Tuesday, June 29, 2010
I Scream You Scream We All Scream for ICE CREAM
BIG THANK YOU TO BEN & Jerry's ICe Cream located on Washington Street in Salem for donating ice cream and supplies to our ice cream social last week. The proceeds earned will go toward the end of the year picnic.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
UpCycle by making a tote bag from a T-Shirt
This activity is so simple and earth friendly, that I can't help but hope it catches on.
Instructions are originally from www.insructable.com
STEP ONE
COLLECT THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIES: -Heavy weight cotton T-shirt (heavy weight fabric & Youth size XL or Adult S or M work best) ~ 3- 5 straight pins - Pencil or pen - Dinner plate -Scissors - Sewing machine
STEP 2
-Choose an old t-shirt and smooth it flat on a table. Use scissors to cut and remove the sleeves---make sure you leave the seam in place---this keeps your tote strong!
STEP 3
-Position a plate about halfway over the neck opening of the shirt. Trace the plate with your pencil or pen. This will be your cutting line to create the opening for your tote bag. Cut along the traced line with the scissors.
STEP 4
-Turn the T-shirt inside out and pin the bottom of the T-shirt-- along the hem --- closed.
STEP 5
-Use the sewing machine to sew the bottom of T-shirt hem closed. Reinforce your tote bag by sewing over this seam a second time! -Your bag is now sewn closed! As a variation you may consider adding a "gusset" at the bottom corners- as several commenters have- that's where you sew across the corner at at right angle so that the bottom of the bag has more depth a…
STEP 6
-Turn the shirt right- side- out. YOU just made your own recycled tote bag! Fill it with groceries, gym clothes, pool supplies, library books, etc! Keep one handy in your car! T-shirt Totes are Machine Washable, Reusable and Strong! Just say NO to "paper or plastic"!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
While the 5/6 Class is Away....
....Everyone Else Gets to Play at the Saltonstall Teddy Bear Picnic!
On Friday, June 4th, everyone enjoyed showing off their teddy bears and assorted stuffed animals. We had some wonderful guest participants. Erik Rodenhiser took us on a bear hunt excursion complete with imaginary machetes, swimmies, utility belt and big stompin’ hiking boots. Assistant Superintendent, Alice Davis, brought along her child’ s teddybear and read “The Teddy Bear Picnic”.
On Friday, June 4th, everyone enjoyed showing off their teddy bears and assorted stuffed animals. We had some wonderful guest participants. Erik Rodenhiser took us on a bear hunt excursion complete with imaginary machetes, swimmies, utility belt and big stompin’ hiking boots. Assistant Superintendent, Alice Davis, brought along her child’ s teddybear and read “The Teddy Bear Picnic”.
Science A-Z
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Beauty and the Beast
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Part II : Playground Mini- Make over
Amazing job this Sunday revamping the Playground.
On the lower level we reconfigured the 3 hopscotch and 4 square games and replaced with a 24' multi-purpose circle and 6' bulls eye. The bases and circles where repainted along with the USA map. a welcome addition was the relay race way.
On the upper level we added 2 traditional and 1 ball hopscotch, 2 ladders, alphabet and shape scramble, running line, and bulls eye. The Peace Path is getting a makeover and a half court basketball court was painted. The below image loop is a small sample of what we accomplished
On the lower level we reconfigured the 3 hopscotch and 4 square games and replaced with a 24' multi-purpose circle and 6' bulls eye. The bases and circles where repainted along with the USA map. a welcome addition was the relay race way.
On the upper level we added 2 traditional and 1 ball hopscotch, 2 ladders, alphabet and shape scramble, running line, and bulls eye. The Peace Path is getting a makeover and a half court basketball court was painted. The below image loop is a small sample of what we accomplished
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Happy Mother's Day
To all those hardworking mom's:
There is just something about printables that many moms and business owners love. If you are always on the look out for to-do lists, you just have to see this one. You’ll find it especially cute if latte is on the top of your favorites list. Here is a unique to-do list that you can print and even turn into a refrigerator magnet.
Mom's Got a Latte Do Today Printable List Download
There is just something about printables that many moms and business owners love. If you are always on the look out for to-do lists, you just have to see this one. You’ll find it especially cute if latte is on the top of your favorites list. Here is a unique to-do list that you can print and even turn into a refrigerator magnet.
