Releasing our Monarch Butterfly

Thank you Mrs. McAskill for taking pictures for our class' release of our beautiful monarch butterfly.  We watched him eat milkweed leaves as a caterpillar, spin his chrysalis, and emerge as a butterfly.  We've been praying for him every day - that he arrives safely in Mexico for the winter.  That's a LONG migration for such a small creature!

Introducing a New School Year . . . Has it been 10 years???

The 2013-2014 school year is off and running!  Each and every morning (so far this year, perfect attendance) 18 bright and bushy tailed students greet me, ready to learn and have fun!

Thursday, September 5th, we had our first day of Learn-to-Serve.  This is a unique program to Shalom Christian Academy where an upper grade class will come to a lower elementary classroom and partner up for an amazing learning experience.  These high school students act as mentors, study partners, friends and encouragers to my sweet 2nd graders.  This year is a special year because 10 years ago these Learn-to-Serve juniors were MY first class of 1st graders in 2003-2004, or MY 2nd year of 2nd graders in 2004-2005.  Where has the time gone?  I now have to tilt my head UP to look at ALL of them.  

Our first task with Learn-to-Serve?  Race for Education mailers!!!  We completed over 200 mailers in 40 minutes. . . that's a lot of writing and sticking.  Juniors also read books with their 2nd grade partners and the two partners spent some time interviewing one another, just to break the ice. 

We already look forward to next Thursday at 10:27.  
Here are some pictures of our time.