It's been awhile since the last post. Four months actually. Now, at the end of June, several weeks after the students left for summer, and a week after the office officially closed for the summer, I have had some time to take care of paperwork and to reflect on the year.
To say that I experienced a lot of learning is almost an understatement. There were lots of new people, new activities, new curricula, and other new things to learn. What made it not only doable but enjoyable was the tremendous support from staff and parents that I received this year.
Thank you all for your encouragement, help and welcome to El Carmelo. Year One is over and we are speeding on to 2009-2010. I am excited about where we are headed. More to come...
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Responsibility
Yesterday we had our monthly assembly. Our dress up activity was "look-alike" (Mr. Walton and I looked very sporty in our jeans and white dress shirts) and our community theme was "Responsibility". Most of our students know that "be responsible" is one of our three basic school rules, along with "be safe" and "be respectful". We made up a little responsibility 'ceremony' using an object made out of overlaid sticks. The object, a diamond shape, is held together with tension from the pressure of the overlap (okay, okay, the kinder and 1st grade objects MAY have had a little super-glue help).
Anyway, the object of the ceremony was to show 'responsibility' for the care of the object by safely passing one through the hands of each student by grade level. One by one. Carefully. The kinder and first grades proudly finished first and second respectively. Fortunately I had made back-up objects for when the objects fell apart, but several teams just continued passing the pieces along, carefully handing them on down the line (I liked this a lot - in May we are talking about "perseverance").
Just wanted you to know, in case you hear about the 'special artifact' from 'a faraway forest'. And thank you for all that you do in collaboration with us to teach your children to be responsible, both as individuals and as a group.
Anyway, the object of the ceremony was to show 'responsibility' for the care of the object by safely passing one through the hands of each student by grade level. One by one. Carefully. The kinder and first grades proudly finished first and second respectively. Fortunately I had made back-up objects for when the objects fell apart, but several teams just continued passing the pieces along, carefully handing them on down the line (I liked this a lot - in May we are talking about "perseverance").
Just wanted you to know, in case you hear about the 'special artifact' from 'a faraway forest'. And thank you for all that you do in collaboration with us to teach your children to be responsible, both as individuals and as a group.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Lego Night
Last Thursday a group of Legomaniacs took over the MP room. We played Lego Bingo, Lego car racing, Lego counting, Lego tossing, and of course Lego building. The Lego masterpieces were exhibited in the Lego Museum (the MP stage) of which I had the honor of serving as curator. Students received certificates for their creative efforts.
Also, a phenomenal apple pie (baked by our own Alan Leong) made the rounds at Lego Night, enticing hungry Legomaniacs to make their PIE donations at the event so that they could participate in a PIE pie drawing (I can tell you that the lucky winner was VERY happy). This was so successful that we are coninuing PIE pie drawings through the rest of this week. If you haven't done so so far, you can still make a PIE donation and have your name put into a drawing for a delicious pie. Benefitting PIE.
Pie for now,
Chuck Merritt
Also, a phenomenal apple pie (baked by our own Alan Leong) made the rounds at Lego Night, enticing hungry Legomaniacs to make their PIE donations at the event so that they could participate in a PIE pie drawing (I can tell you that the lucky winner was VERY happy). This was so successful that we are coninuing PIE pie drawings through the rest of this week. If you haven't done so so far, you can still make a PIE donation and have your name put into a drawing for a delicious pie. Benefitting PIE.
Pie for now,
Chuck Merritt
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Inauguration in the classroom
It occurred to me this morning that it is a very good thing that the inauguration is also a school day. I had the privilege of seeing the events of this morning in classrooms across the grade levels.
I saw the motorcade and large shots of the immense crowd on the mall in a fifth grade classroom. I joined a kinder classroom for the procession of dignitaries onto the platform. I heard the new vice-president and president take their oaths in a 4th grade classroom. I listened to President Obama's address with 3rd graders. Elizabeth Alexander read her poem for the inauguration while I was in a 2nd grade classroom. And I finished watching the proceedings with a 1st grade class.
I am so glad that El Carmelo students had this opportunity. In one classroom, the teacher had written on the whiteboard some key phrases from the President's address: "imagination joined in common purpose"; "we are the keepers of our country's legacy"; "find meaning in something greater than ourselves". Our students have something that they can take away from this morning that is very special. Kudos to our teaching staff for seizing the opportunity.
I saw the motorcade and large shots of the immense crowd on the mall in a fifth grade classroom. I joined a kinder classroom for the procession of dignitaries onto the platform. I heard the new vice-president and president take their oaths in a 4th grade classroom. I listened to President Obama's address with 3rd graders. Elizabeth Alexander read her poem for the inauguration while I was in a 2nd grade classroom. And I finished watching the proceedings with a 1st grade class.
I am so glad that El Carmelo students had this opportunity. In one classroom, the teacher had written on the whiteboard some key phrases from the President's address: "imagination joined in common purpose"; "we are the keepers of our country's legacy"; "find meaning in something greater than ourselves". Our students have something that they can take away from this morning that is very special. Kudos to our teaching staff for seizing the opportunity.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Happy New Year!
I'm sitting in my office, looking out at a quiet campus, knowing that all of the members of the El Carmelo community are doing something different (hopefully all fun) at this moment. I'm also thinking of what we have to look forward to in 2009, again so many different expectations and future experiences, from kinder to fifth grade, but all focused on the growth of our kids.
My very best wishes to you at the end of this year and into the next. See you in 2009!
Chuck Merritt
My very best wishes to you at the end of this year and into the next. See you in 2009!
Chuck Merritt
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Snowball the Guinea Pig
I want to acknowledge an little-known, but helpful contribution to El Carmelo School. I learned this morning that Adobe Animal Hospital on First Street in Los Altos regularly donates medical procedures for classroom pets. Our own seven-year old guinea pig, Snowball, who lives in Mrs. McCoy's room 6, recently had surgery. Adobe took care of the surgery (outpatient, in this case) for free as part of their commitment to hands-on science education in schools. A big thank you to the staff and management of Adobe Animal Hospital!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Congratulations all you leprechauns!
I had a great time at last Friday's performance of "Blather, Blarney and Balderdash". The story of a lovesick shepherd and the leprechauns that come to help him win the hand of his beloved was delightful and wonderfully performed by a large and strong cast of El Carmelo 4th and 5th graders.
So many things to praise! The cast's delivery of their lines had me laughing out loud (hope I didn't disturb anyone). The set looked great and did everything it needed to do (I really liked the hole in the hedge and how it was used). Great costumes (I'm sure that represented many hours of parent work alone). The student actors not only sounded great and looked great, they knew where to be and at what time to enter and exit which was no small feat with an involved story and lots of parts.
Producers Rebecca Davis and Anna Maria Dias along with Director Jonathan Shue should be very proud of their work and the work of the many students and parents responsible for the success of the school play. It was a very good time and I for one am grateful that all of these folk made this effort. It really paid off for the audience and, I hope, for everyone involved. Well done!
So many things to praise! The cast's delivery of their lines had me laughing out loud (hope I didn't disturb anyone). The set looked great and did everything it needed to do (I really liked the hole in the hedge and how it was used). Great costumes (I'm sure that represented many hours of parent work alone). The student actors not only sounded great and looked great, they knew where to be and at what time to enter and exit which was no small feat with an involved story and lots of parts.
Producers Rebecca Davis and Anna Maria Dias along with Director Jonathan Shue should be very proud of their work and the work of the many students and parents responsible for the success of the school play. It was a very good time and I for one am grateful that all of these folk made this effort. It really paid off for the audience and, I hope, for everyone involved. Well done!
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