Ms. Lovette's Blog

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

2009-12-18T13:36:00.002-05:00

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

2009-11-24T10:11:00.006-05:00

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???

2009-10-08T21:10:00.002-04:00

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....

2009-08-13T15:04:00.000-04:00

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

2009-06-16T10:43:00.000-04:00

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!

2009-04-11T07:42:00.002-04:00

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!!!

2009-03-06T13:23:00.000-05:00

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!!

Inauguration Day on the Mall!

2009-01-21T09:19:00.004-05:00

4am at the Shirlington bus stop!

Our view of the Capitol from our spot on the mall

What an adventure! Yesterday, Ms. McCarty and I headed to the National Mall for the Inauguration of our new President! At 4am, no less! It was freezing (literally and figuratively), but we got to the mall by about 5:15 am and staked out a spot that was very, very close to the Capitol. It was such an unbelievable experience to be a tiny speck in all of the pictures and to be a part of such a historic event. While it took three times longer to get home than it did to get there, and my fiance and I were still thawing out at 10 pm, it was worth every second. How did you spend Inauguration Day?

6th and 7th grade winter concert

2009-01-07T20:30:00.003-05:00

What a wonderful evening filled with such beautiful music! Connie and Larry did a tremendous job tonight with the sixth and seventh grade bands. Their hard work was evident. Many thanks to the Encore team, as well, as they managed nervous 6th and 7th graders waiting to perform, videotaped the performances, and were there for moral support. The students were incredible and they made it look easy. We even managed to place a few coats and sweatshirts back in their homes.

MEHMS is truly a special place.

Welcome Back!

2008-12-01T13:21:00.003-05:00

I had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday of doing a whole lot of nothing but reading and watching TV! With my tendonitis still flaring up, I walked this year's 5 mile Turkey Trot in Del Ray with one of my dogs and had about 90 minutes of reflecting time. I am so thankful to be a part of such an amazing school!
Our Huskies were rarin' to go this morning!! With only 3 weeks until winter break, everyone is working really hard. We're making the last 3 weeks of 2008 at MEHMS memorable! Keep on keepin' on, Huskies!

New Beginnings

2008-11-05T07:47:00.003-05:00

After this historic election, it is a fresh start for our country. Today marks the beginning of the second quarter for our students. Teachers and students were all excited this morning as they streamed into the building. Excited about last night's election and excited about the fresh, new quarter. Change can be hard, but change is necessary sometimes.

The Beginning of the Fifth Week of School!

2008-09-29T07:59:00.002-04:00

Wow...time has really flown! This morning is the start of our fifth week of school. October is only two days away and as I was driving to MEHMS this morning, I noticed that some of the leaves are starting to change colors.
I am in the middle of my marathon training and just ran 16 miles on Saturday morning. Those hours on the trails gave me a lot of time to reflect on the past four weeks. We've had some great moments so far here at MEH.
I recently read the book, "Relentless Pursuit" about first year teachers with Teach for America. It made me really remember the ups and downs of my first year of teaching. It feels like many, many moons ago. I have been in all of our first year teachers' rooms and have been blown away by the learning that is taking place there. Keep up the great work!

2008-09-10T15:33:00.005-04:00

Today in Ms. Blanchard's 6th Grade stretch and challenge class the focus was on locker organization.

To say that I was impressed with the organization of this particular sixth grader is an understatement.

Fantastic work, 6th grade! I enjoyed my time in your classrooms today.

A Wonderful and Exciting First Day!

2008-09-03T07:12:00.003-04:00

It was so wonderful to see all the Huskies bound into MEH at 7:30am yesterday morning! Their excitement was contagious and there was quite a buzz in the air. Every day every person in MEHMS is learning something new, including Ms. McCarty and I. Yesterday I learned:

*bus routes are very complicated things
*7th graders are pros at everything MEHMS
*6th graders are so excited about learning (and happy to not have to learn how to open lockers!)
*5th graders are like sponges right now and are just happy to be back in school
*recess is a beautiful thing
*Lunch PIN numbers are VERY hard to remember after a whole summer!