Mom's Got a Latte Do Today Printable List Download
60 Bags of MULCH later....
A HUGE thank you to all the volunteers that came out this morning to participate in Clean Sweep Saltonstall. The tireless efforts of all that participated made it possible to really clean up the front of the school building. In edition to picking up litter, the lawn was mowed, trees and planting beds were edged, earth was tilled, flowers were planted and 60 bags of mulch was spread! Really outstanding work!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Working Weekend
This weekend the Saltonstall School PTO is picking up their rakes and shovels and participating in the city wide Clean Sweep Program and a MIni-Play Ground makeover.
Saturday starting at 8:30am, we will focus our attention grooming the school grounds and surrounding area. The plan is to mow, mulch and plant the landscape in both the front and back. Volunteers and yard tools are welcomed for this mornings worth of work.
Sunday starting at 1pm, adult volunteers are needed to help with the playground mini makeover. We will focus efforts to remark, repaint and redefine the USA map, 4 square, hopscotch and peace path. Additionally we will add several other cooperative games to the ashpalt and concrete.
Hope to see you there
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Celebrating Earth Day
While National Observance of Earth Day was April 22nd. Saltonstall is celebrating Earth Day on our half day Wednesday: May 12th. Many fantastic activities such as:
Whole school assembly:
Lorax Presentation: IMC
Endangered Species Obstacle course: In gym
Scavenger Hunt: Out back upper playground near cafeteria
Recycle relay: In hallway near Cafeteria.
Learn: In Auditorium- City reps from recycle, renewable energy, Plant sale, Inventor center, etc.
Parents are welcome to stay for day and help assist.
Additionally, I located discovered the cutest recycling labels pictured above from jinjerup.blogspot.com that you can download free from her site.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Earn Money for Saltonstall: Your Vote CountsWay to Grow Program
Just click the on the image above and Saltonstall could win money from Land's End: Way to Grow Program
This is a great opportunity for Saltonstall to earn money from the Land's End Company. Please be aware of the fine print:
By entering the Lands’ End Way to Grow Sweepstakes you agree to receive promotional materials from Lands’ End. You can modify or cancel your email subscription by accessing the link provided in any Lands’ End email.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Spirit Cup Fundraiser
Starts Today!!!!!
Spirit Cups are 18 ounce, heavy plastic cups with a 3-D holographic design that are totally made in the USA. They are not flimsy paper, styrofoam, or plastic throw away cups. They are rigid and sturdy, not easily bendable, broken, or destroyed --- they will be useful for years to come. To keep their colors looking bright, they are DISHWASHER SAFE WHEN WASHED ON THE TOP SHELF.
Spirit Cups are recyclable and packed 4 cups to a set of the same team/service branch. Choose from your favorite professional Football Team, Baseball Team or Military Branch. 77 popular College Teams are also available.
Spirit Cups will be sold at $15.00 per set. Order forms will be going home with the students. All orders need to be prepaid. Because the actual cup is far more representative of the item than a picture, the company has provided us with samples at cost. Anyone who would like either a Red Sox or Patriots sample cup may purchase one for $2.00. This fundraiser will begin Friday, March 26, 2010. All orders must be turned in no later than Friday, April 16, 2010.
Just contact any of the PTO officers, Mary Woodcock, Ray Liimatainen, Lisa Duffy or Pam Alman for assistance. Contact info: saltonstall_pto@yahoo.com or 978-943-6920.
Annual Elementary Basketball Tournament
On Saturday, March 20, 2010, many of our 5th and 6th graders and the Saltonstall cheerleaders participated in the annual Elementary School Basketball Tournament at Salem High School.
The following students took their basketball skills to the court: Sophia Blake, Erin Curley, Jessica Curley, Kathleen Martin, Anne Mohler, Madyson Parker, Sydney Rocheville, Maise Shepard, Bryanna Wilson, Saira Zapata, Jack Crawley, Eric Flaherty, Jack McCarthy, Brett Pagliaro, Dan Pini and Wesley Schaejbe.
Every elementary school had a chance to play each other. Our Saltonstall basketball teams and cheerleaders did a terrific job,
showing their best Saltonstall Pride. Congratulations to everyone!
The following students took their basketball skills to the court: Sophia Blake, Erin Curley, Jessica Curley, Kathleen Martin, Anne Mohler, Madyson Parker, Sydney Rocheville, Maise Shepard, Bryanna Wilson, Saira Zapata, Jack Crawley, Eric Flaherty, Jack McCarthy, Brett Pagliaro, Dan Pini and Wesley Schaejbe.
