2010 ended with a bang!

Hi Everyone!
Not sure if anyone follows the blog anymore but briefly wanted to update.
I completed student teaching December 17th and am currently looking for a job, which is turning out to be challenge. More importantly, I proposed to my girlfriend on December 21st and she said yes. We have set a date, this summer on June 17th, so we are busy with wedding plans. 2010 ended great, 2011 is going to be even better! Hope everyone is doing well!
Jesse

Missing Everyone

Hello...Hope everyone is doing well! I decided I'd check the blog to see if anyone has posted anything lately. I guess not. I'm thinking it's about time to get together for a little reminiscing. We need to catch up and find out how your summer vacation was.

I wish you all a great school year and many happy days to come.

Take care,

Debbie

Old School Frozen in Time

I was working with my son and stumbled across a GoogleMaps Street View of our former school. I recognize some cars in the lot. Does anyone else?

Lori had her baby!

Just wanted everyone to know that Lori and James had their baby last night at 9:33 pm.

Beautiful Maya Noelle. She weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces and was 18 inches long.

Mom and baby are healthy and doing well.

Hopefully Lori will post some pictures for us soon!

Baby Breuklen

SHE'S HERE!!!!

Breuklen arrived a day early on February 23! She was born at 9:31AM weighing 7 lbs 5 oz and 18 1/2 in.!!

She is going home on Friday! So far she is really easy going! She loves to sleep and has decided that the best and only place to sleep is in someones arms!

Can't wait for everyone to meet her!!!

USED THE WIKI!

HEY HEY! I continue to be amazed with our old staff! I used the wiki today! I am not sure if that is a commonly used item with the rest of you all... but I was so excited that I could go on and get the information I needed. My colleagues are very impressed with my skills of providing so many great ideas that I learned from all of you! Thank you for making my first year of teaching the BEST experience I could have ever gotten from a first year. This is all very eloquent and on topic... but thank you, thank you, thank you!

V-Day!

On this snowy day, you might be cold outside from the weather but gathered around the ones you LOVE, you will never grow cold.
Take time to tell and show those around you how much you love them.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

You will get a kick out of this!

When I was hired at Centennial I didn't know this was included in the job description. Oh well...guess I have to add school mascot to my resume. And although you can't see under the head, I'm smiling for the picture.

Save the date

Monday at 4:30PM Bar Louie's-Sara Duncan will be in town.

Get Together

Save the date Monday January 25th after school Sara Duncan in town....let's get together--

Another get-together?

I just thought I would put this out there...

I think we should have another get-together soon.
The last time it was so good to see everyone.

Does anyone want to throw out a date and see if
we all agree?

I hope everyone had a good holiday and restful vacation.

Paige

Video

I was on James Hersch's website the other checking out his 52 song project and I found this video...

http://www.reachwithme.com/classroom.html

It brought back some good memories! We should start thinking about another FARTS reunion.

Happy New Year to you all. I hope 2010 brings the best!

Write your story!

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

How will your first chapter read?
Happy New Year to one and all! Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010!

Holiday Cheers!

Hey! Hope everybody is enjoying the holidays and relaxing! I've been sick with a terrible sinus infection and bronchitis. I'm taking antibiotics and they seem to be doing the trick; I am much better than I was doing a week ago.

I got my very own laptop for Christmas! I'm finally getting to use it since Abe's been working on loading programs and getting it all set up for me. It's a Toshiba--really cute and small. I am going to love this...sitting on the sofa, watching the t.v., and playing on my laptop.

Well, I just wanted to wish you all Merry Christmas, good health and loads of happiness in the New Year!!

New Little Beasley

Jeremiah and Andrea welcomed Kinsey into their lives a few days ago. All are doing well. Jeremiah is on FaceBook for those of you who would like to see the videos...she is adorable!

Hello from a good friend....

I saw Janet Walworth this evening at a meeting we were at and we talked a bit, she was wondering who I see and keep in touch with. She says hi to all, sends her best. Martin's birthday, late October, of course, was difficult. I continue to be in awe of Janet and her loving heart, strength, and her beaming smile! On my drive home tonight I found myself in deep reflective thoughts, and giving thanks for the people that God has put in my life. I have no eloquent poetry, but am indeed blessed by our Ames family.

Sound Success

Has anyone else found some success with using popular songs as a timer for "mundane" activities in the classroom?

I tried using the song "Fireflies" by Owl Moon (with lyrics, without lyrics) as an auditory timer for students who were cutting out their word sorts and it worked like a charm. There seemed to be less chatter, more quiet focus. The task was also completed faster compared to when I just put my online timer up on the screen during the previous week.

One final benefit: There is something eerily peaceful about listening to a class of fifth graders whispering along with a song like this.

I'd love your suggestions if anyone has any...

Bar Louie's

F.A.R.T.S. - What a fun evening at Bar Louie's! Once again, it was nice to catch up with everyone. It just keeps getting better and better. I missed Deb S., Jesse, and Ellen among others that didn't make it.

I wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING and can't wait to see you all again!

Ames Website

Can any of you remind me how to access the Ames website?

I think we can still access it but I could be wrong...thanks!

Intermediate Playground Duty

On the way in to work this morning, I remembered with a twinge of sadness how much fun it was to have duty on the Ames intermediate playground on mornings like this.

I always enjoyed the challenge of ensuring that the boys did not slide themselves into a broken collar bone or stitches from a fall near the drainage grate on the basketball court.

Even to this day I can vividly recall bringing in the students on the intermediate playground after personally observing a close call!