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The blessing of music…

The blessing of music was gifted to our third and fourth grade friends today as we enJOYed a special performance of Billy Goat’s Gruff given by the Ft. Worth Opera and Children’s Theatre program.
Through the generous work between our six ad2elementary campuses across the district in conjunction with FWO, our learners experienced a full opera at their level, many for the very first time!  Studies show that repetitive positive experiences with arts education (music, art, dance, and more) not only encourages a lifelong relationship with the arts, but often opens the windows of curiosity leading to a new enthusiasm and discipline for learning in general.  Since 1972, Fort Worth Opera has opened millions of young minds to the colorful and exciting world of opera. (See more at: http://www.fwopera.org).
The operatic version of the Billy Goat’s Gruff story is based on scenes from operas by Mozart, Donizetti, and Rossini.  An after-school game of hide and seek is ruined for three friends when a big bully blocks a bridge, and the two boy goats decide to go for help. The girl goat stays to confront the bully, but shows him kindness instead. By the end, she is able to introduce the ex-bully as their new friend. Billy Goats Gruff addresses the current issue of bullying, and teaches learners how compassion and understanding helps everyone get along.
At this time of year especially, the blessing of music is glorious indeed and never more so than when performed for children to experience (some for the first time). As one child wrote (and shared with me) today, “I could close my eyes and let the beautiful singing move me through time to another place.  Music makes my life so much better.  Thanks for this special musical performance and singing today, Mrs. Van.”   Here’s hoping the blessing of music, in any form you choose to participate, moves you during this festive holiday season.  🙂**Note:  We have early dismissal on Thursday and Friday this week @ 12:45 p.m. 
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Pearls of Ornamental Wisdom…

A young learner stopped me in the hallway just after announcements:

  • Child:  “Mrs. Van, I have a Christmas Question for you today.”
  • Me:  “Yes?”
  • Child:  “Do you have a favorite ornament on your Christmas tree that is dear to you?”
  • Me:  “Actually, I do, and thanks for asking! What a great question!”
  • Child:  “Will you write about it so I can read it on the ‘puter bog?  🙂

Here goes little friend:  One of my favorite words holidayornamentin the English language is “JOY.”  While happiness is grand, it concentrates more on a circumstance of life–we just “happen” to find ourselves happy because of a situation.  JOY is a deep, soulful emotion bringing delight and gladness–comfort and JOY to the beholder.  There is an ornament I keep close at hand all year (it actually hangs on our tree during the season) with the little word JOY inscribed on the antique snowball.  My Granny B. actually wrote the word JOY on the little ornament the day we had this conversation about JOY.  As always, this was her special way of sharing a “pearl of wisdom” with me.  She was known for doing clever little things like this . . .

As these students were making ornaments today in a workstation during Daily 5 rotations, they were anxious to share the results, which bears this important seasonal question today:  Think of an ornament from your past or present that is dear to you; why does it have special meaning?  Here’s hoping you share your own special JOY and pearl of wisdom with your little one this year!

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Merry Christmas Readings…

Van Am Gram

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for reading . . . the weather is cold and windy, the seasonal stories are abundant, and the temptation to curl up with someone you love and share a great story is powerfully strong.  I keep books outside my office door all the time (as the picture indicates) and I’m known to climb in my office rocker and read them too!

I had the pleasure today of observing a group of second graders “sell” their recently chosen library book to another reader.  They created new book covers (without taking away from the published ones) to advertise and entice younger readers to want to pick up their seasonal book and have it read to them.  The new illustrations on the child-created book covers and the book reviews written convinced me!  If the office had not interrupted my visit with an urgent need, I…

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Traditional treasures…

Most likely you have a favorite holiday tradition or two…something you treasure each year as the season comes around again.  Whether it’s placing a special ornament on the tree, watching a favorite holiday movie together, visiting a certain jolly fellow (in our family, the Northpark Santa IS the real Santa), or doing a familiar holiday activity together, you have a tradition you never want to miss.

