No Child Left Inside

We had a bit of fun yesterday on Facebook, of all places.  For those of you who missed it, and for the sake of posterity and remembrance, I'm going to share it here.   ~Sara~

ps. a big thank you to more than a dozen friends who chimed in on the original conversation, adding much delight to my afternoon. 

Status Post:

Younger kids aged 8,6,5,3 and 2 outside enthusiastically and cheerfully building a village with outlined foundations of leaves, artifacts gathered from here and there, and much imagination. In light of the six months of winter just ahead and the coffee on the table in my peaceful dining room... having trouble mustering up the will power to call them inside to "do school." 

Comments:

Ms. Shull, 

I see that your students are not in their classroom today. 

Could you please explain... ;-) 

Sincerely, 

Mr. Shull

Principal Shull, 

You'll please notice that I have followed the guidelines set forth by your own policy established in 1998, entiltled "No Child Left Inside" - item 503.1 (Not Squandering Autumn in Minnesota). :) 

Sincerely,

Ms. Shull


Ms. Shull, 

I am well aware of item 503.1 and grateful for your close adherence to this most important value in our schooling system. My significant concern was that you had failed to follow through with subpoint 503.1.34 ensuring that, and I quote, "students will be appropriately dressed in pajamas and barefoot during outdoor activities when said activities occur before the school day has commenced." Can you please explain?

Sincerely,

Mr. Shull


Oh, dear. Mr. Shull, 

I do see that I failed in that respect. I had insisted on outdoor clothing prior to letting them go outdoors - thus the confusion regarding whether I was in fact complying with and appealing to 503.1 or intending to "do school". The majority however, were indeed barefoot, and a good time was had by all which I believe was the original spirit, if not the letter, of the law. I promise to review all the subpoints of 503.1 so as to ensure that all the children have the most benefit of the No Child Left Inside policy as established in 1998. 

Sincerely, 

Ms. Shull.


Ms. Shull, 

It was a relief to hear your response and to know that you are indeed complying with, as you say, the spirit of our "No Child Left Inside" initiative. Thank you for kindly seeing to full compliance in the future. And what pleases me perhaps most in this matter is to know that you will still be eligible to be nominated by your students for the Teacher of the Year award. 

Sincerely, 

Principal Shull

Living happily-ever-after

In honor of the twenty-fifth anniversary of our first date, I'm re-posting this poem...written on a perfect day for remembering.  So thankful to be celebrating the first quarter-century of Happily Ever After with my true love.  Very Thankful.









An Anniversary Day


Skipping leaves and half dressed trees
     seem pleased about the warmish days.

The sun grows soft and big while sailing deeper to the south.
     Evening's long shadows escape to chase our feet at noon.

That same sun spins out golden strands of memory
     that bind me to a day just like today.

Warm sun, warm hands, warm cookies
       dripping ice cream on a cozy hill.
    Kaleidoscopes of dazzled light shift across our jeans
          and draw our eyes to red leaves up above.

The leaves that in their lazy way
     drift down and down to make mosaics
          on the bright green all around.

The golden strands that day wove hazy screens
       to push out time and place and people all around.
           A golden day that witnessed bonded hearts
                 those many years ago.

Those golden strands this day wrap warm memories
       around and leave me feeling seventeen and loved
           while standing in the grass.

Eyes closed with face set toward the reddish glow
     . . . for moments I could be both here and there.

His ringing laughter calls to me across the years,
       and also strong and real around the bend.

Smiling, warm, beloved still
    . . . I turn around and walk into today.



                                       ~Sara~


"O, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt His name together!"
                                        ~Psalm 34:3

Days of gold

Golden days, few and precious.

Roads are made in leaves under the tree.  

     Trucks, rakes, balls half-buried in the piles.

           

Orange, reds, and yellows curl and crisp and turn to brown.

And still the trees are full of blazing flags... 

       their rustled thankfulness is on the wind.

My soul quiets to the sound.

Sunbeams filter down in Autumn angles 

     through the canopy of leaves.

Kaleidoscopes of brilliant, dancing patterns on the grass. 

     The baby laughs and tries to catch the light.

Moments to treasure when the color fades 

      and all is gray…

          or is this Joy a gift for just today?

O soul, rejoice!

My whispered praise is added to the wind.

                                      ~Sara~