Week 5, Already???

Time flies when we're having fun!! I cannot believe that we are about to finish our fifth week of school. There have been so many really interesting and exciting things going on at MEHMS so far this year. Our Musical cast is forming, Lego League is up and running, Math Olympiad is beginning, Odyssey of the Mind is taking off, and Intramurals are as fun as ever....and that's just been the afterschool stuff!
As I have been in and out of classrooms these first five weeks, I have marveled at the 5th graders adjusting and thriving as new Huskies, the 6th graders soaring in their new classes yet still remaining the tight knit group of kids, and the 7th graders adopting their new home on the third floor and accepting their role as leaders in the building with great pride.
It's going to be the end of the first quarter before we can blink. Buckle your seatbelts, this year is going to be quite a ride!

Counting Down the Days....

I am so excited to see all of the Huskies in just a few short weeks! I hope that everyone is enjoying their summer!!!

Field Day and Moving Up

Yesterday, I spent much of the day in the Dunk Tank letting the 5th and 7th graders get their aggression out! I was dunked by many a student and loved every second of it! Field Day was such a success and a grand time was had by all!
Today, I will be wet, as well. It will just be with tears of pride as we "Move Up" our 7th graders tonight. Our rising Mustangs are tremendous students and I will miss them terribly.
I can't wait to meet our rising Huskies from TJ in the fall.
Have a wonderful, restful, happy, fun, extraordinary summer!! Don't forget to read, read, read!!!!

Merci!

I have just returned from a WONDERFUL trip to Quebec City with Ms. White and 15 of our superstar 7th graders. The trip was a total blast and the kids were tre bien! I speak little to no French so the whole experience was something new for me. Usually, I travel with teenagers to Mexico to build houses-- my Spanish is rusty but proficient enough to get around. In Quebec, I was relying mostly on our guide, David, and the students who are currently taking French at MEHMS.
We learned so much on this trip about Quebec history and saw so many interesting and breathtaking landmarks. Among them were the Chateau Frontenac and the Citadel. We even got to eat at a place aptly named the Sugar Shack! There, we covered everything on our plate with fresh maple syrup.
I was so proud of our students throughout the trip. The highlight of the entire experience was when we met fellow middle schoolers at an intermediate school in Quebec City. Our kids were true ambassadors for MEHMS. Everyone (including the Quebecers) was very nervous in the beginning, but once all of the students started talking to each other, the anxiety lifted and there was very little quiet. The Quebecers were wonderful hosts and even played a few rounds of table tennis with us. (The picture above was the entire group).
Merci for such a wonderful experience!!!

The Whos! The Things! The Cat! The Birds! The Elephant! The Monkeys! The Songs! The Set! The Costumes! So Much More!

To say that Seussical Jr. was fantastic tonight is the understatement of the year. It was nothing short of magical. Barb Piscopo and Jeanne Seabridge directed a theatrical experience. My red and white striped hat goes off to you both. To see our students up on that stage singing and dancing their hearts out while wearing ridiculously delicious hair and clothing is something that one must see for themselves. My mouth hurts from smiling the entire show!

The students were absolutely amazing. I was so proud to watch the actors perform and the technical/backstage crew change sets, run lights, cue music, hand props, etc.

Thank you to Barb, Jeanne, and the Encore team for showing us that a week with a snow day can get EVEN better! Bravo to the students who each shine in their own special way! Here’s to two more fabulous nights!!

Inauguration Day on the Mall!

4am at the Shirlington bus stop!

Our view of the Capitol from our spot on the mall




What an adventure! Yesterday, Ms. McCarty and I headed to the National Mall for the Inauguration of our new President! At 4am, no less! It was freezing (literally and figuratively), but we got to the mall by about 5:15 am and staked out a spot that was very, very close to the Capitol. It was such an unbelievable experience to be a tiny speck in all of the pictures and to be a part of such a historic event. While it took three times longer to get home than it did to get there, and my fiance and I were still thawing out at 10 pm, it was worth every second. How did you spend Inauguration Day?

6th and 7th grade winter concert

What a wonderful evening filled with such beautiful music! Connie and Larry did a tremendous job tonight with the sixth and seventh grade bands. Their hard work was evident. Many thanks to the Encore team, as well, as they managed nervous 6th and 7th graders waiting to perform, videotaped the performances, and were there for moral support. The students were incredible and they made it look easy. We even managed to place a few coats and sweatshirts back in their homes.

MEHMS is truly a special place.