Every elementary school had a chance to play each other. Our Saltonstall basketball teams and cheerleaders did a terrific job,
showing their best Saltonstall Pride. Congratulations to everyone!
Destination Imagination Update 2010
We are proud of our Saltonstall Destination Imagination Teams who competed this past weekend at the regional tournament held at Beverly High School. It is the largest competition in the state.
Our students demonstrated excellent teamwork and Saltonstall Pride throughout the long day. The Sullivan Team came in 4th place and both the Heenan/Barz-Snell and Spang Teams came in 6th place (out of 16). Congratulations to the following students: Jacob Barz-Snell, Connor Heenan, Abaigeal Lypps, Leah Morgenstern, Maeve Murphy, Jacob Pini, Laura Sawin, Sean Alman, Owen Clyne, Kevin Kirby, Owen Renault, Nathaniel Clark, Sam Clyne, Chase Duffin, Dylan Martino, Bridget Mohler, Aletha Spang and Becky Woodcock.
Thank you to the managers for their hard work: Jeff Barz-Snell, Erin Heenan, Artie Sullivan, Kelly Clyne and Susan Spang as well as the appraisers representing our teams: Kathryn DiPietro, Allison Sokol, Larry Spang and Kim Sullivan.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Saltonstall Day at Pizzeria Uno
Saltonstall Day at Pizzeria Uno
Thursday, March 4, 2010
11:30AM to Midnight (Open to Close)
Just got back from a very yummy dinner at Pilzzeria Uno's. The all day affair seems to be a big hit with our Saltonstall families. It was so much fun to see so many families at eating at Uno's. The turn out was impressive. Gazing across the dinning room it felt like Uno's was exclusively Saltonstall venue. Many thanks to all. I will keep you posted on how much "dough" we raised.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Today's a Celebration
Not only is it the Birthday of Dr Suess but Saltonstall Celebrates it's 100th day of school today.
Mrs. Morganstern's Kindergarten started the school day singing the 100th Day Song of the PA system.
In the afternoon, the younger students paraded through out the school singing and counting to 100. A fun time was had by all.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Fifteen-Minute Reading Activities
Make 15 minutes go a long way. Try these quick reading activities with your younger kids.
1. License to read. On car trips, make it a game to point out and read license plates, billboards, and interesting road signs.
2. Better than TV. Swap evening TV for a good action story or tale of adventure.
3. Look and listen. Too tired to read aloud? Listen to a book on tape and turn the book's pages with your children. You'll still be reading with them!
4. Labels, labels, labels. Label things in your children's room as they learn to name them. Have fun while they learn that written words are connected to everyday things.
5. Pack a snack, pack a book. Going someplace where there might be a long wait? Bring along a snack and a bag of favorite books.
6. Recipe for reading. The next time you cook with your children, read the recipe with them. Step-by-step instructions, ingredients, and measurements are all part of words in print!
7. Shop and read. Notice and read signs and labels in the supermarket. Back home, putting away groceries is another great time for reading labels.
8. Your long-distance lap. Away on a business trip? Take a few books with you, call home, and have your child curl up by the phone for a good night story.
9. A reading pocket. Slip fun things to read into your pocket to bring home: a comic strip from the paper, a greeting card, or even a fortune cookie from lunch. Create a special, shared moment your child can look forward to every day.
10. A little longer? When your child asks to stay up a little longer, say yes and make it a 15-minute family reading opportunity.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Featured Friday Club: Lego Club
COCO KEYS IS BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
Family & Friends Day at CoCo Key Water Resort
Enjoy 65,000 sq. ft of wet and wild water adventures under one roof –
Adults and kids alike can escape the everyday and experience outrageous slides, body flumes, Adventure River and the Parrot’s Perch interactive play area.
All are welcome, family, friends, and neighbors, anyone you know.
Only $20.00 per person
Advanced purchase is required. Tickets available at the office. Order form already sent home or available on the PTO Website at www.saltonstallpto.info.
Questions may be directed Pam Rochna at (978) 744-3471 or proc3004@yahoo.com
Sunday, March 14th, 2009 ~ 2:00PM - 7:00PM
~~SPECIAL~~ For every 10 tickets purchased by Thursday, March 4th, your name will be entered into a raffle for 4 additional tickets.
Enjoy 65,000 sq. ft of wet and wild water adventures under one roof –
Adults and kids alike can escape the everyday and experience outrageous slides, body flumes, Adventure River and the Parrot’s Perch interactive play area.
