A Message of Thanks

Photo by Judy Ariel 2006

A message of thanks.......

This being the season for reflection and thanks, I just wanted to take a few lines here to express my gratitude. I’d like to thank our school administration--Dr. McCabe and the school board--for the tremendous support for both the library program and our technology program. Without this wonderful laptop on which I am now composing, I’m not sure this blog would have been “born.” Also I’d like to thank the Foundation for the support for the 1:1 laptop program that has revolutionized my ability to teach 21st century research skills to our students.

Thank you to the Parent Club and all the parents and children who work so hard to support their efforts. Without you we wouldn’t have the hundreds of new books in the library each year, not to mention the fun additions like our new bean bag chairs. Thank you to Rachel Moore and Nancy Eaton (and all the previous Book Fair chairwomen) who work so hard each year to bring the joy of reading to our students and to support our Library program. Thank you to the classroom teachers who tirelessly work to inspire our students and prepare them so well that it makes my job a joy.

I was having dinner with my older son a while back and we were talking about careers--choosing them, working at them, making those hard decisions to balance personal, intrinsic rewards with monetary rewards. I told him that there are times when I’m walking around our campus, particularly in the older parts of the building, and I’m aware this unique “school fragrance.” Many times as it drifts into my consciousness I have this thought:

I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

That is something to be truly grateful for. As a child, I loved school, loved books, loved reading. I have my own elementary school teachers to thank for that. Special thanks to Mrs. Barker, my fourth grade teacher, and Mrs. Dorsey, my sixth grade teacher. Wherever you are, you’d be very happy to see where I am now.

And as always, I am grateful for my health. February of next year will mark my five year anniversary as a breast cancer survivor. Every day is a gift for me. Thank you for letting me share some of that time with your children.



We had a short week in the Library and not all classes got a chance to come. But those who did were:

First Grade—Miss Ishikawa’s class was worried. In the delightful Thanksgiving tale by Eve Bunting, A Turkey for Thanksgiving, it looks as if the turkey has met his doom when Mr. Moose promises Mrs. Moose a turkey for their dinner. Imagine his relief (and the students') when Turkey is seated at the table, not on the table, and gratefully wishes us all a Happy Thanksgiving.

Third Grade—Mrs. Villa’s class had fun listening to Turkey Pox by Laurie Halse Anderson. Poor Charity discovers she has chicken pox on the way to Nana’s house for her favorite thing of all—Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. As they arrive back home, it looks as if all is lost until Nana arrives on a snowplow with a very unusual turkey—complete with red spots all over it. By the time we finished reading, we were all hungry and looking forward to our own Thanksgiving feasts.

Fourth Grade—For a change of pace, Mr. Orr’s class heard the story of Turkey Girl by Penny Pollack. This is a Zuni Indian Cinderella story and the evocative chalk pastel illustrations by famed illustrator Ed Young add to the almost somber mood of the story. At the end, students discussed how plot works as a literary device, and they found examples of similarities and differences in this story and the more traditional Cinderella story.


I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know I certainly did.

~Mrs. Pedersen