New Year's Eve

Wishes for the Coming New Year

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtKrYuDolg8&feature=player_detailpage

Nothing but the BEST wishes for your loved ones and family as we
bid farewell to "2012" and welcome in the days of a brand new year! 

Snowy Friends

"Watching the cardinals is such a treat!"  ~Jonathan

Climate Changes

 Walking out to the garage........
"Bbrrrr, that wind is chilly!"
"It's okay, mom. I'm used to living in an arctic climate now, like the polar bears."  ~Daniel

Budding Architects!

How about this snow fort?

FUNNY!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Glimpses of Christmas Vacation

"Around 3 in the morning I heard my son yelling that Santa had been here."  
                                                                              ~Parkside Dad early, early on December 25th

Delightful Fun

Christmas Eve..............

Sunday Thought

"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.”
~ Peg Bracken

 

Last Friday Before Christmas & Break

"I have a special gift for my teacher!"   ~Annastyn
"Today we get to play games and have a Christmas party."  ~Evan
"Oh....it's COLD outside.  Maybe we will get some snow now."  ~Kristen
"Can't wait for my mom's wedding & Christmas.  ~Henry
"I hope the Christmas carols don't go away......."   ~Christopher
"I have special treats for our party today!"  ~Amy
"The decorations in school are so pretty."  ~Madi
"My mom brought goodies for my sister and I to give the teachers."  ~Josh
"Hooray, we get out early today!"  ~Thomas
"Glad 5th graders collected food for the Humane Society."  ~Colton
"On a scale of one-to-five, I'm a five today.~"  ~Lathan
"I can't wait for my teacher to open up her gift."  ~Dakota

A New Edition!

Welcome to Josephine Jane Pulleyblank.
1st grade teacher Mrs. Pulleyblank and her
husband became grandparents this week. 

What a beautiful Christmas gift, congratulations!

It's Important to Help the Kids at Sandy Hook

"I am glad we're making these handprints for the school."   ~Skylar
"The green and white are their school colors, right?"  ~Rachel
"A colorful border around the page will make them smile."  ~Tanner
"I invited the janitors to make one too!"  ~Xavier
"Can we make another one?"  ~Andew
"My mom gave Mrs. Mack this idea!"  ~Drew
"I invited Mr. Mikeworth & Mrs. Petty to make one too."  ~Cody
"Mrs. Hayes took a picture while we were drawing."  ~Harley
"I hope our messages helps them feel hope and love." ~Megan
"It was sad.  It's important to help."  ~Tanner

Holiday Wear

The Christmas sweaters around here are are bright and fun.  Everytime you turn around someone has on something different!"  ~Justice

Sweet Sounds of the Season

"I love music class with Mrs. LaGrand."  ~Tabytha

Show Them You Care

Really Miss Her

"Linda was my babysitter but I called her grandma.  She died last week and I will
 really miss her.  She made the best Christmas cookies for us every year."     ~Katelyn

Gift Wrapping

Who's doing this job with holiday goodies or surprises at your house?

http://twentytwowords.com/2012/12/18/how-to-wrap-presents-explained-by-kids-acted-out-and-lip-synched-by-adults/

Treasured Artwork

"Art is long and time is fleeting."  ~Longfellow

Never Too Many

"You can never have too many candy canes."  ~Cody

Sunday Thought

Saturday December 15th's "Saturday Night Live" opening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTbhVlHuONo

Grief knows no stranger while compassion rewards us with new friends.

Prayers, Thanks, Remembering

"I am thankful for the many educators who go to work daily to serve as positive, compassionate, steadfast, and caring role models.  It's important, it's what we do.  The lives of our students are in our hands, a precious responsibility.  Let us lift up the Sandy Hill community in anyway we can."

On the List

"I sure hope Parkside kids are all on Santa's GOOD list!"   ~David

"How do you know who makes up the list!  What if they spell my name wrong?  ~Nikali

"Hmmm, I did some not too funny things this year.  Do I still have a chance?"    ~Brianna

"I am trying to make Santa's list......don't want coal in my stocking!"    ~Mark

"Mrs. Wells' first graders are all on Santa's list.  She has them outside her room."  ~Lisa

Something New

"Having cookies with Santa & Mrs. Claus is a new tradition for us at Parkside, right?"  ~Wade

Holiday Poll

Official Holiday Poll:
YES or NO? The mother intended to break the "leg-shaped lamp" when watering the plants.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVOOjV_E3s4

                          Pupils say "YES!"
                          And we're out of glue.....                                                          

Almost Show Time.....

We're ready for the PreK Christmas program to begin!
How about you?

Great Memories

"Caroling with my students was so much fun this week!" 

