Friday Night Fun

[Azusateach]

My new (to me) school continues to be a source of fun and lots of smiles. Tonight was our annual "Spooktacular" event -- something the whole neighborhood attends. It's your basic school carnival with cheesy booths, homemade baked goods -- and tamales! -- and this year even a haunted house staffed by our sixth graders. To me, THIS is what keeping the child in childhood is all about. The pictures below are some of our sixth graders. This would never have happened if they were middle schoolers in our traditional middle schools. It just makes me happy to see these kids enjoying themselves so very much and not worrying about what anyone else thinks.







This last pic is of my Principal and me. Every year she has a different costume, and the kids anticipate this as much as the Spooktacular itself. She has really made it her life's mission to create a school for the neighborhood, where everyone feels welcome, the kids work hard at learning, but that there's room to play, too. I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to be part of such a special place before hanging up my grade book.

[snowball]

looks like a really fun night...
sheila

[Redwahine]

What a fun educational environment

[cnq50b]

Very cool. I love that these kids are allowed the space to just be kids for a little longer. Thanks for sharing these pics with us.
Looks like a great place to grow up & to teach.

[mitch5252]

..
There should be more schools/school districts like this one.
What a great bunch of happy smiles (including yours) !
..

[carold]

Those pics remind me of why I loved teaching. I was lucky to be in that type of environment thruout my years. Even had a male principal in high school just like yours. Continue enjoying!

[rvgrammy1953]

I so agree with you, Laura....let the kids, be kids as long as they can....this is why I'm so against "middle school"....they loose that innocence there....this reminds me of my grade school days and years later, of the days my son spent in the same school......learning, yet having fun.. alot of schools in rural PA still have just an elementary school thru 6th grade, then it's 7th thru 12th, Jr.Sr. High.....and I believe you are enjoying the heck out of teaching there...

[avalen]

certainly gives me a smile and I know there are favorites of yours in that group too, it can't be helped, when you work
with kids you always have favorites (as I fondly remember some of my favorites over the years)

[cpatinjones]

Looks like a lot of fun.

[BirdbyBird]

So glad that you found a good home. It helps remind you why you are still teaching and not running from the career. I agree it will make the last few years enjoyable rather than the drudgery that is so apparent of an educator past their "passion" and just hanging on to make it to their expiration date....

Have fun. The smiles and laughter are evident!

[Rufflesgurl]

Laura - Thanks for enjoying your teaching job!!

Linda