable." 

TAYLOR G. - Student

DEMIAN HARTMAN

"Mr. Hartman, thank you very much for teaching me all throughout this year, I always felt really engaged when I was in your classes. The fact you asked us to nod our heads or put a thumbs up to let you know we were there is a really good strategy because it made me feel like I was in a class and interacting with a teacher. I think... no, I know you are an awesome teacher and I hope you continue to adapt to new ways of teaching and have a great and long life. Who knows, maybe one day you'll get a bigger paycheck. Thank you."

AMY HUNT

“Ms. Hunt, I really love how hard you work for our school. You do so much, from running the talent show, teaching P.E classes, and all the other amazing events. Thank you!”

PEYTON S. - Student

MARK HEINZE

“Mr. Heinze is the best teacher ever. He is so funny and makes learning history interesting and fun. Thank you for being awesome!”

PEYTON S. - Student

"Thank you for keeping the kids so engaged. You bring history to life." 

BETHANY S. - Student

"Thank you both for being an amazing teacher!"

EM G. - Student

ROBERT TINDALL

“Thank you for how hard you work for our class. Thank you for telling us jokes at the end of class. It really brings light into the class so it is not just math. Now I really think math is fun. Thanks for all your feedback to me.”

DANE T. - Student

JULIE LATTA

“She always is nice and cares about the class. When I log in she always plays cool music and has a smile on her face. She is someone who cares about our zoom world.”

BRANDON D. - Student

"Thank you both for being an amazing teacher!"

EM G.- 

SUSAN EDELSTEIN

“Mrs. Edelstein, you are such a WONDERFUL english teacher! I am so happy to have you as my teacher!”

PEYTON S. - Student

EMILY NEWMAN

“Ms.Newman, I appreciate your hard work on zoom. Thank you for being an awesome math teacher.”

PEYTON S. - Student

PATRICIA COX

“I really wasn't that into art before I got into your class. What we have been doing is a lot of fun. It has really gotten me into art. Thank you!”

DANE T. – Student