The secret is out. Stephanie Hammond is a Nicholas Sparks fan.
Mossy Creek Elementary School's principal revealed during a chat session with her employees Aug. 4 that she loves The Notebook and anything Sparks writes. Then she asked each employee to name their favorite book, song or movie.
The chat session, complete with ice cream, was one of two sessions held during the summer to get to know the staff.
Coming from Belvedere Elementary School, Hammond said she thought the sessions would be a good way to get to know everyone prior to the school year.
New principals at Belvedere Elementary and North Augusta Elementary schools also took advantage of chat days.
"We decided to try to bring the schools together and do a lot of the things the same," Hammond said.
Although the sessions were not mandatory, Hammond said she had a good turnout for both events.
It's good for them to meet in an informal atmosphere, and she added, "On the first day of school all they want to do is sit and talk," so the chat sessions provide them an opportunity to catch up with each other in advance.
At the first chat session, Hammond had each one write down something no one else knew about them. The point was to "get them out of their comfort zone."
"It's a very fun group and they are here for the children," said Laurie Hamlett, a new teacher who also worked with Hammond at Belvedere Elementary.
As a new teacher, Hamlett said, the chat sessions helped her to get to know other teachers and know their strengths.
"I still got my buddies over there (Belvedere), but I got my new buddies here," Hamlett said.
Reach Crystal Garcia at crystal.garcia@northaugustatoday.com.