I can't wait for what is ahead for this year. Welcome back, Huskies!!!!

Some Fantastic News

2008-08-27T15:10:00.002-04:00

This is great news for education in the DC Metro area. A big round of applause to MEHMS for making AYP!!

The Dog Days of Summer.....

2008-07-30T09:21:00.000-04:00

Greetings! I am back in the office after a successful trip to Mexico. I also brought back a wonderful stomach virus as a souvenir. It was an interesting few weeks. We were able to build two houses in three days for two families. The family for the house that I lead was a woman named Leida and her daughter, Leidi. One of the girls brought markers for Leidi and she promptly used them to color everything including her face and clothes. It was amazing to me that she had never seen anything that produced color. I also brought a ton of old clothes for them and each morning Leida was wearing one of my old tshirts. All in all, despite the stomach issues, it was a wonderful trip. I can't wait to go back and do it again!

Summer school wraps up this week and it has been great to meet the teachers and students. I feel like I have been in school this month, as well. I have been doing LOTS and LOTS of reading to get ready for this school year. Ms. McCarty and I are very excited to hit the ground running.

I kicked off my training for the Philadelphia Marathon this fall with a really fun 5k in Crystal City last weekend. It was, however, very hot and humid and definitely not my best run. I did really have a blast, though, and it got me into racing mode. Now, I just have to get through the Saturday morning long runs in the brutal humidity of August.

My dogs, Hudson and Elway, have been thoroughly enjoying themselves this summer. They have been taking really long walks around south Arlington and have been swimming and running around. They really love being able to take long walks in the evenings when it cools down, but is still light outside. I have to admit, I love that, too. I hope that everyone is also enjoying the last few dog days of summer!

Hola y Adios!

2008-06-30T08:59:00.000-04:00

Hola from the Assistant Principal's office at MEHMS! Mr. Baxter and I have been working very hard over the past few days to transition me into this office and him to the principal's office at TJ. I know that I have big blog shoes to fill and hope that I can live up to the Deputy Head's precedent. I am very, very excited to be at MEHMS. I have already met many teachers, families, and all around important people during the past three days. I can't wait for the school year to start!

Tomorrow, I am off to lead my fifth trip in three years to the colonias of Tijuana, Mexico. I go there to lead groups of youth and adults in building small, sturdy homes for Mexican families that are living in makeshift shelters built with tarps and scraps. It is a humbling experience as these families are grateful for even the smallest gifts. Each time I bring down old clothes, kitchenware, and things I would otherwise get rid of.....and the look on the faces of the families makes you feel like you've just given them millions of dollars. It always makes me think of everything that I take forgranted. These families live without running water, electricity, and all the comforts we're used to, like indoor plumbing. This week we will be building two houses and two latrines in three days in the Rojo Gomez colonia. The children of this community go to school in a small shack without windows. The wind is constantly ripping the roof off and they have no books. The teachers work very hard, but without electricity and running water, I am sure that it is very difficult. This week, we are also going to visit the school and draw up plans to return in the fall to build a new school house. We are so very lucky in this country to have such amazing places like MEHMS to educate our children.

This is an exhausting trip, but so worth it. Whenever I go back to visit these families it's amazing how much their lives have changed just by providing them with a sturdy roof over their heads.

I will be back in time to meet all the faces of summer school next week and I look forward to sharing my adventures and pictures from this trip! At the top of this post is a picture (Ms. Lovette is in the first row, second from the left) of the house we built last summer for a woman named Elvira and her family. They had been living without an outhouse and in a shack made of old doors. When I went back to visit Elvira this winter, she was so excited to have windows for the first time in her life (windows!) that she had hand-sewn beautiful curtains for each one.

Adios, amigos!