Author: Van Am Gram

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MVP status…

In sports, the MVP Award (Most Valuable Player) is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player on a team.  At LaRue Miller Elementary, our MVPs qualify for the honor by going well above and beyond the academic standard.  MVPs show outstanding character traits and clearly role model the Miller Essential 5 each and every day.  A student selected as an MVP by a team of teachers and peers is honored during Friday Miller Rallies in front of the entire campus for everything from performing random acts of kindness to consistently sharing compassion with others as a way of life.

Mrs. Bass and I thoroughly enJOYed a special event this morning following Miller Rally.  The 1st Quarter MVPs spent social time with us where we noshed on snacks and visited about everything from our campus field trip to what everyone likes to do for fun.  The common thread noted during our many discussions was obvious:  each student sets personal goals and is always striving to get better in all areas of his or her life…they do what it takes to make others around them even better.  At their young age, these learners exhibit the traits of leaving powerful legacies one day!

“Climb high; climb far…your goal the sky and your aim the star.”  Congratulations and huge thanks today go to our MVPs so far this year:  Ethan, Charlie, Aiden, Sawyer, Seth, Maddie, Connor, McKenna, Miranda, Madelynn, and Darren!  🙂

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Doy Gracias Cada Dia!

It’s true; I’m thankful each day!  I’m also honored to share this with our learners each morning during our morning message.

Today I had the brief honor of sharing a special moment with a young learner who brought this beautiful story from home.  While the text was all Spanish (I read Spanish fine; my translation is not so good!), this little friend shared her interpretation of the text.  With colorful illustrations and a simple yet poignant text, the story unfolds with the powerful message of being thankful for each and every day we are given–choosing an attitude of gratitude.  The many facets of our world provide a reason for each of us to stop and be thankful each day.  Think about a sunrise, a sunset, flowers, floating clouds, or birds singing…all these natural events encompass our daily lives and are present to remind us of the many blessings we are given to treasure.

Our KC (Kindness and Compassion) Club members are challenging us each morning to focus on our blessings by sharing their personal thoughts as a start to our day during morning message from now until we break for Thanksgiving.  Here’s hoping you will challenge those you hold dear to focus on daily blessings and thankful attitudes of gratitude not just now, but each and every day…after all, “today is a gift; that’s why it’s called the present!”  Doy gracias cada dia!

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Take us out to the Ballpark!

Today was our all-campus field trip.  In keeping with our “All Stars and MVPs…Miller is the best place to be” sports theme this year (and being the die-hard Rangers fans most of us are anyway), we embarked on special tours of the Ballpark in Arlington.  Thanks to the generosity of the Rangers Organization, Ms. Billie Ball (her real name and our coordinator), our parents who supported our campus fundraiser in September, and some very kind campus/community angels, every student and staff member (along with 300+ parents) enjoyed a real behind-the-scenes peek into the entire Rangers Organization!  Not to sound biased, but I heard “this is the BEST field trip ever” at least 73 times . . .  🙂  I was equally told (probably more times) how well behaved, polite, and attentive all our groups were too!  🙂

As promised, our students will receive their special commemorative surprise to bring home in their backpacks on Thursday, so please be watching for it!  Again, thanks to the many special folks who made certain every child at LME enjoyed a fun and engaging campus field trip experience, especially our teachers and the bus drivers.  These all-campus journeys are quite the undertaking, but the reward of a real “Miller Family Trip” (just like your own family vacation) is a common learning experience our students will take with them for a lifetime.  Bravo, LME, for a simply extraordinary day!
Note:  There are soooo many pictures from today…I couldn’t choose just a few to share.  Several teachers are sending out montages on their blogs, so please check with your homeroom teacher for copies of pics from this special day!

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Getting out the VOTE!

Miller Elementary 5th graders hosted a Mock Presidential Election today, November 6th.  These learners created the official ballot through Google Docs (under the direction of 5th Grade Teacher, Mrs. Campbell) and then transformed the library into our very own LME Precinct and Voting Center.

Every student of Miller was given a Voter Registration card prior to the event, and the entire student body participated in the Mock Election.  Want to know our results?  🙂

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Come one; come all to the Field of Readers Event!

It’s time for the annual MISD Field of Readers Event next Tuesday, November 13 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Multipurpose Stadium.  Families and community members always enjoy this creative fun experience where we drop everything and read on the field, listen to stories on the yard line, purchase books at the Scholastic Book Fair, join the community library, participate in the Book Walk and QR Code Scavenger Hunt, and so much more!  We look forward to seeing you!

On another note, we have our campus field trip on Wednesday this week.  Please watch for your reminder note on Tuesday.

Speaking of Tuesday, we challenge everyone to exercise their right to vote in the general election this year!  Our students and staff will participate in a campus election and will share our results with you tomorrow.  VOTE!

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Salute to our Veterans!

“Honor to the soldier and the sailor everywhere, who bravely bears the country’s cause.  Honor also to the citizen who cares for the brother of the field, and serves, as he best can, the same cause…”  These powerful words spoken by President Abraham Lincoln pledged support and thanks for the service and work of our nation’s veterans.

