fhspress.com Mustang Stampede Foothill High School

Mrs. Palmer and her class pose for a group photo

Students pose with AP Calculus teacher, telling her it's for the yearbook. Photo by Tim Biletsky.

Students thank AP Calculus teacher with surprise

By DASHA TSAKKE
fhspress.com Business Manager
Posted February 15, 2013

Deciding to teach AP Calculus for the first time ever this school year, Ms. Mary Palmer undertook many responsibilities. She sacrificed hours on end so that the students could have a lesson plan prepared every day. The step-by-step process with which she taught made the toughest problems become not only possible, but easy. This became a class many students looked forward to coming to every day after lunch. She gave students hope in passing or even acing the tests, and they felt blessed to have such a caring teacher instructing them.

One day, a brilliant idea unraveled in Aileen Chhen's head. "Why not publish an appreciative section in the school newspaper for Ms. Palmer? Why not collect some quotes on sticky notes from classmates, to show her how grateful we all are?"

Aileen discussed the plan me and we loved it. We decided to help arrange everything to make it happen. Yvonne Vergara came up with another charming idea, an embellishment of creativity. She suggested making those sticky notes into a heart on a memorable poster to give to Ms. Palmer, who could keep it and never forget the students of her first AP Calculus class.

Hence, an undercover operation unrolled, and on the down low, post-it sticky notes were secretly distributed to every single one of the 19 students, who happily wrote how thankful they were.

It was decided that the project would be more complete with photos, so a photographer from yearbook, Tim Biletsky, was hired to come in and snap some shots of the entire class. As a cover up, Ms. Palmer was told that pictures were needed for the yearbook. She bought the idea, and did not suspect a thing. She knew that her students were up to miscellaneous deeds at times, but did not expect this.

It was truly amazing how well the entire class collaborated, and wrote out heartfelt phrases to dear Ms. Palmer. A teacher who usually was the last to leave the school, and who had to deal with our frustration on a daily basis, she has totally deserved this portrayal of appreciation. Why, she never stops in her excellence, and Foothill is lucky to have her.

dasha.tsakke@fhspress.com

Here are a few samples of the post-it notes written for Ms. Palmer. See below for all of the dedications. Photo by Aileen Chhen.

Mary Palmer's students express their gratitude and appreciation:

Thank you for dedicating so much time to this class! You're the best math teacher I've ever had!
Flynn Cohoon

Thanks for helping me understand Calculus and making it sound simpler.
Erick Silva

Ms. Palmer "Teacher, teacher",
Well! Thank you for using your brain cells into this AP class. Hopefully, they haven't been overused or fried! You're done a great job. Though we are your guinea pigs… we are actually doing pretty good… thanks to Y-O-U. Ms. Palmer, you're sweeter than pi.
Yvonne Vergara

Hi Ms. Palmer,
Thank you for taking the challenge as a first-year AP Calculus teacher. You are truly doing an amazing job, and I have learned so much this past year. It is one thing to learn Calculus, but it's an entirely different matter to teach it to students. You're one of the most hard-working and patient teachers I know, and the amount of time and effort you put into our lessons shows how much you care. Though we don't always show it, we are truly grateful to have you as a teacher, and you are appreciated. You're beyond awesome!
Thank you,
Aileen

Hey Ms. Palmer,
You are a wonderful Calculus teacher. Although the content is a nightmare, your character makes the class worth going to everyday. With every great endeavor, a great, glorious legacy shall be forged. I am sure that the "Palmer Era" will reign and will always be remembered.
Thanks, proud to be a Calculus student,
Mark Lee

Thank you so much for teaching me these two years. You're an awesome teacher. God Bless You
Yana

Ms. Palmer,
I would like to thank you for all of the hard work you have put into our class. Without you we would probably not have a chance at passing the AP test. Thank you for all of those hours spent on us.
Noemi Castro

Ms. Palmer,
Thank you for everything. You have gone above and beyond and it really does make a difference. I am so grateful for your teaching. You are the definition of a wonderful teacher!
Valeriya Sinko

Hi Ms. Palmer,
Even though this is your first year teaching Calculus, you are doing a great job. You explain everything so well. It sometimes seems that you have already taught Calculus before. I am grateful for all you have done. I hope that next year is going to be easier for you. Keep up the good work.
Proud to be in your class,
Mike Umana

Dear Ms. Palmer,
I almost dropped out of Calculus, but you helped me stay with your hopeful eyes and your words, "It would be a shame to lose you." Now, I'm mastering Calculus and knocking derivatives out with your mighty help. You go 110%, and I couldn't have asked for a better Calculus teacher.
Dasha Tsakke

Ms. Palmer has done her best this year at tackling this new subject, and it has gone well. I wouldn't want anybody else as my Calculus teacher.
Lucas Baker

I am highly grateful you have taken the time and energy to help me in times of need, especially when it comes to understanding Calculus. Thank you, Ms. Palmer! You're an excellent instructor, and I hope you will stay to help the future generations.
Alex Brooks

Ms. Palmer, you are a very good and kind teacher. Though I pay little attention, the times I do, I learn something new. Keep on learning and teaching!
Michael Novang

Ms. Palmer,
Thanks for doing your best teaching us Calculus. Even though it is your first year teaching, I believe you are doing a great job. Thanks for always being afterschool to help me whenever I come in.
Vincent Le

I know I don't express it all the time, but I am very grateful that you decided to teach AP Calculus this year.
Anthony LaBarbera

I appreciate all you hard work even though I don't show it. I am grateful that you let me do whatever in class. Thank you for being our teacher this year.
Alex Bgatov

Greetings Ms. Palmer!
With this year being your first year, it is completely understandable that it is a struggle and a challenge to learn something new, especially Calculus. I can never express my gratitude on how thankful I am that you take your time and dedication to teach us derivatives, limits, etc. I have learned so much in Pre-Cal and Calculus from you that I can't imagine myself learning from another math teacher. You are a brilliant and amazing woman that I look up to. Keep doing what you do, Ms. Palmer!
Sincerely, an appreciative student,
Kimberlee Nguyen

Thank you, Ms. Palmer, for doing an amazing job for us. I really appreciate the hard work that you put in for this class.
Sang Nguyen

Thanks for all the stress you have taken on for us. I'm glad you took on the class, and I hope it's easier for you next year.
Jacob Freas

Dasha Tsakke, Aileen Chhen, and Yvonne Vergara pose with Ms. Palmer. EQUI file photo.

FOOTHILL HIGH SCHOOL fhspress.com SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA