Peace

Friday brought our Peace Assembly and a Living Museum in 4-5. Then we all went home early as the snowflakes fell. More snow over the weekend brought beauty and peace. We'll see everyone in 2009!

Empty Bowls

Everyone at Parker last night had full bowls - I had three! The soup was delicious. We learned about hunger around the world and right here in Troy. Thank you all who came, donated, made bowls, dug potatoes, and chopped vegetables. Thank you James and Susie and the eighth grade for coordinating this worthwhile effort. And thank you Thomas for offering your fall vegetables from The Alleged Farm and for supervising soup-making.

The estimated amount the students raised for Joseph's House is $1,400, and today they will do a final count.

Privilege

Storms, ice, trees down, power out, no heat, no phones, ( "...no pool, no pets, I ain't got no cigarettes..." Sorry, I got carried away.) What a crazy parade of days! We are very glad to be back in school!

We had a visitor today from South Africa. Roland Abrahams is an English teacher and Associate Director of Christel House Academy in Cape Town. His school's mission is to break the cycle of poverty - poverty is a criteria for admission. He arrived at Emma Willard last week and has experienced his first snow and ice and slept by the fireplace for three nights. It was a privilege to have him at Parker for the day. He said he felt such warmth and leaning here. We hope to keep our lines of communication open for future exchange.

There is cookin' goin' on down in the kitchen! Thomas Christenfeld and the the eighth grade are making soup. Three kinds, I've heard. I can sure smell it and it smells great. Proceeds from tonight's sale of student-made bowls and other donated bowls will go to Joseph's House in Troy.

Many who were without power over the last few days feel increased empathy for those who struggle daily to find heat and food. It is humbling to think of our tenuous hold on the privilege of light and heat and easy communication. And for having a school open to us that is filled with a richness of materials and shared humanity.

After hours...

Here is what things looked like today after school. In After Club kids were cooking - bean dip - and they didn't even double dip! Then I walked down to the scene at the Middle School Dance. It is amazing what twinkle lights can do for the atmosphere in a gym. Great cream puffs and other yummy things for sale - I double dipped.

Working in a community

K-1's are learning about people who work in a community. They are making a pop-up book, doing research with their buddies and then writing reports. They were wondering what I do in my job and suggested that I sleep at my desk (I thought no one saw!) They will have a big presentation of their work after the Peace Assembly on the 19th.

Middle school kids are all in clubs. This is the Outdoors Club. They were disposing of the pumpkin that has sat by the front door since Fall Festival. It is in the woods now for future study...They were happy to pose with their broom. They have big plans for trail-blazing and projects in the greenhouse. Good community workers for Parker - definitely not sleeping on the job!

Special Friends

The Pre K Harvest Feast and Special Friends Day is filled with food, smiles and music. I look forward to the pumpkin bread with chocolate chips (baked personally by preschoolers!) every year. 4-5 Buddies join their Pre K friends and families for the feast and a few songs.

In the afternoon all the kids put on a rousing musical performance. This year the middle schoolers performed a very cool rhythm and movement piece.

My special friends were Jamie and Coleman in K-1 who regaled me with stories of learning to read the words cat and rat, and things they will never forget, like jumping up three stairs.

At lunch I sat with preschooler Sarah and her fifth grade buddy Hannah. Sarah's grandfather confessed, "If I'd known how much fun grandchildren were, I would have skipped having kids and jumped right to grandkids!" Hannah remarked to me in confidence, "That wouldn't actually work."