IMPORTANT DATES AND REMINDERS
Farm School Day Trips, 9:45am - 5:00pm Grades 1 & 2: Monday, May 20 Grades 3 & 4: Monday, 21
Wednesday, May 22, 4:45pm MHS Music Concert!
Friday, May 24, 9:45am - 10:30am Friday Share: Dedicated to the 8th Grade Art Show!
May 17, 2019 Volume 22, Issue 28 One School, One Story!
Dear Mission Hill School Friends, Students, Family, and Staff,
A few weeks ago stories were submitted by student authors for our annual writing contest, One School One Story. A team of student judges selected two clear winners, Mira and Kyle. This week’s cover features their stories.
The Egyptian Battle by Kyle
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, Osiris was on a meteor. Another meteor hit his meteor. He crashed landed on earth in Egypt. He got buried in the sand. A few days later, Osiris woke up and he was surrounded by hippos. He tamed the hippos and made an army. His army was made up of 1,500 hippos.
One day, Tony, an Egyptian in the village picked up an innocent Egyptian named Bret. He then dropped Bret on the ground and hurt Bret. Osiris saw this and got angry.
Tony was a big man. He stood at 7 feet tall and weighed 400 pounds. Osiris was nervous. He grabbed Tony and put him in a sack and placed him on a hippo. Osiris took him far away from the village. He placed Tony on top of a pyramid. Osiris thought that Tony was dead.
Five months later, Tony woke up. He had big, red eyes. While asleep on top of the pyramid, he became more powerful and a lot bigger. He was so angry at Osiris. The pyramid he was on, fell apart because he was so heavy. He traveled to Osiris’ hippo army.
The hippos tried to knock Tony down. Tony survived and fought back. He did not get knocked down. He destroyed the hippos. Osiris was left without his army. The god named Kane looked down from the heavens and noticed the fight. Kane jumped on a meteor and flew down onto Tony’s head. Tony was
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destroyed. Osiris was relieved. Kane, Osiris and Bret roasted Tony for dinner and ate him. That is what happens when you are mean.
The Kitten and the Sandwich by Mira
Once upon a time there was a girl and a kitten. The kitten’s name was Purr. The girl’s name was Rosabell.Rosabell did not like the kitten getting dirty.
One day the kitten went outside and there was a giant mud puddle in the middle of the garden. The kitten jumped in. The kitten kept walking until she found a peanut butter and jelly sandwich laying in front of the mud puddle. She went inside and stuck her cute head in. She rolled in the peanut butter and jelly sandwich and got covered in peanut butter and jelly.
She said, “What if Rosabell comes back soon. I must clean myself off.” So the kitten kept walking around the garden until she found a very clean puddle. Then she jumped in. She climbed out and shook herself off.
Rosabell came back.They both went inside. Rosabell said to Purr, “I have to go to bed now.” Then she climbed into her bed. Purr jumped onto the bed and snuggled too.
The End
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KINDERGARTEN slaves to freedom. We learned that after the Emancipation Room 106 Proclamation was signed by Kathy, Liana & June Abraham Lincoln, it was finally The Peregrine Falcons have not okay to own slaves. have been continuing their However, freedom was not studies of people who have what the slaves thought it used their voice to make would be. They quickly learned change happen. We learned that they were not equal to about Frederick Douglass. We their former slave owners and learned that he escaped that there were limits to their slavery by dressing as a sailor. freedom (jobs, money, homes, In his book, Life and Times of schools, rights, etc.). Over time, Frederick Douglass he writes it was clear the law was not on Selma’s List (from room 106) about the journey. "My their side and they continued to knowledge of ships and sailor's be treated as inferior because of Benjamin Banneker, ”Never talk came much to my assistance, the color of their skin. Through abandon your vision. Keep for I knew a ship from stem to marches, sit-ins and boycotts, reaching to further your stern, and from keelson to figures like Rosa Parks and dreams.” cross-trees, and could talk sailor Martin Luther King Jr. helped like an 'old salt.” lead like-minded people in the Frederick Douglass, “It is easier stand against injustice during the to build strong children than to Frederick Douglass was an Civil Rights Movement and repair broken men.” abolitionist who used his voice succeeded in changing some to make change. He wrote about things. “But what about today -Kathy his experiences as a slave in the Ms. Jada?”, asked Eddy. south. He also wrote about the Room 107 importance of voting for both What injustice will you stand Jada & Manny men and women. We learned against? “They should get together and that he also worked closely with make a plan to be free ”- President Lincoln during the … -Jada Jonathan R. Civil War.
