According to our kids at planner time today, "Man, we did a lot today!" We sure did.
Thank you for watching the character video. That meant a lot to me to see so many of you take the time to take part in that. The kids watched it today. Their homework is linked to it today. All kids need to write a half page note to me in their RLJ. They need to start it saying…Dear Ms. Erickson, I want to be remembered… I don't want to know what they are going to do for a job. I want to know about all the stuff they saw in the video. Character!!! How do they want to be remembered. After they write it, please have them read it to you. If they do, write WROTE in the planner for $10 tomorrow.
We ended the day coming full circle. We read a story called Little Bear's Vision Quest. It was a Native American story about a small bear that wasn't being the bear that his grandfather knew he could be. So, grandfather banished him to an island. There he had to do some long and hard reflection of the bear he should be. One filled with kindness, compassion, and love. The book had some amazing pictures of Aboriginal style art. Natives often color in red, yellow, black, and white. So, that was all I allowed kids to use. We are going to add a summary writing piece tomorrow, so I am going to wait to show you until then. It was a great way to wrap up the day though.
Tomorrow is the last day to order memory/year books. New order forms came home today in the Tuesday folders if you need one. You can also order them online. A HUGE thank you to Mrs. Pam Berry for all her help on this! She has been around our room a few times taking some fun pictures. :0)
Arrowhead's KC (Kindness and Compassion) Club is challenging all Arrowhead students. Homeless teens at West High has gone up. West High has a food pantry for them. It is running low on food. In your Tuesday folder there is a yellow sheet listing specific items that these teens seem to enjoy and need. The thought of homeless students goes right to my gut. They are often forgotten because they are not the ones panhandling on the corners. These ones especially mean something because they are still in school. I am guessing school is the only constant in their lives and that makes me smile a bit. So, I know that my family will be shopping for some of the needed items and donating to this cause. I would love to encourage you to do so as well. In fact, I will reward kids $10 for each item on the list that they donate. That way it is a win, win. This may just be the only meal this teenager gets, and those of you with teenagers know that even after eating a meal they are often hungry again ten minutes later. Thanks for helping our Arrowhead community and thanks to the KC Club for watching for this opportunity! Please have students bring donations to class rather than lobby so I can reward them accordingly. :0)
A HUGE thank you also to all of you that responded to the field trip request. It looks like I have a back up plan if we need one. I will know more from IEFA soon. Many of you wrote that you would donate for others too. How amazing is this community???? AMAZING!!!!!
I would like to close tonight by thanking all of you that nominated me for the Golden Apple Award. I am so honored to have your respect and trust. I am a winner each and every day! I will save all of your letters and read them often. I have a "Happy File" and there are days that I pull it out. These letters will recharge my batteries and get me going again when I need it. I love being a teacher, and I love working with such amazing parents that love their kids more than life itself. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Love,
Ms. Erickson