All are welcome, family, friends, and neighbors, anyone you know.
Only $20.00 per person
Advanced purchase is required. Tickets available at the office. Order form already sent home or available on the PTO Website at www.saltonstallpto.info.
Questions may be directed Pam Rochna at (978) 744-3471 or proc3004@yahoo.com
Sunday, March 14th, 2009 ~ 2:00PM - 7:00PM
~~SPECIAL~~ For every 10 tickets purchased by Thursday, March 4th, your name will be entered into a raffle for 4 additional tickets.
MCAS TESTING SCHEDULE: MARCH/ APRIL
March/April 2010 MCAS Testing Schedule for Saltonstall School
Free breakfast courtesy of our PTO will be offered on March 23, 24, 25, 30, April 1, 6 and 7 to students taking tests on those days (not all students).
MARCH 22: Practice Test Grades 7/8
MARCH 23: Long Composition Grades 4 and 7
MARCH 24: Testing Dates Grades 7/8
MARCH 25: Testing Dates Grades 7/8
MARCH 29: Practice Test Grades 3-6
MARCH 30: Testing Dates Grades 3/4
APRIL 1: Testing Dates Grades 3/4
APRIL 6: Testing Dates Grades 5/6
Please make sure your children get to bed by 8:00PM on the evenings before testing days.
Tardiness never works, but can cause extra anxiety on testing days.
Be extra upbeat and positive as you send the children off to school on testing days. A big hug and a kiss accompanied by “Do your best!” can make a difference.
Free breakfast courtesy of our PTO will be offered on March 23, 24, 25, 30, April 1, 6 and 7 to students taking tests on those days (not all students).
MARCH 22: Practice Test Grades 7/8
MARCH 23: Long Composition Grades 4 and 7
MARCH 24: Testing Dates Grades 7/8
MARCH 25: Testing Dates Grades 7/8
MARCH 29: Practice Test Grades 3-6
MARCH 30: Testing Dates Grades 3/4
APRIL 1: Testing Dates Grades 3/4
APRIL 6: Testing Dates Grades 5/6
Please make sure your children get to bed by 8:00PM on the evenings before testing days.
Tardiness never works, but can cause extra anxiety on testing days.
Be extra upbeat and positive as you send the children off to school on testing days. A big hug and a kiss accompanied by “Do your best!” can make a difference.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Friday Club Assemblly
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Look whose on the Red Carpet
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
MLK Essay: Who Knew.....?
Who Knew...?
My name is Cindy. I have a brother named James. We have two friends who are named William and Sarah. We always play together. We are all only 10 years old. One day our friends' mom came and took our two friends away and yelled at me and my brother that we're black and they're not so we can't play anymore. When I learned how people could be, it really hurt me. I thought black was just another color like white, pink, blue, and purple. But I guess I was wrong.
My brother and I went home sad. We got home and my dad, the minister, asked us, “What's wrong?” We told him what happened that day. You would think he'd be a little upset or raging mad, but he only said to us, “You might be angry or sad, but we'll get through it without violence”. I was mad at that point
The next day in school we learned about Dr. King and what he did during the years he was alive. My teacher, Ms. Monroe, said, “Dr King led the Boycott for buses and as a child he was pulled away from his friend because his friend's mom judged him by the color of his skin.” I raised my hand and told Ms. Monroe what had happened with my two friends. Ms. Monroe told me to talk to her after class.
I talked with her about what happened. She was worried and asked me a lot of questions like “Are you ok?” Then she told me to write an essay about what advice I think Dr. King would give to young people like me. I told her I would do all my research about him and do it.
I stayed up doing research for days. This man was really interesting -- so interesting that it took about 4 notebooks to hold all the information l found. My dad asked, “ What are you doing all this research for honey?”
I told him the assignment my teacher had given me. He thought it was a great idea for me to do it.
I finished all my research. Now I just had to write the essay. I told myself to just go to bed, but I guess that research really got to me because I had a dream about Dr. King himself.
I woke up to people walking, A LOT of people, and I noticed that they were all African-Americans. Then I remembered we learned this in school. It was the bus boycott. I saw Dr. King. I told him my story about my friends and brother. They always say, “Great minds think alike” but who knew it would be my two heroes, my dad and Martin Luther King Jr., who would say the same thing. “ You might be angry or sad but we'll get through it without violence,” Dr. King said. I wanted to argue but he told me why he believed this. He explained to me how violence is never the answer and that you shouldn't fight fire with fire.
