handwritten on June 11, 2021
When you have
your own children you watch them
blossom
the delicate transformation
you pour your love into their soul so they
spread sunshine upon their wings
and have the strength to help others
find their flight too
and then sometimes
you're 21 and in college
and you meet this tiny little fourth grader
and realize many years later that you were blessed
to see her entire transformation
but at that moment is just learning to find her way
moving from elementary school to
middle school birthday painting parties
piano recitals and hot pot celebrations
Fourth of July boat rides and then all of a sudden
that little girl is not so little anymore
You watch as she spreads her wings and flies...
handwritten on May 30, 2021
Sometimes we are hit the stomach with the very notion that
the skies we thought were shining a brighter blue in the city you were born in
a city you have lived all your life
the skies are still full of cloudiness
spilling with racism, discrimination and blatant disrespect for humanity
What was a very beautiful celebration with my family this Sunday
began with the sour and continued realization that the skies are STILL painted
a brighter color for individuals like me (white)
As we waited in line to get to the ballpark to see the game
every individual got through the line except my mother-in-law
who is the cutest, spunkiest 4 foot 11 Chinese woman
who was carrying a purse pretty much the...
handwritten on May 30, 2021
To the Families of 3A:
It has been one extraordinary year to say the least. Every scholar did such a fantastic job with the countless changes at the beginning of the year. From finding papers, to keeping up with their school work, to carrying incredibly heavy backpacks, they truly deserve an award (you all do) for flexibility. I think because of the circumstances, we celebrated every day in our classroom with great zest. I have never had more fun on Saint Patrick’s Day (we have a glitter-loving class), nor have I been able to create and fit in as many creative writing projects, research reports, topics of choice and socially distanced activities in a single year.
My goal for each and...
handwritten on May 29, 2021
You know...
Something beautiful about being a teacher we don't think about is the fact that we are so aware of the opening and the closing of a year. And I have to say every year when the closing comes I feel more nostalgic than the previous year. There has never been a single year of my teaching year I have not shed tears or becoime emotional at the close. Tears of happiness when you see the fifth graders pass on to their new phase of life, tears of happiness when you see just how much a single child has grown in a year and tears when you realize that despite the fact you will receive a beautiful new class next year..you will never have a class composed at that moment of those exact kiddos...
handwritten on May 22, 2021
May 21st The Fox Chapel Area School District Celebrated World Day for Cultural Diversity and Dialogue. Middle School students at DMS led the fundraiser and sold hundreds of t-shirts. Together, we peacefully wore our t-shirts as a reminder that we have much work that still needs to be done in the name of equity, kindness, diversity and inclusion. One Day we hope these principles are embedded in every public school across Pennsylvania. One Day...
