2 Resourceful Room Parents

Room parents are on a mission to help the teacher organize the plans for different activities for the students at Chickering school. The job of room parent is an important job because they are planning all of the field trips and special events like Halloween parties! Kids are always having fun when they have field trips but if the room parents did not organize the field trips it would be more work for the teachers. We talked to 2 room parents to find out what it’s like to be a room parent.

Mrs. Johnston and Mrs. Sullivan are our room parents this year in Two room parents in fourth grade at Chickering School.Mrs. Grady’s class. We wondered if they had been a room parent before. Ms. Johnston shared, “I have been a room parent for Mrs.Saunders and Mrs. Baker.” Mrs. Sullivan said she has been a room parent for Mrs. Dish, Ms Cronin and Mrs. Cohn.

Mrs. Johnston said “I enjoy getting to help the teacher and you don’t get to talk about your own child. You get to know the teacher.”  Ms.Sullivan says, “I like being a room parent because I get to meet other kids in the class and get to help the teacher when she needs it,” they both  shared with us when asked what they enjoy doing as a room parent.

We were curious to know if their current classroom teacher, Mrs.Grady, has asked them to do a favorite activity and if so what is it? Mrs.Johnston said “I like using the sign-up Genius tool.” “I like supervising the field trips,” said Mrs. Sullivan.

Our final question was what are they looking forward to doing in Mrs.Grady’s classroom this year. Mrs Johnston apparently likes the writers breakfast while Mrs.Sullivan likes to hang out with the kids at every chance she can.

And that ladies and gentlemen was our final question of the day. What surprised us most was they liked the sign-up Genius tool. We are looking forward to lots of fun activities planned this year by Mrs. Grady with the help of these great, experienced Room Parents.

reported by  Peter and Luke B.

 

A Welcoming Musical Start!

Principal leading kindergarten students under the 5th grade student bridge to welcome them to Chickering. It was hard to ignore the sound and feel of the electric atmosphere coming from the students and teachers, in the hot and humid Chickering gym, on Friday, August 29th. Our annual gathering, the Welcome Back Assembly, was about to begin. Students in grades 1-5 and all staff were waiting for the special guests to arrive. Our principal talked about goals and expectations for the school year. Our music teachers led us in our two traditional songs, which we sing at this annual assembly. Everybody was ready for a fresh start for the new school year.

At 1:30pm, the Welcome Back Assembly began as the noise level went down and the Chickering students and staff became more attentive. Our special guests, the scared kindergarten students, filed in, led by Principal Dayal. As the music began, directed by Mrs. Barry and Mrs. Law-Linck, our music teachers, the whole school started to sing our traditional song. The Welcome Back Song is based on our Mission statement: “Chickering School is a place where students learn, laugh, grow, care and make a difference.” The whole 5th grade stood up on both sides of the aisle and made a big bridge using their arms. The kindergarteners were guided under the bridge by the principal and their teachers, before sitting down in the front rows designated for them.

Mrs. Dayal took the mic and asked the new teachers and students to beRunners up and winners of the new Directory cover. recognized. After the new people sat down, Mrs. Dayal instructed us to say “Hi” or “Good Morning” to people who say it to us, as well as practicing the quiet sign [peace sign]. Blue tickets are awarded to students who do something kind for another student or teacher. This year’s goal is to earn 5000 tickets! Then, our principal enthusiastically announced the Directory cover winners this year:  the runners up are Corrine, Lauren K. and Marisol and the winner is Anissa! The directory is published by our PTO and contains information about classes and home addresses for students.  For the new cover each year, the PTO asks students to submit their drawings for consideration. After the winners were announced, the the words of Chickering Rocks!, our new school song, was displayed. … With a 1 and a 2 and a 3 … the 2 music teachers played the music with their guitar and piano.

As the light and happy-hearted students left the gym, it was easy to tell they were thinking that the Welcome Back Assembly had certainly started the new year off on a good note!

Reported by Esme and Anissa