All-inclusive

Here I go again getting all thoughtful and things.
I just read a post from a blog which talked about the Christmas season and the not-so-secular connection to public schools.
Indeed, throughout the curriculum there seems to be a fairly broad cultural spectrum encompassing different beliefs (including those of non-believers). Yet, when Xmas comes around, this consistency breaks down, and the school becomes all about Christmas. Granted, it's not always – and probably quite au contraire – not about the Nativity scene, but rather about the other stuff that surrounds modern Christmas celebration, such as Snowmen, trees, and the most baffling to me, Santa's reindeer. That's in addition to the conversations about present expectations and wishes. Talk about equity now!
So, the point is really how does your school make sure that other beliefs are included?
The post I referred to in the beginning, also talked about the fact that we need to – and do – teach kindness and compassion. This should be the season to emphasize compassion and kindness – and does holding a Christmas celebration but not any other help with this?
You see, I don't belong to a religion, nor do I believe in Santa, in fact, nothing stresses me out more than having to compromise my ideas about raising children and having to play along with the Santa story (my main opposition is really about the commercialization and the fact that Santa is so unnecessary!) that the people around us pressure us to comply with. Talk about peer pressure!
Yet, I play along and we attend events, but my heart is not in it. I am trying to find ways to connect with the community but do I have to compromise that much? Are there other ways?
How does your school teach kindness? What does your school do to include and welcome everyone?

Lowes Build and Grow Workshop: Make an engine

This Saturday - if anyone would care to join us - at 10 am you can make your very own engine for a train set. The train set has been spread over 3 weekends, we missed the first one, but did make it to the passenger car clinic, and now on Saturday we get the very important engine.
These events are fun to attend, definitely educational (parents learn a lot, too, to control their own frustrations, and reading directions carefully, for example) and easy to plan. You just need to have about 30 mins of time and then you can also walk around looking at cool things for your home, but no obligation to buy anything.
Next week, my son's class is having a cookie decorating event - I bet lots of classes are - and I am planning to make the gingerbread people for it. Very excited to learn how to make them, as I have only made gingerbread cookies out of a box. They came out very good, too, simply delicious, but they were also very easy to make. I am counting on my son's help next Tuesday, maybe even a cookie making party? Any takers?
photo © 2008 Dave Fayram | more info (via: Wylio)

Lowes Build and Grow Workshop

We had a good time at the workshop at Lowe's. We made a snowman card holder.
I invited everyone in Maxim's classroom. It's a fun and easy way to connect and be merry... at someone else's expense. I also noticed that though cool, my idea wasn't unique and we spotted groups of families spending time together thanks to Lowe's. I think it's worth a shot! :)

Parent lunch and Costume Parade

Dressed up on school playground

What a busy week! It will all be over by Sunday night, after kids fill up their candy buckets.
On Tuesday, Sacc had a parent lunch. I didn't get a chance to attend last year, so this year was a first for me. It was a lot of people, and even more work - I didn't volunteer due to my day job schedule, or I would have experienced that first-hand. The school did a lot of work - I am sure the administration and staff felt deflated and exhausted after such an endeavor, and it must have felt like a tornado ripping through the school.
So, the parents got to spend some time with their darlings. I found the darlings were also experiencing a bit of anxiety because their parents were disrupting the usual routine. I guess you could also call it excitement, :)
After lunch, kids went to the recess and parents followed. The weather surprised with a sunny sky and unusually warm day. The playground was bright, and parents watched, or chatted, or chased a younger child.
When time was up, we proceeded back inside, to help the kids get in their costumes and then some parents had to leave (like me), but some stayed and walked the costumed procession to Longfellow Place. It must have been nice.
Then there was cookie decoration, and end of the day.

Fall is flush with colors.

The school also offered lots of cute large prints of kids at the playground or with the famous giant pumpkins, in exchange for a donation. I felt badly as I didn't bring much money, in fact I was lucky to bring even that much! - and the pictures were adorable. I contributed more at a later date, hope it was acceptable.
Wednesday was the flu shot day! My son has been somewhat (=very) uncomfortable with the whole pricking concept, so we went for the nasal spray. Can't blame him. I opted for a nasal spray myself the other day, and would for any vaccine, if there were only available.

October is done, I guess. Now it's only the Thanksgiving event and then Christmas break that we have to deal with. And big things are afoot.

Book fair and October events

Last week, Saccarappa's library had a book fair. In essence, it's a mini book sale with titles targeted for the younger audience. Some titles were more of a family kind - for older children in the family, if you have them.
We found a good (in my opinion, of course) book, I Need My Monster, and have been reading it every night as a bedtime story. I had some misgivings about really having it as a nighttime story but it seems to be safe.
A lot of books I simply don't care for - they are of little literary value, like those Disney stories, and I guess I am snob like that - I like good books, books with a story rather than commercial success as a cartoon.
Anyway, now another major even is parent lunch - which may be tricky as it appears it will be rainy, and Halloween.
The school is looking good - thanks to lots of efforts by the principal and other helpers (whose names I don't know, sorry about that!), and anyone attending the parent lunch will enjoy the view.
I wonder if anyone is reading this blog. If you do, please leave a comment so I know. I guess I will still be writing, because I enjoy it. I would also like for it to be useful.
I have some ideas about PTA, too. In another post.

Costume Swap: A Better Halloween Experience

Is anyone interested in hosting one? We might not make it on time to join the National Costume Swap Day, but we can still have it!
Check it out and contact your school, church or some other organization for support.
http://www.greenhalloween.org/CostumeSwap/

Saccarappa PTA

Tonight was my first ever PTA meeting! We had great refreshments to celebrate that event :), but most importantly there were lots of valuable ideas.
There turn out to be more functions for the PTA than I had heard before. I am glad it's taking shape, and I would love to contribute to certain work that needs to be done. There seems to be a lot of it too.
Among the subcommittees that have been identified are: fundraiser, of course; events, volunteers, acknowledgment (aka teacher support/appreciation), and something less defined, like community service or outreach.
I feel strongly about educating other parents, (when they ask for help), and healthy kids/green environment stuff. Not sure where that will be.
We have also agreed to follow up soon, in two weeks to further define and delegate the jobs. Please contact me for details if you would like to join. It sounds very promising.