Culler in the News
- January 14th, 2008
Kudos to Culler Community
- Another glowing letter to the editor about the No Child Left Behind Act and its effect on Culler Middle School. Read the article Here
- January 7th, 2008
Culler Parents Take a Constructive Step
- A short article from the Lincoln Journal Star discussing the P.R.I.D.E group and some of the implications of the No Child Left Behind Act. Read the article Here
- January 4th, 2008
"Being Unique is Encouraged"
- Another wonderful letter to the editor that highlights some of the great things that are happening at Culler. Read the article Here
- Decemeber 30th, 2007
Culler Parents Fight School's Negative Image
- Another Lincoln Journal Star article about both the P.R.I.D.E. group and many of the positive aspects of Culler Middle School. Read the article Here
Parents Letters
- April 14th, 2008
Culler's Impact on our Family
- Hi, everyone,
- As Christopher is nearing the end of high school and soon to be moving on to college, I have become sentimental and have found myself reflecting back on his educational career. When we think back to his three years of education at Culler Middle School we remember foremost the loving, caring, and supportive teachers he had. Secondly, we appreciate the quality education he received. These two things, along with many other factors, have truly made him who he has become.
- Christopher was nominated for Academic All-State at Lincoln Northeast because of earning a score of "32" on his ACT test (with "36" being perfect). He received a score of 35 on the science portion of the test. He also took the Advanced Placement test for US History and earned a score of "4" which allows him to earn college credit for the course and not have to repeat the class in college. Thank you to those of you who contributed to Christopher's knowledge and interest in these two subject areas.
- Christopher continues to enjoy playing his bass guitar any chance he gets. We are so appreciative of Mr. Vicroy turning Christopher on to this instrument for the first time in 7th grade jazz band. It has become an outlet for stress, as well as creativity, for Christopher over the years and will continue to be. He hopes to try out for the UNL Pep Band next year as their bass guitarist.
- Christopher has been accepted to attend UNL next fall to major in Landscape Architecture. He has been awarded the Canfield Academic Scholarship, as well as the Pepsi Service Scholarship, from UNL. He had the opportunity to play collegiate soccer at a number of colleges - a dream he has always had - but turned the offers down in order to pursue his major at UNL. It was a big decision for him. He hopes to play with the club soccer team at UNL and even if that does not work out, he will continue to serve as a soccer referee and continue his coaching of young boy's soccer teams in Lincoln.
- Christopher has become a young man of strong character, values, and leadership. He earned his Eagle Scout award last year and in January he was the only candidate to receive a majority of votes in the first round by his church congregation to serve on the Church Council (the governing body) for three years. He is co-captain of this year's varsity soccer team at LNE and is learning what it really means to be a leader through adversity given they have only won 2 games so far this season.
- On another note, Miss Rebecca, is doing awesome in her first year of high school! She is not only in the top 3% of her class, but is the #1 student! For the math staff at Culler who recommended she skip a year of math in 7th grade, it has paid off. She is the only 9th grader at LNE in the differentiated 10th grade math class and she is one of the top students there as well. Her English teacher absolutely loves her creative writing and enthusiasm for this subject. Despite the challenges of maintaining a viable orchestra at Culler, we are so thankful for the opportunity Rebecca had to continue playing viola in the Culler orchestra. Keeping her interest and involvement in the orchestra during those years have lent itself to her now being first-chair viola in the LNE orchestra and in the Junior Youth Orchestra. Her viola talent, along with her developing singing voice, has earned her nominations from LNE staff for the Nebraska Ambassadors Music program of whom will tour Europe to play and sing in the summer of 2009. She has accomplished much this year all while facing the diagnosis of severe scoliosis at the beginning of the school year. Many appointments with doctors and specialists throughout the year, along with having to begin wearing a brace 23 hours a day for 1 -1 1/2 years has been challenging for all of us. But, her positive outlook, resiliency to adversity and "will do" attitude has helped us all work through the challenges and changes. We will always remember when one of the teachers at Culler asked Rebecca what she wanted to be when she got older and she answered, "A nurse". A dream she always had. The teacher responded back, "Rebecca, you are too smart to be the nurse. You need to be the doctor." Ever since then when people ask her what she wants to be or do the answer is, "A pediatrician." Again, kudos to all of you that have impacted Rebecca's current success and much that is still to come in her future.
