Last night was my Parent Orientation, and I spent the day glancing at the clock lamenting and panicking as the hours ticked away! I had so much to do to get ready for the big night, and sadly didn’t quite finish. I adapted though and made the best of what I did have finished. We are off today (though I will need to go in for just a little while and finish up a few things) and then tomorrow is our very first day!

Chris had the big responsibility of taking Haylee to her Kindergarten orientation since I was otherwise occupied, AND he was thrilled about it! ;) Especially when he realized that he would have to handle the Wadester as well!

I think he managed to survive, although the handout from her teacher never made it back to me. He thinks it’s somewhere on campus, though. :) They hung out in a piano room for a while before crashing my room, so maybe I’ll look there before I get to go to her teacher and ask for another one. :)

I think I have a really good group of kids, and I am really excited about starting the year. I am hearing now from three separate sources that the word on the street is that I am the tough, ie “mean” teacher that some are scared to get! Apparently someone from my class last year is scaring all the new fifth graders with this UNTRUE! :) information about me, although I was never able to nail down who it was! I guess it is better to think your teacher is mean and be pleasantly surprised when she’s not, then the other way around. :)

I had planned to share a few of these funny antecdotes as part of my opening statements, but I forgot! Oh well. Maybe next year I’ll be witty and funny.

First Grade Wisdom
First graders were given the beginning of these clichés, and asked to provide their own endings. The results are often better than the original! Take a look…

If at first you don’t succeed…..go play.

Eat, drink, and…..go to the bathroom.

He who laughs last……didn’t understand the joke.

Better to be safe than……………..punch a 5th grader.

Strike while the ………………………..bug is close.

It’s always darkest before………..Daylight Savings Time.

Don’t bite the hand that………………….looks dirty.

A miss is as good as a………………………….. Mr.

You can’t teach an old dog new ………………….math.

If you lie down with dogs, you’ll…..stink in the morning.

Where there’s smoke there’s………………….pollution.

A penny saved is……………………………not much.

Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and…..you have to blow your nose.

None are so blind as……………………..Helen Keller.

Children should be seen and not….spanked or grounded.

When the blind leadeth the blind……get out of the way.

Never trust a dog to watch your food. – Patrick, 10

When your dad is mad and asks you, “Do I look stupid?” don’t answer him. – Michael, 14

Never tell your mom her diet’s not working. – Michael, 14

When your mom is mad at your dad, don’t let her brush your hair. – Taylia, 11

Never allow your 3 year old brother in the same room as your school assignment. – Traci, 14

Don’t sneeze in front of mom when you’re eating crackers. – Mitchell, 12

Puppies still have bad breath even after eating a tic tac.- Andrew, 9

Never hold a dust buster and a cat at the same time. – Kyoyo, 9

You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.- Armir, 9

Don’t wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts. – Kellie, 11

If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse. – Naomi, 15

Don’t pick on your sister when she’s holding a baseball bat. – Joel, 10

When you get a bad grade in school, show it to your mom when she’s on the phone. – Alyesha, 13