School's Out...

and A-9 went out with a bang!

We had a last day feast that was the best!

Somen salad (my favorite), teri chicken/rice

hot dogs, chips, spam musubi, deconstructed musubi (another favorite) and

lumpia that was so good.

We were celebrating 2 birthdays with dessert 

and some very yummy cake pops.

we watched "Charlotte's Web" (the live action one) and I was 

laughing that they even remembered the dialogue.

this was a great group of kids that will be terrific 3rd graders!

Winding Down...

Another school year is coming to a close and things 

are winding down.

Today is the 6th grade graduation ceremony (yes WES goes to 6th grade not 5th).

testing is done and grades are being recorded,

final awards are being given out...

another 5 days and it will be summer vacation.

The weather has been hot, muggy, and no trade winds...

kids are ready for a break...

and so am I.

Appreciation...

it's been teacher, staff, volunteer appreciation time 

at Waialua Elementary.

One day one of the little girls brought us in this really

cute rice crispy treat that was shaped like an apple.

One of the local cookie stores was doing these...so cute!

One morning Arlette came in with a big box and had me close my eyes...

a beautiful new purse.  So nice and I just love it and the beautiful card she wrote.

The Waialua Ohana group (the PTA group) put on an appreciation luncheon on the short day.

A group of students put on a little hula performance for us. 

lots of home-made yumminess and grilled hamburgers and hot dogs.

layered jello is such a Hawaii thing and one of my favorites.

there are lots of times when I really think I'm so appreciative of Waialua Elementary and not

only what they give to the kids, community but to me.

Hot Tickets...

after this local boy did good at the Super Bowl…

these tickets are a hot item.

crazy, funny story

I'm still amazed!

A Day In A9 Can Feel Like This Sometimes...

any teacher will appreciate this.

Especially if you just happen to be teaching subtraction.

Just had one of these exact days…

I think it's getting close to Christmas break and 

little minds are thinking about something else.

Thankful...

last week we were very busy in A-9 getting ready for Thanksgiving.

I found a cute little pumpkin idea on Pinterest and they came out so cute.

On each strip the kids wrote something that they were thankful for.

Arlette decided that she'd like to make the letter that the kids wrote to 

their parents into a card…

so we did the turkey handprint on the cover.

now onto Christmas!

Back to School...

Monday was the first day of school...

seems early, but when you get out mid-May, it's not too bad.

I went in a week early to help Arlette, so we were ready.  The room looked really good, 

we'd done a lot of purging at the end of last year and finished it. 

Everything was clean and shinning

until...

the first day and all the supplies show up.

Happy to say, as of now everything is pretty much put away!

Class/kids are really good.  

They seem very excited to be in 2nd grade...hope it continues!

Waialua Walking Field Trip...

the Second Graders are doing an economics unit so

they got to take a walking field trip to a local business, The Woolley Brothers Screenprinting.

This was the best field trip!

The guys were so great with the kids.  They explained how screens are made,

and the whole process.

The best part was that EVERY student got to print their own shirt.

These are the shirts that they purchased to wear to May Day next week.

The design on the shirt was actually done by one of the kids in A-10.

after they screened their shirt they watched it come through the ink dryer

and their was their own shirt!

The Woolley Brothers are Waialua Elementary alumni

and are the ones that print the school shirts the kids wear every day.

Their mom was the founding owner of "The Growing Keiki" in Haleiwa

and sweet wife, April is still the manager.  

A true local company.

a short walk back and forth to school.

mahalo Woolley Brothers for a great field trip!

Storytelling Contest...

it's that time of year again, Storytelling Contest at Waialua Elementary.

I love this.

Students practice in their classes, two are chosen from each class to present

in front of the school.

A 9's own Maika and Tiare...

some of the girls were so excited...

Maika presenting his "Alligator and the Dentist"

Tiare and her babysitter poem

All of the contestants... they all did so well

the exact moment Maika realized he was the GOLD MEDAL winner

Mahalo Kawanis Club for putting on the Story Telling contest and judging

Mrs. Millwood and the kiddos

a very proud mama

 Maika and Mrs. Lloyd

Good Job everyone!