LOWER LAKE, Calif. – With the release of this article there will be three weeks or so remaining of school.

The Student of the week was Marco Anguiano. Teacher Alan Siegel who nominated Marco said, ”Marco comes ready everyday, focused, and founded the new music creating movement at our school”.

Congratulations Marco and have fun with your music.

Dan Maes has been teaching at Carlé for 10 years and has decided this will be his final year before retirement.

Maes started teaching in August of 1996 at Oak Hill Middle School for seventh and eighth grade language arts and history. He had been compelled to teach since he was a young man.

I then asked him what exactly it was that compelled him to want to become a teacher. Maes said, “I may have been driven to become a teacher because my aunt and uncle were teachers, but even while in law school I had been contemplating becoming a teacher.”

I asked what he loved so much about teaching. Maes responded, “I love teaching because it’s a challenge, but most of all I enjoy learning something new from the students everyday.”

Maes added, “I also love teaching at Carlé because of the diverse range of student that a continuation school provides.”

Why is he retiring? “I love teaching, especially at Carlé, but I have been teaching for long enough, 21 years is quite a long time,” he said.

Finally, I asked him what he would be doing during his retirement. “I’ll be traveling to all different places, to Italy, New Zealand, and also playing my guitar which I’ve grown a little rusty with, so I suppose I’ll de-rust my guitar skills,” Maes said.

Students Teagon Tompioneer and Nick Kieffer hand designed a huge plaque of sorts in which Maes name is on it painted in an artistic way as well as as numerous students signatures and sentiments.

This was given as a thank you present to Mr. Maes for all he’s done for Carlé in the hope he he will never forget us.

I asked some students for their opinion on Mr. Maes and his retirement. “Maes is a very inspiring teacher and human, he always has a way of connecting with his students,” said David Jones.

“I like how Maes doesn’t have an issue speaking his mind, if he sees you acting inappropriately he will tell you regardless of how it sounds,” said Renae Riley.

“I love you ol’ man, I'm going to miss you mucho, much love,” said Shaina Yaquinto.

“Oh my God, you’re really leaving … no we will love and miss you, you were my favorite,” said Destiny Blevins.

I personally will miss Mr. Maes very much so, Maes is an overflowing pool in which the water is knowledge. He always gave me the best advice and reinforced me when even I didn’t believe in myself, Maes truly was one of the most influential figures in my life.

With that we all at Carlé would like to thank you for the constant support of all the students and staff at Carle and hope you have a wonderful retirement, you will be missed.

Mr. Maes will present awards along with the rest of the Carlé staff at graduation on May 31.

Nicholas Phipps is a student at Carlé Continuation High School.