food pantry and photo op Jesus...

Each class at St. Chris commits to a service project for the entire school year.  The 1st grade project is helping to stock the wonderful food pantry at the church that is run by a very dedicated "army" of parishoners.  Every year the first trip over with our collected donations is very fun for the kids because we get to visit Fr. Mike's guilty pleasure room...

We have deposited our goodies so on to the fun...

I remember when Fr. had the WHOLE room but it is now being taken over by the food pantry...which is a good thing.  What are they so curious about?

Yep...Fr. Mike is a train "nut".  

I can speak with certainty that our parish pastor has just become a whole lot " COOLER" in the eyes of these kiddos!

The "no touching" thing was such a challenge but they did good!

This was my contribution some years ago and it's good to see the old gal is still there although I noticed the miniature Mr. Potato Head is gone...guess Fr. Mike could only tolerate so much.

...and the trip is NEVER complete until we have answered this invitation.

And there we are sitting at the table with Jesus at the Last Supper (or photo op Jesus as some wisecracker teachers have named him).

I thought this was so neat...as we were leaving a few had to give Jesus those last minute pats and that makes me proud.

Joe's hat...part 2

Hopefully you've all read Joe's hat...part 1 or you will have NO idea what's going on here!  Here's the rest of the pics of all the little darlings who stayed on "green" this day with a surprise ending!

Tawawa definitely had a case of the giggles over this whole thing!

Noah was in fireman heaven...he loves anything connected with big engines. 

I'm thinking that Jackson is thinking..."I stayed on green for this?"

Knowing Nia, I'm sure she is wondering where she could put some hair bling on this hat!

Kloie is looking a little afraid...actually...very afraid.

I think Alli is a little nervous that she might get an out of uniform violation slip for this...she is my rule follower!

...and just to prove that one size does not fit all...Ben is wondering how you could possible put out a fire when you can't even see the darn fire.

...and the surprise ending!  I don't usually put myself in the blog but really...who puts out more fires in a day than the first grade teacher...man this thing is raggedy.

Thanks Fireman Joe for a fun day and really...you were long overdue a new hat.  Thanks for all you do for the Indianapolis (and surrounding areas) community...you are a hero!

Joe's hat...part 1

I have a card system for behavior...Green means an excellent day...yellow is a warning...blue is kind of like purgatory and pink...well, let's not even go there!

So my trust sidekick, Maria, got an idea for an incentive and it was an interesting one.  Her husband Joe (a firefighter) got a new hat...the reason being his old one was beat up, charred, dented and pretty smelly between smoke and sweat...pretty much all around disgusting.  However...VERY appealing to a 6 or 7 year old.  All they had to do was stay on green for the day (easier said than done).  Well...that old fire hat was a whopping success...whatever!

Elijah...green is a snap for him anyway!

Andrew...thought the cross was a good addition.

Abby...looking a little impish!

Ethan...oh man, student of the day AND a fireman's hat...does not get any better than that.

Gage...has a real fascination with all things fireman-ish!

Anna...can you tell old toothless here is a first grader?  Loved the hat!

Kate...not all too sure about the whole thing...just happy to be on green...as usual.

...and Ava...it's her Dad's fire hat so how proud is she?

Stay tuned for Joe's hat...part 2.  I even donned the smelly old thing.

truer words...

Auction Time!

Every year, once fall rolls around, it's time to pick a class project for the St. Christopher Auction.  This year Mrs. Evans and I took to the streets...so to speak...and interviewed all the first graders about what they have learned so far in First Grade...very interesting!  Many of the kids came up with some of the same responses and some came up with things that still have us scratching our heads.  Daughter Molly has two wonderful friends, Brad Ellenwood (graphic designer) and Danielle Klotz (Pink Poppy Inc) who were kinda "recruited" and here is what they came up with.

A 16x24 one of a kind canvas wall hanging with a compilation of all that the first graders had to contribute to the subject.

Then...because my daughter is kind of a genius...Molly suggested we make this canvas into notecards so that everyone could own a piece of these pearls of wisdom.

The wall hanging will be auctioned off at the actual auction but the cards will be available on-line a few days before the auction at a buy-now option.

They will be sold in sets of 10 and who wouldn't love to get a note on one of these beautiful folded, quality paper cards with a brown paper lunch bag styled envelope.

Hopefully EVERYONE will want a set of these cards (maybe we will even have to do a second printing) so look them up auction night if you don't take advantage of the buy-now shopping...or see me!

getting their start...

Every famous person got their start somewhere...even Edward R. Murrow was a little "Eddie" at some point in his life.

At St. Christopher's we believe that every first grader is as important and as capable as every sixth grader so when the kids started doing afternoon announcements a few years ago, I had no doubt in my mind that we could do it too.  It may take a little more parent involvement and waaay more practice time but we rock the airwaves when it is our turn...as a matter of opinion sometimes we are better than the older kids because we practice, practice, practice and really...that's what it is all about in any endeavor.  Earlier in the week I featured Anna taking to the airwaves and here are the rest of the mighty broadcasters!

Here is Tawawa getting her instructions...she even gets to push buttons!

Very relaxed!

...and there are lots of buttons but Ray is listening intently!

Absolutely flawless.

Case getting his instructions...I had the feeling he would have liked to have pushed ALL the buttons!

What was really cool about this moment was the fact that his Dad was standing below the intercom in my room with his cell phone on so Case's mom could hear.  Actually, it was on the intercom at her work so he REALLY was broadcasting "locally".

This was Case's script so you get an ides of all they have to say...a big challenge when you are missing most of your front teeth!

Mrs. Guenin took over the duties this day and frankly I know that Jackson was not wondering if he was up to the task but instead, was he tall enough for the task!

...and once again my kiddos did not fail.

Jackson had the largest task of all this week...he had to wish Zach Bechinski happy birthday...a mouthful for any first grader!  I L.O.V.E.D. Jackson's prayer...he prayed for nice people.

They were all so awesome and while nerves and excitement were at a frenzy each day, below is a picture that was typical upon leaving the office knowing that their job had been well done and they were about to go back to Room 7 to a huge round of applause from their fellow classmates.

More broadcasters in December!

the cabooses...and katie couric jr.

Here are the tail end (hence the "cabooses") of my darlings!

I think Noah captured his nose quite nicely???    It's too bad he has such a receding hairline in his pic cuz I truly love the bangs he sports in real life.

Gage is new to St. Chris this year and is learning "the St. Chris way" of doing things...a happy kid!

Hope Ben never needs braces because with all those teeth it will take a team of orthodontists!

I love Sweet Kate's picture...it looks like it knows something I don't...

Kloie is new to St. Chris too but I have known her family forever and even taught her cousin Nate.  Kloie...don't tell Nate but you are waaaay easier.

Today was a big day for us first graders because it was the day we got to start making the afternoon announcements to the WHOLE school!

Katie Couric...I mean Anna...was the first one up this week and she was a mixture of excitement and nervousness but doesn't she look like a pro in this picture.  She got lots of compliments from students and teachers alike as we headed back to the classroom.

She was so professional and competent I just put her in charge of Mr. Schurger's office since he was off in another part of the building...THIS REALLY MADE HER NERVOUS...but we didn't get caught!

...and because I had my camera out I just wanted to show you a little of what I have to put up with during the day!