- I share all of this with you not as a "bragging parent" but an "appreciative parent." We are so grateful for the people that have been in Christopher's and Rebecca's life and who have helped to shape and form them into the individuals they have become. Those people include all of you. I know that at times you wonder what kind of impact, if any, you have on your student's lives. We can tell you with honest truth that we KNOW for certainty you have had an impact on both Christopher and Rebecca. For that, we genuinely thank you and honor you.
- Keep up the awesome work you are doing at Culler! Even though we have moved on, we will always be advocates and cheerleaders for you and the school.
- With Grateful Hearts,
- Kathleen and Neal Simley
- January 9th, 2008
Transfer No More
- Mr. Larson,
- My daughter, Melanie Heiserman, is a sixth grader at Culler Middle School and until yesterday morning was scheduled to transfer to Mickle for the Spring semester. As you have undoubtedly heard, I called the District Office and rescinded the transfer to have her remain at Culler.
- I must admit, from the beginning, I heard and believed the rumors and talk about Culler Middle School and the reputation that it supposedly had. These conversations were not just with other parents, but also with other LPS faculty and played a huge part in my personal views of Culler. When the District letter arrived stating that I had an open door out, my reaction was one of impulse and not based on information.
- As the date of the transfer got closer, my husband and I began to have some real honest conversations as to why we were moving forward with it. We discussed Culler's reputation and both agreed that it was not deserved. We talked with Melanie and although she was excited to make the move in the beginning, admitted that she didn't want to anymore. I think she just liked the idea of change. There were a few other "concerns" that were no longer relevant. It seemed all of our reasons for transferring her out of Culler were moot and the transfer unnecessary. The Journal Star article came out after we had made our decision and helped us to feel that we were doing the right thing.
- Even though we came to this decision on our own, there is one person within Culler that I credit for really making me see that my fears were unfounded. I apologize, but don't have her name. I attended the parent meeting last semester where the District explained NCLB and our options as parents. Then your staff had the opportunity to stand and explain the numbers. After the meeting was over, I asked her an additional question one-on-one and she did a wonderful job putting her answer into terms that helped me to feel better about Culler even though NCLB had labeled it as "failing." I believe she teaches 8th grade English and is a Team Leader for all teachers within the school to bring the kids up to reading level. I hope my clues as to who she is will help you to identify her.
- Don't ask me why it took us (OK - it was me), until the last week of the semester to admit I made a quick reaction out of fear and lack of knowledge. I don't have an answer. At lease not a good one. Both my husband and I are happy with Culler Middle School and will support the school and all of our children as they all become Culler Cougars.
- Thank you Dan.
- Sincerely,
- Diane Heiserman
- January 7th, 2008
A Letter from a Cougar Parent
- Good Morning Mr. Larson:
- Let me introduce myself. My wife (Jenny) and I currently have one son enrolled at Culler Middle School (Eric). Our older son (Sam) is a graduate of Culler.
- My reason for writing is to respond to the recent bad news about Culler and our Nation's No Child Left Behind policy. We all want excellence in education. Most of us are strongly supportive of the American value of public education. We personally believe that public education is central to America's past success and critical to our future. We can only speak from our personal experience, but reflecting on our children's experiences at Culler we offer our thanks and strong praise. We have found and currently find the faculty and staff at Culler to be passionate about education and highly skilled. We have witnessed growing efforts to ensure Culler has the facilities and resources to create and sustain a strong learning environment. The recent media coverage might leave some in our community with the impression that Culler is failing because of the No Child Left Behind ranking. We know this is not true and we feel the need to share our perspectives with you and your staff. You and your staff know that teachers and a school are only part of the equation. Other factors profoundly impact performance. Poverty, broken families, frequent school moves and children new to our country all are at play at Culler and greatly define our current rankings.
- Personally, we will continue to vote for those that are committed to public school excellence but are willing to recognize a more sophisticated view of what is needed to achieve more universal success. We sincerely feel the need to share with you what you already kno Culler is a great school working hard to enrich children. Our kids have benefited greatly from their Culler School experience. We appreciate and respect the faculty and staff. Know you are appreciated by our family.
- Sincerely,
- Don