My sister and I would always write long, detailed letters to Santa each year; it was our tradition together in fact.  My parents would then take us downtown to Titches (yes, I’m that old), to visit with St. Nick to share our letters.  I would never tell my parents what I wrote even though they would do any number of things to make me “spill it” (Momma says I’m stubborn that way; go figure?!).  It took me a while to pin down exactly why they wanted to know this personal information.  (The picture is me in third grade with my sister, Becky talking with Santa).  Writing our letters was a tradition we shared together.  Today, we still write our shopping lists (using email or text) because great minds think alike and we’ve also been known to buy the same present for a family member.  Talking and planning (along with writing) with my sister are traditions during the holidays and everyday I never want to miss!

During our morning message today, I asked students about the blessing of traditions, so this leads me to our question today:  What are your favorite family holiday traditions?  In whatever way your family chooses to define the holiday season and make seasonal memories, here’s hoping you take time to reflect together on special traditions.  If you don’t have a favorite tradition, here’s hoping you start one this year!

Note:   A special PTO holiday tradition at LME is the annual Penguin Patch Shop going on all week on campus.  They will also be open Thursday evening before and after the 3rd Grade Holiday Program for your shopping convenience.

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GRINCHy ways!

KGrinch2He’s a mean one, that Mr. Grinch!  Our Kinder and first grade teams studied the clever writings of Dr. Suess by celebrating GRINCH 1stGrinch3Day in their classrooms.  From Cindy-Lou-Who to Mr. Grinch himself, learners and classroom leaders read, wrote, computed, and explored the imaginary world of the extraordinary Dr. Suess and his The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.  What a fun, clever way to celebrate story-telling, silly rhymes, and the spirit of the holiday season!  So here’s your question today:  What’s your favorite holiday story and why is it important to you?

Ollie3In other news, Ollie the Jolly OWL continues to fly about sharing wit and wisdom along the way.  She appeared in the Kinder hall where they were measuring Ollie7objects with creative units; she became one of the special objects to measure width and length during the lesson.  Later, Ollie was found by a student under the bench in the clinic, reading up on how to keep herself healthy for the holidays.  She especially loved the Wellness song this week and wanted to get more ollienurseinformation on how to prevent the flu, so she asked to point out the important steps to follow during this busy season.  Thanks, Ollie; here’s to keeping us all well, healthy, and wise!  Where do you think she’ll turn up next?

May you have a wonderful weekend of holiday fun!

Note:  Our Penguin Patch Holiday Shop, sponsored by the PTO, opens on Monday morning! 

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Simply sentimental…

Is there anything more exciting to a child than this season of hope, peace, JOY, love, and goodwill?  Carols are playing in classrooms during workstation time, learners are sharing creative ideas and writings, classroom leaders are engaging students in all manner of clever activities, and everyone coming into the front office is smiling more these days.  Capturing all the sights, sounds, scents, and sentiments of Christmas can be a daunting task (and even overwhelming for some).  Finding ways to express the reason for the season can be so powerful that it becomes challenging to express the story well.  One young writer today was having no trouble though…

A young friend stopped me during walkabout to share card1this homemade card (completed in the card workstation yesterday).  His choice of colors and textures intrigued me.  While his words were personally heartfelt and filled with love for the recipient of this beautiful card, he made the comment, “You know…I hope someone sends me a card like this sometime; I’ll keep it forever!”  We talked about Christmas cards and why then mean so much to others who receive them.

As is our LME tradition, a student or I begin each morning message in December with a Christmas question-of-the-day, so today is dedicated to my young writing friend who asked me:  “What was the greatest Christmas Card you remember receiving from a friend or family member?”  Here’s hoping you send someone a special greeting card this holiday…the impact may be more than simply sentimental!

Note:  Speaking of sentiments, we greatly appreciate all the Angel Tree participation and assistance you are giving to the LME Angel Tree Project!  Please remember all items are due back to our caring counselor, Mrs. Stanley, this week. 

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Ollie the Jolly OWL…

ollielibraryThe elf may be off the shelf, but there’s a wise winged friend flying about the hallways and classrooms of LME these days.  Ollie the Jolly OWL is flying in, up, and all around the building.  A personal friend of our own Monty the Moose who roamed our building last year, Ollie is dressed in her Christmas finest and is making the rounds by joining in all the seasonal fun.  For example, she read several books in the library with students before Mrs. Bolgiano noticed her shelving books.  olliemusic2Ollie really likes nursery rhymes and managed to compose a couple of her own to share too!

olliemusicNext, she spotted some “friends” playing musical instruments with Mrs. Perez and second grade helpers today.  She decided to stay and play a few songs on the xylophone!  According to one learner, “Mrs. Van, she’s really got potential if she’d just practice a bit.”  🙂

It’s a good thing she’s decided to adopt us this holiday season.  Between her adventures and the treats she shares along the way, we wonder where she will turn up next?

