One parent wrote wondering about a Christmas party on Friday. Sorry to say there wasn't school on Friday and we spent the two days this week doing lots of things we don't ordinarily have time for during a regular week. I'm very proud of the writing your children did and the extra projects they took on.
I was very moved on Thursday when we said goodbye to Mr. Sary, who worked in my room last year with Max. His story is beyond words. He was a teacher in Cambodia when the Khmer Rouge took over and, in the next four years, killed 1/7th of the country's population in a period of insanity documented in the Killing Fields. Sary survived by luck and connections. At his retirement party, he shared lots of his story with his colleagues, who had only known him as a happy, gentle soul. I had the opportunity to read his oral history last year, and was awed by his spirit of survival and determination to build a new life for his family in the United States.
I was also overwhelmed Thursday by the winter music program. Thank you to all parents who helped support this program through last year's auction and Run for the Arts. The gal they have teaching kids is fantastic. Please consider how you can help the auction this year. Our class has a great item to sell. I also auction off "A Saturday With Mrs. Goodrich." Last year, we took a nature hike from my house to OHSU, then rode the tram to the south waterfront, rode on the streetcar to PSU, visited the farmer's market, and ended it all with grilled cheese (and spam) sandwiches and cookies at my house. They five boys who came along still are talking about it. If enough interest is shown, I might do a "Portland Art Museum" day for kids this year.
Adelle
Monday: Spanish
Tuesday: Art
Wednesday: PE
Thursday: Library
Friday: PE