Thanksgiving break approaching fast

Wow!  Where in the world did the last couple weeks go?  I cannot believe that Thanksgiving week is next week already...I just don't get it.  I was thinking about this blog today at school and wondered how long it had been since I posted and then when I saw that it was almost two weeks ago, I couldn't believe it.

Alright alright, enough about my realization that time flies here in St. Michael's....The last couple weeks at school have been two of the best weeks I have had yet.  It has been crazy but so good too.  I have felt truly happy on many days the past couple weeks with what I am doing here and now!  And man does that feel good.  This place certainly has changed me and I can tell will continue to change me every single day.

This week, my 6th graders had the task of teaching kindergartners how to do something such as tie a tie, tie their shoe, make a paper airplane, etc.  It was one of the best moments of the year on Wednesday when I saw them teaching the kindergartners...yes they still drive me crazy on some days, but when I see them take on my role as the teacher for younger kids - they turn into new students - more....(oh I don't know what the word is...) RESPONSIBLE! haha.  Also, this week in science for all three grades, we have jumped into our "Appliance autopsies" in which the students take apart some sort of old electronic such as a remote control car, old heater, old radio, etc. in order to find out how it broke and what might be wrong with the motor or wires.  And man oh man was it a blast today.  I don't think the smile came off my face all day as the students continually were yelling out my name "Mr. D! Mr. D!  Look at this!  We found the motor!  Oh look at this, we found the on/off switch!"  What a great experience as a teacher when you realize that your students actually HAVE been listening the past several weeks.

Anyways, I could go on and on but I really just wanted to give a quick update.  This weekend I am leaving for Phoenix with the fifth grade teacher, Ann to visit a couple different people.  First, my friend Caitlin from high school for a couple nights and then on to my aunt and uncle's house for a night before jumping in the car with Ann and her parents on Tuesday - when we will stop in Sedona on the way back for a night.  It will certainly be a good weekend for reflection...which is what I need...

Continue to send your prayers please as I discern what I'm doing with my life.  And please know that I am truly grateful for all of you in my life whoever you are reading this.  I will hopefully check back in with some photos and things this weekend some time - perhaps tomorrow.

Oh and by the way, it snowed about three inches last weekend here...so don't be asking me how I'm liking the warm weather...pretty sure its colder here than wherever you are reading this.  Love you all.

Yeah thats my neighborhood!

CRAZY HALLOWEEN WEEK

Well, this will be a short post but just thought I'd give a quick update:  This past week went by crazy fast - and probably because it WAS crazy....The combination of Halloween, All Saint's Day liturgy, and a FULL MOON created quite the atmosphere in the room.  Needless to say, however, it was still a fun week that included lots of "fun" time for the kids which they surely enjoyed.

Last weekend was great fun as well - we had a little get together at our house last Friday and there were some great costumes including Three Blind Mice and Wonderwoman from our household.  Then, on halloween the next picture is of the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade teachers in our costumes....if you can't tell I am a gray crayon with a black tip?  Couldn't find any gray paper alright...no judging.  The fifth graders thought it was pretty fun to call me Mr. DeMaGRAY for the day though which was enjoyable.

Next week, will be starting a few more neat projects with the kids including dissecting of simple machines such as old radios, cd players, electronic toys...the kids will love that.  I will also be having the 6th graders plan a lesson for the kindergartners - we are reading Sign of the Beaver where a young settler boy teaches a Penobscot Native American boy how to read...so I wanted to give the 6th graders a little taste of what it's like to be a teacher...it should be great!

Anyways, last night, Jamie (another mercy volunteer who teachers at the high school) had put together a talent show at the high school to raise money for the drama club that she is the head of.  They needed some acts so I played Waterfall by Jon Schmidt (Little shout out to little bro John...I thought about playing "All of Me" but simply would not have been up to your standards John...haha)  It was a great event that I believe raised a couple hundred bucks for the drama club so we were all pumped for Jamie.

Now, we are off to our fall retreat at the Desert House of Prayer here in St. Michael's.   Sister Jeanne O'Rourke (wonderful Sister of Mercy from Omaha Nebraska) is here visiting for it too so it should be great!   Alright, peace!!!

Meant to post this morning....but didnt have time to add the pictures so now I am posting it...the retreat was great!!! And we stopped at the pow wow in honor of Sister Marguerite at the high school gym afterward where a few of my students were actually dancing...check it out...