Hello world-wide-web,
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for blessing me to move to such an amazing school. Specials prayers, Lord, for all those suffering at this moment, for those who are ill, and for those who have no one to pray for them, as well as for the agnostics and atheists. Bless me, Lord, with the help of the HS, to guide people to a new way of seeing You through my words and actions. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
The first nine weeks are coming to a close. The students have a half-day, as teachers get ready for parent-teacher conferences the following day. I learned that whenever we have a half day, we have an awards assembly, which is usually at the end of the nine weeks. This isn't unusual, many schools in the state of Texas probably have this ceremony. But I had no idea what I was in for when I walked my third grade students, along with the rest of third grade, and joined the fourth and fifth graders in the cafeteria.
First of all, this is the first time I've had a principal print out the A honor roll and A/B honor roll students from our grade books (the teachers normally do this, as well as fill in the certificates) AND have them printed out on nice certificate paper. Thanks principals!
Second of all, when we walked into the cafeteria, the lights are low and there's a disco ball shining on the stage - something new, I was told, for this year's ceremony - and fun dance music is blaring. The mood in the cafeteria is euphoric and the anticipation is palpable. I sit my students down and we watch the other grades pour in around us, filling up the entire cafeteria. Impressive. The students are talking, but the music is way louder than their chatter.
Our principal is on the stage, and she addresses us on the loud speaker and introduces the students who are in student council, who stand to be recognized. We clap for them enthusiastically.
Then our principal addresses us again, "Thanks for being here, students, staff, and parents as we celebrate the accomplishments of our students..." She goes on to emphasize the importance of attendance. Oh yeah, she also printed out the perfect attendance awards for us! :) Then she calls out the names of the perfect attendance winners for the third graders, for which the students stand to be recognized, and we aren't allowed to cheer for them until all the third grade students' names have been called.The students are really excited. Then the asst principal calls out the names of the fourth graders perfect attendance, and then the principal calls out the names of the fifth graders perfect attendance. They switch off and on like that for each award.
It's time to honor the A/B honor roll students in each grade. The applause is even louder for this achievement.
A very special accolade goes to the students who are on all A Honor roll: they go up to the stage as the principal calls their names, and the asst principal puts a medallion around their neck. One of the students sitting close to me has made all A honor roll and I asked to see the medal: it is heavy with an emblem of books, science equipment and numbers. The strap is red and white. I show my students and encourage them to receive one in the next nine weeks. I had A/B honor roll students, but not any all A; not yet anyway. ;)
Thirdly, and here's where the assembly is at a fever pitch: it's time for the cheer award. The grade level with the loudest and best cheer receives the Spirit Stick - a nicely made stick with a 'pillow' at the top that has our mascot embroidered on it - for that nine weeks. It is a great honor to receive the spirit stick and the students are highly competitive.
Third grade starts off with it's cheer - "I'm bringing sexy back," by Justin Timberlake is the background music for our cheer (music only, the lyrics have been removed). It's fun and the students are enjoying themselves. They face the other grade levels as they cheer.
Then it's fourth grades turn. They are stomping and cheering with powerful force. It was as if the third graders gave a collective gasp after their cheer.
Then it was fifth grades turn: their student council members went on the stage and called things out to the fifth grade class and the fifth grade class answered - LOUDLY. They too stomped. And they clapped. "We will, we will, rock you!" Stomp, stomp. Clap. Clap.
The judges deliberated for only a few minutes and then gave the verdict: fifth grade won. A huge uproar was heard. We all clapped for them.
I just marvelled at the interaction of the grade levels. Every student in the different grades seemed aware of where they were in the order of things: third grade realizing they were the 'babies' (not in a bad way either), fourth graders the 'middle' child, and then fifth graders, the oldest. I felt like the students knew where their places were, and were proud to be there. I think overall this awards assembly was a commanding experience.
We intend to get that stick the next go around! We will and I'll tell you how when we do! :)
Blessings!
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
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