Then all my friends came into my dream and we sat around in a circle discussing problems we had. I guess Dr. King felt admired for how much we cared about him. He stood up and gave us all advice like my assignment, “What advice would Dr. King give to young people”?
He taught us to never fight back and to always make sure we keep our head in school so we will have a great life and career. He ended the conversation with a hard question to think about, if we wouldn't have visited him, or ever learned about him, or if he was never born or didn't make a change, what would have happened to us and the world?
Saira Zapata
Grade 6
Saltonstall School
My name is Cindy. I have a brother named James. We have two friends who are named William and Sarah. We always play together. We are all only 10 years old. One day our friends' mom came and took our two friends away and yelled at me and my brother that we're black and they're not so we can't play anymore. When I learned how people could be, it really hurt me. I thought black was just another color like white, pink, blue, and purple. But I guess I was wrong.
My brother and I went home sad. We got home and my dad, the minister, asked us, “What's wrong?” We told him what happened that day. You would think he'd be a little upset or raging mad, but he only said to us, “You might be angry or sad, but we'll get through it without violence”. I was mad at that point
The next day in school we learned about Dr. King and what he did during the years he was alive. My teacher, Ms. Monroe, said, “Dr King led the Boycott for buses and as a child he was pulled away from his friend because his friend's mom judged him by the color of his skin.” I raised my hand and told Ms. Monroe what had happened with my two friends. Ms. Monroe told me to talk to her after class.
I talked with her about what happened. She was worried and asked me a lot of questions like “Are you ok?” Then she told me to write an essay about what advice I think Dr. King would give to young people like me. I told her I would do all my research about him and do it.
I stayed up doing research for days. This man was really interesting -- so interesting that it took about 4 notebooks to hold all the information l found. My dad asked, “ What are you doing all this research for honey?”
I told him the assignment my teacher had given me. He thought it was a great idea for me to do it.
I finished all my research. Now I just had to write the essay. I told myself to just go to bed, but I guess that research really got to me because I had a dream about Dr. King himself.
I woke up to people walking, A LOT of people, and I noticed that they were all African-Americans. Then I remembered we learned this in school. It was the bus boycott. I saw Dr. King. I told him my story about my friends and brother. They always say, “Great minds think alike” but who knew it would be my two heroes, my dad and Martin Luther King Jr., who would say the same thing. “ You might be angry or sad but we'll get through it without violence,” Dr. King said. I wanted to argue but he told me why he believed this. He explained to me how violence is never the answer and that you shouldn't fight fire with fire.
Then all my friends came into my dream and we sat around in a circle discussing problems we had. I guess Dr. King felt admired for how much we cared about him. He stood up and gave us all advice like my assignment, “What advice would Dr. King give to young people”?
He taught us to never fight back and to always make sure we keep our head in school so we will have a great life and career. He ended the conversation with a hard question to think about, if we wouldn't have visited him, or ever learned about him, or if he was never born or didn't make a change, what would have happened to us and the world?
Saira Zapata
Grade 6
Saltonstall School
MLK Essay: Where's the Table?
Where’s the Table?
The name's Liam. Liam Trebbol. I'm in the sixth grade. I'm only writing this because of Dr. King. I suppose I should start at the beginning. I'’ve always admired Martin Luther King for talking like I often feel. “I have a dream.” Which is what I'm almost always thinking.
See, ever since I was a Kid I've had some problems with seeing things that others don't. The other boys make fun of me for it. They found out in first grade when I asked them if they had liked a combination of a dolphin and superman flying past the classroom window. They were no dummies and soon got it.
So when we started studying Martin Luther King, the 'I Have a Dream” speech sparked my mind. While learning about him in school one day, I had a vision of him. Then I raised my hand to tell the class. Realizing what I was doing I quickly changed the wording. So instead of, “Martin Luther King just told me...!”., it was “l think Dr. King would approve of us learning about this time in history, so that we know what happened and won't be ignorant enough to let it happen again. It was a very sad time and racist people should be ashamed.” This was the first of my many sightings of Dr. King.
Walking home from school this October, I saw a man screaming at a woman. She yelled back at him, and I distinctly heard him respond, “You are a female moron. What other kind is there? You will do what I say! Eat my dirt.” He kicked her down the alleyway, which was conveniently located behind them. “You are lucky to have even dirt from a man's boot on you. Even that's a blessing, girl!” I imagined him doing an evil laugh.