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Through the eyes of a child…

merry+christmas+picturesChristmas is coming; the evidence is all around. Christmas is coming and excitement abounds!  We are in high gear at LME with today being just one of 15 remaining school days before the big holiday break starts.  Learners shared their activities throughout the past week, talking turkey and telling stories about their adventures.  Classroom leaders went on a hunt for Ollie the Jolly OWL, whoooo’s wisely hiding in various places throughout our campus–oh, the stories they are sharing about her!  PTO is prepping the annual Penguin Patch Holiday Shop for next week where students can experience the JOY of giving to others by selecting gifts for the whole family.  angel-treeredSpeaking of giving to others, several of our LME friends dropped off their Angel Tree purchases with our counselor, Mrs. Stanley today.  Our third graders are rehearsing their big holiday production for next week and our Miller Ringers and Singers are prepping for the big All-City Choir Concert this coming Friday night. Party reservation forms went out today for everyone wishing to join us on the LME Christmas Cheer Express next Friday, Dec. 12.  Finally, yes, students actually did lots of amazing and engaging learning today–the “real reason we’re here, Mrs. Van.”  🙂  Here’s hoping you catch the spirit of the season and join in the various seasonal opportunities through the eyes of a child this year!  🙂

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May you always have enough…

As we gather together with family and friends to share in thankful celebration, these words of my Granny B. remind me of the blessings in life:

May you always have enough…

  • happiness to keep you sweet,busyhands
  • trials to keep you strong,
  • sorrows to keep you human,
  • hope to keep you JOYful,
  • failure to keep you humble,
  • success to make you eager,
  • friends to give you comfort,
  • wealth to meet your needs,
  • enthusiasm to look for tomorrow,
  • faith to banish worry, and
  • determination to make each day better than before! 

It is important to teach our children to share and embrace the gratitudes of daily life (along with the necessary coping skills to deal with life too).  Allowing their “busy hands” to assist, to explore, and to share in the work builds strong character traits (like trust, respect, responsibility, service and more).

Thanks for walking the journey with us; thanks for sharing your most valuable blessing, your child, with us!  Happy Thanksgiving!

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We are THANKful!

As we wrap up this exciting week of learning at LME in anticipation of our first holiday break, we are truly grateful for the following gifts:

1.  Our Midlothian Education Foundation surprised four IMG_6119of our extraordinary teachers today with a grant award of $3,934.95 for the clever “Telling Stories, One Stop At A Time” animation club.  Under the outstanding direction of Amy Clark, Andrew Morgan, Scott Fiorenza, and Katie Bergvall, students will work with innovative animation stop-motion to create digital stories and more during presentations.  Stop-motion software allows artists to work one frame at a time to create video and moving images using pictures drawn with sound added later.  Think of the big animated movies out today; this is what our learners will use!  Congratulations to our animated team and many thanks, MEF!

2.  The LME learning community gathered and gave 4,939 canned and boxed food items today during LME Rally!  WOW!  Winning classes are Kinder = Mr. Pendley, 1st = Mrs. L. Bergvall, 2nd = Mrs. King, 3rd = Mrs. Milne, 4th  = Mrs. Dickard, and 5th = Mrs. Lassetter.  Thanks for giving time, service, and resources to those most in need this holiday season!

3.  Finally, our KC (Kindness and Compassion) Club designed and implemented The Thankful Tree (like the The Giving Tree) for our campus while sharing ways and ideas for helping others to be thankful for each day.  The response to their video and the idea truly “leaves” us breathless…way to go!

Here’s hoping you enJOY a fun, festive, fall holiday with those you hold dear.  May the blessings of the season remind us all to #LoveServeCare everyday!  🙂

Note:  Students have a holiday from November 24 – 28; we will see everyone back on Monday, December 1st!