100 Day Old Smarty

As if Valentine's Day wasn't enough excitement, we celebrated the 100th day of school this week. 

We made 100 Day hats and worked 100 piece jigsaw puzzles...

 

We watched a movie and read a book about the 100th Day of School...

We played "Roll the Die to 100"...

In art, we made pictures using the number 100.  I love how creative and different they are!

We survived the first 100 days of first grade!!!

Amor y Amistad

Today was a big day.  We moved into our new and improved classroom (just in time to celebrate Valentine's Day)!

Yesterday was a mad rush trying to get moved over after school.  Although the walls are still pretty bare, I did manage to get a few decorations up to surpise the kiddos.

No white board?  No problem!   Luckily our walls are tile.  Hopefully we'll get our real board soon.   In the meantime, the kids are having fun.

 

We had a fun day filled with projects...

Valentine card exchange...

And a heart-shaped, funfetti cake!

My favorite part of being in Honduras on Valentine's day is that they don't sell all of the commercial cards in the stores.  The kids hand-make their cards and they are so sweet and creative.

Feliz Dia del Amor y la Amistad!

Icing on the Cake

I failed to mention in my previous post that the school opening is just Phase 1 of the project.  Translation:  I didn't actually get to move over to the new building.  Preschool-3rd grade got left behind at the old school, but we did get the opportunity to spread out a little bit.  Things had gotten a little tight as the school enrollment continued to grow.  With 4 new students since Christmas, our room was rapidly shrinking.  I had to do some quick creative thinking to flip the tables (that were designed for 6 students) to accomodate 8!

Before:  Tight squeeze

We're moving into our new space Monday.  It's actually my classroom from last year. 

This picture was actually taken almost exactly a year ago.  We'll be celebrating the 100th day of school again next Friday.

Of course we took the opportunity to do a little re-decorating.

And it's official.  I'll be moving back to Baton Rouge at the end of June.  I know some of you never believed I'd be back.  I'm looking forward to starting the next adventure in my life.  If you know of any great jobs, send them my way!  Thank you for all of your support these past 3 years.  It surely will be hard to leave, but I know I have all of you behind me. 

From Operating Room to Classroom

As teachers, we live for Back to School.  One of my favorite pastimes is decorating my classroom.  I remember many summers spent searching the sale ads at Office Depot and Staples for penny deals.  And we would practically camp out the night before Mardel's Sale so we could get all of the good offers.  Those days are gone, but fortunately because of my dear, sweet family and friends, I am still able to turn my sad (what was once an operating room back in the day) concrete classroom into something cheerful and welcoming for my students.   

I am THRILLED to have tables this year.  The desks we've had in the past were too big and not functional for first grade.  Kids toppled over in their desks.  Kids knocked the desks over when they walked by.  Food went flying off the desks as the desks fell over during lunch.  I'm glad my BEGGING finally paid off.

I am even more excited about how the tables turned out.  I love the shape and how I can puzzle them together.  I could even make one giant group!  Also, what you can't see from the pictures is that the surface is dry erase.  We'll literally be able to write on the tables.  How fun!  Who knew that tables could add so much to the class?

Another small thing that will make a huge difference in first grade...a sink!!! 

 

I can't wait for these chairs to be full of squiming 6 year olds and the walls to be plastered with their work.  Stay tuned for pictures of this year.

And many of you have been asking how you can send us things.  Here's the address:

Julie Pace

Minerva School

Bo. Rosario, Edif. Fundena

Gracias, Lempira

Honduras

Yes, I know the address looks funny with no street numbers or zip codes, but things do get here.  If you send something, please just let me know.  Mail does not get delivered directly.  I have to go pick it up from the post office.  Thanks again for all of your support.