Mary

Today we crowned Mary in our celebration mass with Grandparents and Special Friends. This beautiful tradition at St. Philip the Apostle school is held every May and combines sharing our school with special people and honoring the Mother of our Lord, the Virgin Mary. From singing songs in mass to partaking in the 7th grade bake sale, to watching our grown up 8th graders process down the aisle amidst roses for Mary, the day is lovely and special.

I had the privilege of reading the 8th grade Mary essays and voting on the best one. All the faculty helps choose by reading the anonymous essays. It is always difficult to choose from essays that are personal as well as special. Each student really understands Mary and her remarkable life. But, it was hearing the two chosen essay read aloud before Mass that really moved me. We have such incredible, compassionate and poised 8th graders! St. Philips has been blessed these past nine years to have them as part of our community.

My intention for today's blog entry was to provide information on Mary and Grandparents and Special Friends Day but you all know about both already. Our religious education is strong and each student from Kinder to 8th grade has a firm grasp on who Mary is and her importance in our lives. So, instead I find myself reflecting on the day. I'm watching children walk by the library hand in hand with their grandparent or friend. They are excited and happy to share their school, their classroom, and lives with these special people. Isn't it wonderful?

Rechenka's Eggs

I hope everyone has a nice Easter break! I think we are all looking forward to spending time with our families. I just finished reading a sweet book by Patricia Polacco titled Rechenka's Eggs. It is the story of old Babushka who is known in her Russian village for painting the most beautiful Easter eggs. While preparing for Easter she saves a wounded Goose who she names Rechenka. Through the course of winter Babushka and Rechenka become fast friends. When spring arrives Babushka know's Rechenka must rejoin her flock. Their parting is not so sad because of a special gift that Rechenka leaves for Babushka. This is a heartwarming story about love and friendship.

A few days ago I was discussing with my friends different Easter traditions. My friend Lisa told us about her family's egg wars. They each have an egg that they tap on the other person's egg. The egg that cracks looses and the winner gets the egg. Sounds like a yummy game but I had never heard of it before and neither had our other friend. Lisa was quite surprised that we didn't know about egg wars. We got a good laugh over her family's "crazy" tradition.

Well, you may be saying, "Ok Mrs. Natalie what does this have to do with Rechenka's Eggs?".

Well I would say to you:

PLENTY!!!!! To tie in the Russian setting of Rechenka's Eggs and family traditions I also read the book Easter Around the World by Shannon Knudsen. There is a chapter on Easter in Russia. I read it to the children because it tells about the Russian Easter feast that includes food like pashka and kulich, the same foods mentioned in the Rechenka story. But to my surprise it also tells about a game that sounds a lot like my friends egg wars.

"Children play a game with their Easter eggs. Each player taps an egg against another player's egg. The person whose egg breaks first must give it to the other player."

How cool, my friend's family isn't completely crazy after all!!!! They are playing a traditional Russian Easter game.

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter full of love and family just like Babushka and Rechenka's. Now Go have an egg war!

River Friendly River Wild

"A book about the nature of home, community and picking up the pieces" -Booklist

River Friendly River Wild by Jane Kurtz is an inspiring free verse poetry and picture book based on the author's personal experience with a flood destroying her home. The book is special because it not only identifies with victim's of natural disasters but allows the reader to live the real life experience of community working together to survive. At once beautiful and scary, the river is constantly changing as does the author during the course of the 1997 Grand Forks Red River Flood. There will always be times in our lives where we must face challenges and events that are out of our control. This book helps readers understand the emotions a flood victim, really any disaster victim, goes through. Somehow you must learn to put your life back together.

"The river is back in its banks again
and here we are,
alive.
I know now that
some memories live in things-
in old clothes and photographs,
drawings and trees.
Some of those memories we'll have to let go.
But Mom and Dad and Max and Kiwi
and Sarah and I
will make new memories
and hold tight to the old ones that stick."

First Spring then Summer

As spring winds down to summer and we all look forward to days playing in the sun I thought I would share a thought provoking book that helps explain the question of which came first the chicken or the egg. First the Egg by Emmy Award winning artist Laura Vaccaro Seeger shows the reader many firsts then seconds in life. First the tadpole then the frog. First seed then the flower. First the word then the story. The pages are die cut as seed becomes flower, paint becomes picture and word becomes story. I love the use of canvas and paint to create textured, simplistic yet vivid artwork. This is a book where everyday life becomes extraordinary. A book that helps transform spring into summer School year to summer vacation. .