A School Without 5th Graders?!

Today both of Mr. Smith's 5th grade social studies classes bombarded my office and seceded from Saint Mary School (if we're being honest the first class actually seceded and the second class tried but then recanted when they were faced with the challenges of becoming an independent school!)

So, now I am faced with "what to do" with our fifth graders who want their independence from Saint Mary School (I believe when George III of Great Britian was faced with this problem he rejected the Olive Branch petition, sent in thousands of troops, and ultimately started the Revolutionary War!) I could send in our Preschool and Kindergarten militia to keep the fifth graders in line, but they have been very busy reading and writing and might not have time for a war. I could simply let them secede, though when I pressed them for their future plans as a free and independent school they did not have a teacher (since I told them Mr. Smith is contracted with Saint Mary School), they did not have any funds to purchase the heated trailer that they said would be their classroom, and they did not have clothes (since I had to ask them to turn in their uniforms, as they were no longer representing Saint Mary School).

After Mr. Smith held court in my office and asked many questions of the 5th graders (which they answered remarkably well!) he mentioned that, like the colonists, they too did not have a plan for secession, so they went back to their classroom to work on one.

I would like the fifth graders to know that I have heard their complaints, I respect their position, and I LOVED their social studies lesson today, so I am not only willing to accept them back to Saint Mary School on Monday, but I am willing to cater to one of their complaints and offer each of them one homework pass. Welcome back to the union 5th grade!

PS: Great job in social studies today!!

Spelling Bee

Today we held our school Splling Bee. Prior to today's bee, studnets in grades 4-8 participatid in classroom bees and the top spellers from each grade were selected for the Shcool Bee. We had 19 spellers who, togethear, got through 24 rounds of words before a winner emerged. Congradulations to 8th grader, Edyta C. for winning the 2012 Saint Mary School Spelling Bee! It was wodnerful to witness so many fabulus spellers but the absolute BEST part was watching competing spellers cheer on, high five and be proud of each other (thanks 4th graders for the great signs!) Big thanks to Mrs. Carson for organizing and runnig the Spelling Bee!

*There is a special treat for the first studnet to tell me how many spelling errors are in my post today! :)

Unwritten

Happy New Year! I love how every year the New Year gives us a fresh start. As we start over with a whole new calendar, we have a chance to reevaluate how things are going, where we want to be and make a plan for the best way we can get there. Natasha Bedingfield's hit "Unwritten" sort of sums New Year's Day up perfectly for me; I always like to listen to this song and think about the lyrics on NYD. A few phrases that really strike me for kids are: "I'm just beginning/the pen's in my hand/ending unplanned" and "I break tradition/sometimes my tries are outside the lines/we've been conditioned/to not make mistakes but I can't live that way no". I think as parents and teachers it is our job to take the teachable moments in life and really show the kids in our lives how these song lyrics really should play out. We sometimes need to give kids permission to make mistakes or try something new; what better time than the new year to give these permissions?!

For the students reading my blog I really think Natasha Bedingfield sums it up best for you: "Live your life with arms wide open/today is where your book begins/ the rest is still unwritten."

Happy New Year - see you on January 5th!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFFBSSntZgs&feature=player_detailpage