It's beginning to look a lot like.....New York!!

SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!

They are predicting quite a blizzard for this weekend....hard to believe that we are in DC and I am not back in New York with the accumulation totals.

Take full advantage of this snowy time to bundle up, drink hot cocoa, bake cookies, and, of course, READ! I'm currently enjoying re-reading one of my childhood favorites, The Phantom Tollbooth. Every time I read this book, I discover another layer of humor.

Enjoy the snow, Huskies!

Book Recommendation and Time to Give Thanks

In spite of, or perhaps, in lieu of, all of the work and reading I should be doing for my fantastic grad classes in Reading Education, I just finished The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman for the SECOND TIME! That's right, it was soooo good, I read it twice! I highly, highly recommend it to readers of the adolescent to adult variety. I made a very strong text to text connection with another of my favorites, the classic Jungle Book. I hope that everyone settles in over this Thanksgiving break with a good book and cup of hot chocolate.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, my family and I will be spending ours in South Arlington. We have an annual tradition of running the Del Ray Turkey Trot. This 5 mile race goes through my old neighborhood and it is one of my favorites! Plus, when you get finished, you can indulge in all the Thanksgiving fixings without an ounce of guilt.
This year is especially meaningful because I will be hosting the Team in Training booth at the pre-race festivities. Team in Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society are organizations that are very close to my heart! In this time of giving thanks, I am thankful for the work of TNT and the LLS. They raise money and awareness to help fight blood cancers. This winter, I am serving as the Mission Captain for a TNT team. It is during this Thanksgiving season that I am grateful for my health and for the health of each of my Huskies. I am also grateful that I will be spending this holiday with my family eating lots of yummy goodies. I am very aware that during this season there are many families who do not have that same opportunity. As a matter of fact, the number of hungry families is rising at a devastating rate. Many families (even some of our own here at MEHMS) have a brave loved one serving our country overseas. Take a moment this week to give thanks and to let your loved ones know how much they mean to you.
If you're so inclined, make a donation (monetary or your time) to one of your favorite causes.
A few of mine:
ALIVE!
Arlington Food Assistance Center
My Team in Training Page
American Cancer Society
Carpenter's Shelter
Cell Phones for Soldiers

Be well, Huskies!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Week 5, Already???

Time flies when we're having fun!! I cannot believe that we are about to finish our fifth week of school. There have been so many really interesting and exciting things going on at MEHMS so far this year. Our Musical cast is forming, Lego League is up and running, Math Olympiad is beginning, Odyssey of the Mind is taking off, and Intramurals are as fun as ever....and that's just been the afterschool stuff!
As I have been in and out of classrooms these first five weeks, I have marveled at the 5th graders adjusting and thriving as new Huskies, the 6th graders soaring in their new classes yet still remaining the tight knit group of kids, and the 7th graders adopting their new home on the third floor and accepting their role as leaders in the building with great pride.
It's going to be the end of the first quarter before we can blink. Buckle your seatbelts, this year is going to be quite a ride!

Counting Down the Days....

I am so excited to see all of the Huskies in just a few short weeks! I hope that everyone is enjoying their summer!!!

Field Day and Moving Up

Yesterday, I spent much of the day in the Dunk Tank letting the 5th and 7th graders get their aggression out! I was dunked by many a student and loved every second of it! Field Day was such a success and a grand time was had by all!
Today, I will be wet, as well. It will just be with tears of pride as we "Move Up" our 7th graders tonight. Our rising Mustangs are tremendous students and I will miss them terribly.
I can't wait to meet our rising Huskies from TJ in the fall.
Have a wonderful, restful, happy, fun, extraordinary summer!! Don't forget to read, read, read!!!!

Merci!

I have just returned from a WONDERFUL trip to Quebec City with Ms. White and 15 of our superstar 7th graders. The trip was a total blast and the kids were tre bien! I speak little to no French so the whole experience was something new for me. Usually, I travel with teenagers to Mexico to build houses-- my Spanish is rusty but proficient enough to get around. In Quebec, I was relying mostly on our guide, David, and the students who are currently taking French at MEHMS.
We learned so much on this trip about Quebec history and saw so many interesting and breathtaking landmarks. Among them were the Chateau Frontenac and the Citadel. We even got to eat at a place aptly named the Sugar Shack! There, we covered everything on our plate with fresh maple syrup.
I was so proud of our students throughout the trip. The highlight of the entire experience was when we met fellow middle schoolers at an intermediate school in Quebec City. Our kids were true ambassadors for MEHMS. Everyone (including the Quebecers) was very nervous in the beginning, but once all of the students started talking to each other, the anxiety lifted and there was very little quiet. The Quebecers were wonderful hosts and even played a few rounds of table tennis with us. (The picture above was the entire group).
Merci for such a wonderful experience!!!

The Whos! The Things! The Cat! The Birds! The Elephant! The Monkeys! The Songs! The Set! The Costumes! So Much More!

To say that Seussical Jr. was fantastic tonight is the understatement of the year. It was nothing short of magical. Barb Piscopo and Jeanne Seabridge directed a theatrical experience. My red and white striped hat goes off to you both. To see our students up on that stage singing and dancing their hearts out while wearing ridiculously delicious hair and clothing is something that one must see for themselves. My mouth hurts from smiling the entire show!

The students were absolutely amazing. I was so proud to watch the actors perform and the technical/backstage crew change sets, run lights, cue music, hand props, etc.

Thank you to Barb, Jeanne, and the Encore team for showing us that a week with a snow day can get EVEN better! Bravo to the students who each shine in their own special way! Here’s to two more fabulous nights!!