As is tradition here at LME, our fifth grade team presented a highly moving and emotional salute to our veterans.  Through beautiful singing, handbells ringing, speaker reflections, and visual images, they shared our love and thanks to the brave men and women who valiantly have served and are currently serving our country.

With more than 25 million US veterans living today, they represent a highly elite group of Americans who have cleared the seas, charged the hills, and covered the skies in defense of our freedom.  We honor our veterans and their families and say thanks for serving our country!

Mr. Bill Thompson, retired US Navy (and MISD bus driver) shared arrival bugle calls and closed our program with the sounding of the Army’s traditional “Taps.”  There are words to this melancholy tune:

“Day is done; gone the sun; from the hills, from the lakes, from the skies.  All is well, safely rest; God is nigh.  Thanks and praise; for our days; ‘neath the sun, ‘neath the stars, ‘neath the sky.  As we go, this we know; God is nigh.”

Our Scout Troop 277 presented the colors and led our campus in pledges.  Fifth grader, Heather, beautifully sang the words to the “Star-Spangled Banner” followed by the chorus singing a touching rendition of “The Pledge of Allegiance.”  Other songs included were “Thank a Vet,” “Welcome Home,” and “There You’ll Be.”  Handbell Ringers enthusiastically played “America the Beautiful” and “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.”  Special projects created by 5th grade learners shared research and interesting facts about the service divisions of the armed forces.  All students were invited to display pictures and information of veterans connected to our campus on the annual Wall of Honor.

You can say we were definitely “TEAMing with American Pride” last night and today in our red, white, and blue to salute and show our support, love, and thanks to our veterans while pledging all week to be drug-free American citizens…“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, and oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” (President John F. Kennedy)

Note:  Our campus is involved on Tuesday (Election Day) in casting our ballots for the next US President.  We will share our results with you.  Here’s hoping you set an active example and exercise your right as a US citizen to VOTE in the election this year! 

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Altruism for all…

As part of our service work during Red Ribbon Week, we looked for special ways to support our Miller Team in an altruistic manner.  The message that doing drugs never makes us feel as good as it does when we help others was truly demonstrated in action today.  Under the guidance of our StuCo, we served in two specific ways:  collecting personal items (like toothpaste and soap) for Manna House and reaching out to our Miller friend, Ethan, who is fighting childhood cancer.  Boxes of personal items filled each hallway while the entire campus was a sea of green (Ethan’s favorite color) and yellow (childhood cancer).  Classrooms also created special cards, drawings, and notes for our Ethan so he knows we love and miss him here at Miller.  Hang in there, Ethan; we love you!

I especially appreciate the strong lead Ethan’s homeroom class members and classroom leader have all taken to include him in campus activities and keep him updated on daily events.  I am equally grateful to his homebound teacher for ensuring he continues to progress during this medical journey.  We invite you to join us in supporting and helping those in need, whether it be a campus friend or community member; it’s critical to teach service at a young age…or as one Miller friend shared,  “Altruism for all!”  🙂

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Happy Halloween!

It’s been a BOO-tiful day overall…and we’re not just talking about the glorious autumn day!  From the first “Cowabunga, Dudes” to special SPELLing activities to the Peanuts gang and the Three Amigos, our learners and their classroom leaders have been “thick as thieves” into this special day.  We started with our annual parade of book characters and moved into various engaging activities involving pumpkins and a little event known as classroom parties.  Thanks to all our wonderfully supportive parents, community mentors, and friends who TREATed our learners to many special opportunities throughout the day!  EnJOY these captured moments and Happy Halloween from everyone at LME!  🙂

PS – Please remember to wear green to support our Ethan (his favorite color) tomorrow and bring your items to donate to Manna House!

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Easy enough for a 3rd grader!

Today I had the opportunity to speak with a group of third graders interviewing me for a presentation they are collaborating on in class.  We were talking about leaders, specifically positive leaders, and the actions they take.  There was no end to their observations:

  • Leaders are kind.
  • They help others.
  • They smile.
  • They make you feel better about yourself and teach you.
  • They care about others.
  • They inspire and support you.
  • They make a difference in the world.

These students truly believe they are leaders and possess the qualities of leadership inside of them; they get it (and ironically, as the adult, I often forget it).  So we talked about ways to focus on the positive leader in each of us since we can ALL be leaders.  Again, their ideas are inspiring (and show they’ve done their research too!):

  • Be thankful and focus on what you get to do.
  • Smile cause it produces that fuzzy stuff in your brain (serotonin)!  😉
  • Exercise since it reduces stress and all.
  • Do something for someone else to show you care about them.
  • Encourage others; root for them!
  • Change the world one person at a time!

These are just a few of their ideas, but think about the results if everyone practiced these daily!  They truly inspired me and as one young leader offered,  “We should all focus on being a positive leader in someway everyday because they are easy enough for a third grader!”  🙂