I turned and saw Dr. King walking next to me.
“Sexists are just as bad as racists,” he told me,” underestimating someone's personality because of their gender.”
“I wish women were the ones in power, don't you?” I asked.
“Perhaps,” he replied as if he were asking himself.
We rounded the corner and stepped onto the Island of the Amazons -- an island from Greek mythology where women were powerful and men did things around the house. “It must have been awesome here.” I said to Martin, who was now wearing a rainbow Greek toga. I looked down to see myself wearing one, too.
“Look!” he said pointing to the ocean. “Perhaps you will understand in a second.”
I looked into the waves and saw a ship approaching. I then remembered that Heracles had come and accidentally killed the queen. The men then realized they could be strong and came into power.
Just as I now remebered that, Martin and I were back on the street. “Do you understand now?” he asked “Perhaps,” he said, “it is not better for one gender to be in power. Perhaps they could be together. Partners in crime, for all people are evil in some way. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ “
I understood. Martin headed over to the park and I headed home.
In December, my father drove me to school. I insisted on walking home one day when it wasn't snowing. After school I made a snowman. “Dr. King,” I said, “everyone must be happy around this time of the year.”
“Some are homeless and have nowhere to stay in blizzards,” he remarked.
“They deserve it. Don't pay, don't stay!” I said.
“No!” said Dr. King. “Most are like you and I. But stereotypes keep them from a normal life.”
“Huh? How's that possible?” I asked.” The guys at school make “hobos” sound like mutated souls with hairy tongues.” I paused and looked down at the snow. “A five dollar bill!” I picked it up and put it in my pocket.
“Five dollar Bill of Rights,” said Dr. King.” Every citizen should have housing. But it's not to be.”
I knew I wouldn't be getting home for a while. I took out the money. I looked hard at it. I looked up again. Of course, I wasn't in front of the snowman anymore. Dr. King and I were standing in a low room. There was a table. Sitting at it were two men. One was a rich looking white guy and the other was a Middle-Eastern guy. The white guy looked like he had accomplished victory. The Middle-Eastern guy looked ready to cry.
“Anyway, Mr. Achmed,” said the white guy. He seemed arrogant. ”Since 9/11 we simply can't trust your people.”
“It is a shame,” said the other man. “My ancestral country does not hold you and every other american guilty for the death or Martin Luther King. Yet everyone still mourns it. I have lived in this country my whole life, yet you refuse to give me a mortgage. I am no terrorist because of the color of my skin.”
“Why, if Dr. King were here right now,” which he was, “he wouldn't be wasting time on me, which is fine. He would be talking to the youngsters. Telling them how to handle things so in the next generation there would be peace!
“He had a dream! You hold me responsible for a wrong someone I have never met did! I should, by now, be able to sit down with you at the table of brotherhood! Not the table of you cheating me out of money! “ Then he left.
Suddenly, I was in front of my house. “Don’t you see? You have the power to change things.” said Martin. “It’s in you! I’m just part of your imagination. Use wisdom. Do what you think is right. There are many wrongs in the world that should be changed. A table of brotherhood awaits us all. I have a dream.”
Jacob Barz-Snell
Grade 5
Saltonstall School
The name's Liam. Liam Trebbol. I'm in the sixth grade. I'm only writing this because of Dr. King. I suppose I should start at the beginning. I'’ve always admired Martin Luther King for talking like I often feel. “I have a dream.” Which is what I'm almost always thinking.
See, ever since I was a Kid I've had some problems with seeing things that others don't. The other boys make fun of me for it. They found out in first grade when I asked them if they had liked a combination of a dolphin and superman flying past the classroom window. They were no dummies and soon got it.
So when we started studying Martin Luther King, the 'I Have a Dream” speech sparked my mind. While learning about him in school one day, I had a vision of him. Then I raised my hand to tell the class. Realizing what I was doing I quickly changed the wording. So instead of, “Martin Luther King just told me...!”., it was “l think Dr. King would approve of us learning about this time in history, so that we know what happened and won't be ignorant enough to let it happen again. It was a very sad time and racist people should be ashamed.” This was the first of my many sightings of Dr. King.
Walking home from school this October, I saw a man screaming at a woman. She yelled back at him, and I distinctly heard him respond, “You are a female moron. What other kind is there? You will do what I say! Eat my dirt.” He kicked her down the alleyway, which was conveniently located behind them. “You are lucky to have even dirt from a man's boot on you. Even that's a blessing, girl!” I imagined him doing an evil laugh.
