Annie, Jr.

WOW! There are almost no words to describe the debut of our school musical, Annie Jr. (but seeing as this IS a blog ... I am forced to actually choose words!)

BRILLIANT: The entire cast, from leading roles - to supporting roles - to orphans - to chorus, are completely brilliant.

AMAZING: The teachers who spent hours, days, months, of their own time to put on this show are beyond amazing.

CREATIVE: The costumes and sets, thanks to dozens of parents, students and teachers are beautiful ... and SO creative. I LOVE the swatch of SMS plaid on every orphan's dress!

DEDICATED: The student tech crew is dedicated and seamless in their execution of this production. Lights! Camera! Action!

SUPPORTIVE: Let's be honest, when 65 of your 5-8 graders are in a school production it can disrupt the teaching day for other classes. Our SMS faculty not only supported the musical, but embraced the journey and celebrated the talents and gifts of our cast and crew. There is not a better school faculty ANYWHERE!

I hope everyone will come out tomorrow night (Thursday, March 22nd at 7:00 PM) and see Annie, Jr. This is a beautifully done production ... hard to believe it is put on by 10-14 year olds!

Oh, two more words: BRAVO, EVERYONE!!

5th Grade Trip to Camp Edwards

This is a guest blog made by Mr. Smith

Hello,

Looking back on yesterday's trip I can say it beat my expectations, and from the smiles and the good things I was hearing I think that it also beat the expectations of all the 5th grade students as well! Many of them told me how excited they were to go back in 6th grade.

We arrived at Camp Edwards and were welcomed with a delicious breakfast already prepared for us. The students were given the low-down on how meals and clean-up worked. Walking around the room in counter-clockwise direction was difficult for most to remember! After breakfast we were given a brief explanation about how the Maple trees are able to produce the sap needed to make the syrup. They split the students into three groups and then each group was guided around the camp and shown the process behind making Maple syrup. It was interesting for all of us to hear about how long it took and how much sap was needed to produce the syrup.

Before lunch there was time set aside to go down the tube slides, play a game of Gaga dodge ball, and visit the camp store. Camp Edwards then fed us a delicious lunch and allowed everyone to taste test of syrup made on site and artificial syrup. The groups' consensus was that the real stuff was best!

After lunch the Camp Edwards staff led the students around the camp and provided us with a living history about the different groups that inhabited and settled the land. We learned about how the Native Americans first settled the area and were the first to discover how to turn sap into syrup. Next, we learned about the French Voyageurs who came to look for furs to trade back in Europe. Last, we were able to see how lumberjacks used different tools to harvest and transport trees.

Overall it was a great experience and the students really had a great time!

Guest blogger signing out!

Mr. Smith