SIXTH GRADE!

Ryan’s school did something new this year. They had back-to-school afternoon the Friday before school started. As a member of the student council, Ryan had to be there about 30 minutes early to help direct parents and students to their appropriate classrooms. I should have taken my camera, but I didn’t even think about it that day!

The fairly-new principal has also made some changes so that the first day of school is not so crazy. Instead of having a welcome assembly at the flagpole (that will happen Friday), parents just dropped off our kids. It was kind of weird! I did take a picture at our usual spot.

As I was walking back to the car, the mom of a girl Ryan’s age approached me. She said, “Do you like this new ‘first day of school’ routine?” I told her that Ryan was disappointed that, as a member of the student council, he wasn’t involved with the big welcome assembly on the first day of school. She said, “Oh! I didn’t even think of the poor student council members! That is one of their big things!” Even though they are having the assembly Friday, it just doesn’t have the same excitement as it always has on the first day of school.

Ryan and I have talked over the summer about the importance of being kind and friendly to everyone. He usually is, but (as with all kids that age) there are a couple of kids that he sometimes makes fun of. His campaign when he ran for student council was that he would help make his school the friendliest school by his own friendly actions, and by encouraging others to be friendly.

With that in mind, here’s my favorite back-to-school song – it’s by The White Stripes, but you may recognize it from Napoleon Dynamite. This is my new favorite version (by the PS22 chorus - found on YouTube).



WE’RE GOING TO BE FRIENDS

fall is here, hear the yell
back to school, ring the bell
brand new shoes, walking blues
climb the fence, books and pens
i can tell that we are gonna be friends

walk with me, suzy lee
through the park, by the tree
we will rest upon the ground
and look at all the bugs we've found
then safely walk to school
without a sound

well here we are, no one else
we’ll walk to school all by ourselves
there's dirt on our uniforms
from chasing all the ants and worms
we clean up and now it's time to learn

numbers, letters, learn to spell
nouns, and books, and show and tell
playtime, we will throw the ball
back to class, through the hall
teacher marks our height against the wall

we don't notice any time pass
we don't notice anything
we sit side by side in every class
teacher thinks that i sound funny
but she likes the way you sing

tonight i'll dream while i'm in bed
when silly thoughts go through my head
about the bugs and alphabet
when i wake tomorrow i'll bet
that you and i will walk together again
cause i can tell that we
are going to be friends