I turned and saw Dr. King walking next to me.
“Sexists are just as bad as racists,” he told me,” underestimating someone's personality because of their gender.”
“I wish women were the ones in power, don't you?” I asked.
“Perhaps,” he replied as if he were asking himself.
We rounded the corner and stepped onto the Island of the Amazons -- an island from Greek mythology where women were powerful and men did things around the house. “It must have been awesome here.” I said to Martin, who was now wearing a rainbow Greek toga. I looked down to see myself wearing one, too.
“Look!” he said pointing to the ocean. “Perhaps you will understand in a second.”
I looked into the waves and saw a ship approaching. I then remembered that Heracles had come and accidentally killed the queen. The men then realized they could be strong and came into power.
Just as I now remebered that, Martin and I were back on the street. “Do you understand now?” he asked “Perhaps,” he said, “it is not better for one gender to be in power. Perhaps they could be together. Partners in crime, for all people are evil in some way. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ “
I understood. Martin headed over to the park and I headed home.
In December, my father drove me to school. I insisted on walking home one day when it wasn't snowing. After school I made a snowman. “Dr. King,” I said, “everyone must be happy around this time of the year.”
“Some are homeless and have nowhere to stay in blizzards,” he remarked.
“They deserve it. Don't pay, don't stay!” I said.
“No!” said Dr. King. “Most are like you and I. But stereotypes keep them from a normal life.”
“Huh? How's that possible?” I asked.” The guys at school make “hobos” sound like mutated souls with hairy tongues.” I paused and looked down at the snow. “A five dollar bill!” I picked it up and put it in my pocket.
“Five dollar Bill of Rights,” said Dr. King.” Every citizen should have housing. But it's not to be.”
I knew I wouldn't be getting home for a while. I took out the money. I looked hard at it. I looked up again. Of course, I wasn't in front of the snowman anymore. Dr. King and I were standing in a low room. There was a table. Sitting at it were two men. One was a rich looking white guy and the other was a Middle-Eastern guy. The white guy looked like he had accomplished victory. The Middle-Eastern guy looked ready to cry.
“Anyway, Mr. Achmed,” said the white guy. He seemed arrogant. ”Since 9/11 we simply can't trust your people.”
“It is a shame,” said the other man. “My ancestral country does not hold you and every other american guilty for the death or Martin Luther King. Yet everyone still mourns it. I have lived in this country my whole life, yet you refuse to give me a mortgage. I am no terrorist because of the color of my skin.”
“Why, if Dr. King were here right now,” which he was, “he wouldn't be wasting time on me, which is fine. He would be talking to the youngsters. Telling them how to handle things so in the next generation there would be peace!
“He had a dream! You hold me responsible for a wrong someone I have never met did! I should, by now, be able to sit down with you at the table of brotherhood! Not the table of you cheating me out of money! “ Then he left.
Suddenly, I was in front of my house. “Don’t you see? You have the power to change things.” said Martin. “It’s in you! I’m just part of your imagination. Use wisdom. Do what you think is right. There are many wrongs in the world that should be changed. A table of brotherhood awaits us all. I have a dream.”
Jacob Barz-Snell
Grade 5
Saltonstall School
Salem State Martin Luther King, Jr Essay Contest
Two of our 5/6 students had essays submitted to the Salem State Martin Luther King, Jr Essay contest. Jacob Barz-Snell (5th grade) came in second place for the elementary level and Saira Zapata (6th grade) came in second place for the middle school level. The question this year was: What advice would Dr. King give young people today to help make the world a better place?
Monday, January 18, 2010
What I learned from School
My oldest daughter is in twelvth grade now, which means I’ve been a student for 13 years. While she and her younger sister have been learning math, science, history, and language arts, I’ve been getting an education in human behavior. Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned as a school volunteer:
About Teachers
1. Most teachers won’t recognize how extraordinary your child is. This was a difficult lesson for me, especially given all of the volunteer hours I spent that first year fishing for compliments. I kept expecting the teacher to pull me aside to ask about the aura of light my daughter radiated. The teacher never did. (And now that my daughter is a teenager, her halo has dimmed considerably.)
2. Over time, it becomes a good thing when teachers don’t pull you aside to talk about your child. (See above reference to dimming halo.)
3. The one teacher who does recognize how remarkable your child is will have come to the same conclusion about every other student in the class. One of my daughter's previous teachers would tell me enthusiastic accounts of her creative learning style. I thought I was the only one until I realized all of the other parents were strutting about, too, feeling pretty smug about their kids that year.