Quick Change Artists

"Some kindergartners change into special outfits with
a little help from mom, on Christmas Program days. 
Oh these quick-change artists make me smile and the heart sing."

Wink-wink!

Christmas programs are the best!

All Dressed Up for a Special Visit

Weekend fun.......our little ones loved seeing Santa & Mrs. Claus! 

Think You Might Like This!

Nothing like life in our hometown, Lawrenceville, Illinois. 
It's almost Christmas & another project 5th graders in Mrs. Waggoner's class are involved
in is  collecting canned goods for others.  Now that's a great plan, kind of "magical!"

I Think You Might Like It
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGNIDXUaVts&feature=player_detailpage

Sunday Thought

"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try."

Our 5th graders are collecting dog & cat food,
to make a donation to the Lawrence County Humane
Society before we start winter break on December 21st.
Thanks in advance for helping them make a difference.

  

"Milk and Cookies with Santa"

Santa and all his helpers made our Saturday something special.

Santa Knew Our Names!

"Santa knew my name, my sister's and my brother's too.  How can he remember us all?    ~Wade

Busy Lady

"I heard that Santa brought his wife with him to Parkside from the North Pole.  With all those cookies to bake, how did she have a chance to get away and come here to see us?"    ~Nikali

She Came Prepared!

Mrs. Hayes:  "Thanks for coming today to 'Milk & Cookies With Santa.'                      
                         Did you tell him what you wanted for Christmas?"
Gabriella:  "No, I gave him my list instead!" 
                                                                                ~Mother, standing by just smiled and smiled.

2nd Graders Wish You a Merry Christmas

Tis the season to be jolly; thanks for coming to our program today!

Reading Check-ups

Miss Williamson:  "I am going to show you some letters. I want you to point
                            to each letter and say its name.  Start here; ready, begin."
Rachael:  C, R, o, d, y, j, A, g, O, H........
Miss Williamson:  "Keep going honey."
Rachel:  "I'm on it!"

We Can't Wait

"Did you see the lights, reindeer, and the snowman on our stage?  Santa & Mrs. Claus are coming to Parkside Saturday.  We can't wait!"  ~Hailey and Jenna

Santa on Vacation

Morgan:  "I bet Santa is busy making all those toys this time of the year."
Joseph:  "Yes, Santa works all night long!"
Simon:  "I think he needs a vacation.  Do you think he goes on The Polar Express?"
Joseph:  No, I I think he goes to bed and sleeps for two weeks after Christmas."
Morgan:  "I think he goes to the beach."
Simon:  "Santa on the beach, in a swimming suit?  Oh no!"   
 
                                                                             ~lots of giggling at this point

What About the White House Christmas Tree?

"I bet the President has his Christmas tree up already."  ~Simon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=lce5gWKgMXI

Bo Inspects the 2012 White House Holiday Decorations

Are You Coming to Hear Us?

"I wore a red Christmas sweater for the program today.  I love to sing!  We've been practicing and practicing."  ~Alexis, 1st Grade

Our Traditions 2012

"We're lucky!  Can you guess why?  We have an Elf on the Shelf, our very own Christmas spirit.  We call him Rex.  He's been busy in the room decorating --yes all over the place!  See him hiding in the  Christmas tree?  He even wrapped some holiday gifts for us."  ~Mrs. Wells' Third Grade

It's All About Lights

"I like watching all the different lights this time of the year.  My family used to enjoy the display in Mattoon, Illinois, where we lived.  We also go to Olney to see the ones in their park.  There are even a lot of houses in my neighborhood that are lighted up in December.  It's all about the lights!  Seeing the different kinds is a lot of fun.  It feels like Christmas.  Now all we need is some snow, right?"   ~Dorian

Heatwave!

                                         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6tV11acSRk
                                  Who knew it would be 70 plus degrees on December 3rd? 

MONDAY MORNING......
Mrs. Arnold:  "Hi, how was your weekend?"
Jamie:  "Fine, it sure is warm though."
Mrs. Arnold:  "Yes, so are you ready for spring break?"

                              

Sunday Thought

December is here!  Time marches forward, and as our students grow and achieve new things we could not be more thankful and proud of our learning community.  "Hats-off" to the young athletes at Parkview Jr. High School who won a regional championship game Friday night, for the second year in a row!  Congratulations to the players, coaches, Parkview teaching staff, and proud families.  We recognize these young people; it seems as if just yesterday, they were at Parkside.  Yes, time marches forward......

Our Traditions 2012

"My family puts up a lamp and it's pretty funny.  It looks like the one in that movie "The Christmas Story."  When it goes up, it feels like Christmas at our house."   ~Katelyn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=OMGnRayA_U8