A Satire: A Pumpkin-Day Massacre

Jamie Farries, AmeriCorps Mentor at Kawana Elementary


The chill of fall settled upon us as the wind blew the brittle leaves down from the boughs of trees lining the plastic covered picnic tables. The third graders squirmed eagerly as their wicked plot unfurled onto their unsuspecting pumpkins. Unknowingly, their dreary fates were laid in the hands of these callous carvers. The defenseless pumpkins didn't stand a chance.

Oh the gore! Pumpkin guts were spewed across the tabletops like the stomach contents of a child who gorged himself on too much Halloween candy. The pumpkins silently screamed in horror as the devilish children carved them up like Christmas hams, only leaving hollow shells and traced out faces to commemorate their destruction.

The third graders giggled in delight over their reign of terror. After the carnage was finally over, they took their lifeless pumpkins home as souvenirs of what is infamously known today as the Pumpkin-Day Massacre.

Kawana Club Craziness!

Riis Larsen, Mentor at Kawana Elementary School

Kawana Student with his Story Stick

This Friday I led my first ever club. I chose to do an art project called “Make Your Story Stick”. We sat in a circle and chose an idea for our story; then the leader started it off. Each person would add a piece to the story and it turned into an hilarious tale. We discussed the idea that the story was unique because each person added his or her own idea. I explained that the concept of the Story Stick was to create a piece of art that was representative of your individual self, and that each person’s Stick would be different, just like the story.

A Story Stick is essentially a piece of bamboo wrapped in some colorful material (we used yarn), and then topped with large feathers. The yarn is simply tied and then wrapped, and then tied again at the end. The feathers are glued into place with a hot glue gun. We also used strings of beads to adorn the Sticks, and craft sand and glitter to cover the glue.

The club went well; all the students were able to make a stick. It was a little chaotic, but we were able to manage! It was very important to me to explain to the students about the artistic value of what we were doing, Very fun, a little crazy, but the students absolutely loved it, and of course, so did I.

Michelle Hernandez- Featured Student!

Diana Bridges, Literacy Team Leader at Kawana Elementary

Diana and Michelle

On the first day of tutoring last year, I was as nervous as any other mentor. My first student was a tiny fifth grader, Michelle, who loved the color purple and hated taking tests. As we sat down to do our first assessments, Michelle was quiet, rung her hands, and asked to get a drink from the water fountain. It seemed I was not the only one who was terrified on the first session! After realizing this about one another, we both laughed, and from that day forward were able to have successful tutoring sessions. I learned more from Michelle than she knows, and as her tutor again this year, I am excited to be learning from her again.

Michelle is now a sixth grader, and though she is small, she is tough, and that initial silence has been replaced by confidence and an sense of humor that can make any bad day turn around. Michelle now loves to read and has begun reading with her sister outside of school, and sharing her thoughts about these books with me. She loves playing "News Cast" while we do our STARS curricula and asks with suspense in her voice, "Will Michelle answer all 4 questions right? Let's head over to Ms. Bridges to see!" She makes the best out of her education and has been an inspiration to me in my returning a second year in AmeriCorps, and in furthering my education to become a teacher.

A New Year for Tutoring

Brandi Johnson, 2nd Year Full Time Mentor at Wright Elementary

Last month, we began the tutoring training component of our program. I have to say that I am extremely happy about it, even though it has been an information overflow. After an intense few days of training, tutoring began. I understand what the first year mentors are going through, being that was me last year.

As a first year mentor, you're trying to figure out how to write lesson plans, how to figure out what curriculum you use, and how to communicate with their students. But after everyone sits down with their students for the first time, a big weight is lifted off of their shoulders. That's an exciting moment- meeting my students for the first time! I can't wait until the school year really gets going and we start seeing the progress that our students are making.

Meadow View Health and Wellness Fair!

Diana Bridges, Literacy Team Leader at Kawana Elementary



The Health and Wellness Fair, put on this year by Meadow View Elementary School, had all the features of a good fair. Parents, mentors, and students alike attended the event and enjoyed the activities and attractions. Many booths offered information about health care and safety for families, and other offered food like watermelon, which was popular on such a hot day! Aztec and Chinese dancing was also featured as entertainment, adding a multicultural aspect to the fair.

The favorite attraction of the day for kids seemed to be the bike rodeo, where students were given the chance to ride awesome courses chalked onto the hot pavement of the blacktop. At the Bike Rodeo, students had their pictures taken and were awarded their bicycle licences before riding the four trail course. Students were most excited to dodge boulders, ride the figure eight trail, and use the hand signals they had learned in the mini-safety course. Just as it has been in the past, the Health and Wellness fair was successful in bringing many families together for food, fun, and education!