4. The ability to find something special in a child reveals less about the child than it does about the person who finds it.
About Kids
5. Some children will bend the truth into knots if doing so will get them an extra Hershey’s Kiss. After counting out five Kisses per child for a math game, several of them swore to me through chocolate-smeared mouths that I gave them only four. The next year, I used dried beans for the counting game. Not a single child asked for more beans.
6. Wrapped chocolate of any sort does not retain its shape when handled by kindergartners (another reason to switch to dried beans).
About Myself
7. It’s wrong to impose your fashion sense on a child—especially on picture day. If a kid wants to wear her eyeglasses, let her. If you try to wrestle them off her face, you’ll make her cry. Similarly, do not try to comb a child’s hair when she tells you her mom already combed her hair that morning. If you persist and lunge toward the kid’s head with the comb, you’ll make her cry.
8. I do something funny with my mouth when I’m addressing children. My daughter sidled up to me after I gave a presentation to her class and whispered, “Mommy. When you were talking to the kids, you kept doing this.” she opened her mouth halfway, pulled her lips back into a garish smile, and froze the expression on her face. That’s why the kids were so quiet and well-behaved. I’d scared them into silence.
About My Kids
9. Your child will attach herself to you when you volunteer in her classroom. Every time you look down, she will be smiling proudly up at you. In a few more years, that same child will not only have left your side; she also will pointedly ignore you. But that’s OK because...
10. You’ve been showing up at her school for the past 13 years, which taught her a lesson she’ll carry with her forever.
About Teachers
1. Most teachers won’t recognize how extraordinary your child is. This was a difficult lesson for me, especially given all of the volunteer hours I spent that first year fishing for compliments. I kept expecting the teacher to pull me aside to ask about the aura of light my daughter radiated. The teacher never did. (And now that my daughter is a teenager, her halo has dimmed considerably.)
2. Over time, it becomes a good thing when teachers don’t pull you aside to talk about your child. (See above reference to dimming halo.)
3. The one teacher who does recognize how remarkable your child is will have come to the same conclusion about every other student in the class. One of my daughter's previous teachers would tell me enthusiastic accounts of her creative learning style. I thought I was the only one until I realized all of the other parents were strutting about, too, feeling pretty smug about their kids that year.
4. The ability to find something special in a child reveals less about the child than it does about the person who finds it.
About Kids
5. Some children will bend the truth into knots if doing so will get them an extra Hershey’s Kiss. After counting out five Kisses per child for a math game, several of them swore to me through chocolate-smeared mouths that I gave them only four. The next year, I used dried beans for the counting game. Not a single child asked for more beans.
6. Wrapped chocolate of any sort does not retain its shape when handled by kindergartners (another reason to switch to dried beans).
About Myself
7. It’s wrong to impose your fashion sense on a child—especially on picture day. If a kid wants to wear her eyeglasses, let her. If you try to wrestle them off her face, you’ll make her cry. Similarly, do not try to comb a child’s hair when she tells you her mom already combed her hair that morning. If you persist and lunge toward the kid’s head with the comb, you’ll make her cry.
8. I do something funny with my mouth when I’m addressing children. My daughter sidled up to me after I gave a presentation to her class and whispered, “Mommy. When you were talking to the kids, you kept doing this.” she opened her mouth halfway, pulled her lips back into a garish smile, and froze the expression on her face. That’s why the kids were so quiet and well-behaved. I’d scared them into silence.
About My Kids
9. Your child will attach herself to you when you volunteer in her classroom. Every time you look down, she will be smiling proudly up at you. In a few more years, that same child will not only have left your side; she also will pointedly ignore you. But that’s OK because...
10. You’ve been showing up at her school for the past 13 years, which taught her a lesson she’ll carry with her forever.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Upcoming Events
The PTO is busy planning some really great activities in the next few months.
February 12th will be hosting and performance of "Love Letters" at teh Griffin Theater located on Lynde Street in Salem tickets will be on sale for $15 or 2 for $25. More info to come.
We would also like to host a Family Game Night and are looking for volunteers to asssit. Please let us know if you can help out
February 12th will be hosting and performance of "Love Letters" at teh Griffin Theater located on Lynde Street in Salem tickets will be on sale for $15 or 2 for $25. More info to come.
We would also like to host a Family Game Night and are looking for volunteers to asssit. Please let us know if you can help out
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