Room 108 As we continue to put the Benjamin Banneker was another Geralyn & Donna finishing touches on our person who used his voice to Inspired by The Case For Loving: individual Underground Railroad make change. He was the son of The Fight for Interracial quilts, we’re focusing on the idea a former slave. He was born a Marriage, The Big Book of that when there is injustice, free man. He had many Families and Todd Parr’s The things can change when people accomplishments. Some of the Family Book, our class is working take a stand against it. Harriet works he is known for are: being on an inclusive book about Tubman was one prominent a mathematician, publishing his families. We want to teach others figure who took a stand. Her almanacs, and surveying about what we have been belief that slavery was wrong Washington D.C. learning. The Rainbow Fish are prompted her to lead over 300 using all of the MHS Habits of
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Work for this project. for their meal and we asked, “Forethought” helped each "Is there anything that could student plan their page. make your meal complete?" “Perseverance” and "Cereal!" came their reply. “reflection” are guiding us After checking with the chef, through multiple drafts and the teachers happily served a a critique process. And our Cheerios garnish to those checklists are helping us diners who requested it. with “production” - making sure we have a high-quality This fun experience was a product to share at our delight. The children were Exhibition on June 8th. thrilled to dine at the jazz cafe Habits of Mind and Habits of and conducted themselves Work are important expertly. We paused Ella's elements of daily life at our music from time to time to school - even in K0. discuss the lyrics and reminded the children to hear -Geralyn her scat innovations again.
Room 109 We encourage you to continue Katie & Mary the jazz cafe at home! "Welcome to the Jazz Cafe! Please allow me to show -Katie you to our coat check and then follow me to your GRADES 1 & 2 table." Room 205 The idea for our Jazz Cafe Ashleigh & Alana came from a friend of a In room 205, we have been friend’s kindergarten using poetry to share our teacher at another school. thoughts, feelings, and what Her kindergarteners enjoy we have learned about the "Jazzy Lunch," and we Civil Rights Movement. wanted to try it. As we began our study of Ella Peace - By Danae Cumberbatch Fitzgerald, jazz singer Peace, peace over me. extraordinaire, we felt it Peace, peace nice in deed. was fitting to experience Peace, peace never wrong. her music over lunch. Peace, peace like a song. decorations and music. They Peace, peace wonderful. The children walked proudly waited patiently Peace, peace beautiful. into the classroom and oohed Photos (above) submitted by Danny and and ahhed at the table Felicia’s class, room 216) Love, Love - By Emma Newton
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Love, love in Martin Luther King Love, love in Rosa Parks. Jr. CLASSROOM NEWS
Love, love in Ruby Bridges. Photos (above) are from the 3rd & 4th Love, love there’s a spark - grade trip to Beacon Hill! (see room And that spark is called hope. 207’s column for more information!)
say “Talking with your family -Ashleigh may help you understand this
topic a Room 216
Danny & Felicia bit more, but it’s also totally “Danny, what race am I?” In fine if you don’t know what race any Struggle for Justice theme, you are right now.” we spend a considerable amount of time reflecting on -Danny how people must feel and trying to see things from their Room 217 point of view. But how does Kate & Stephanie this perspective taking get Last Friday students in our affected when students are class did a wonderful job unsure of how they connect to presenting at Friday Share. We the subject? As we’ve studied were sharing about our theme: school segregation, it has been The African American challenging for some of us to Experience: Struggle for imagine what our lives Justice. Tyhiem read a piece of would’ve been like during that writing he did when we were time. What did school learning about Dr. Martin segregation look like for Luther King Jr. and then the students who are Hispanic or class sang “It’s a Wonderful Latino, or for students whose World” by Louis Armstrong. parents identify as different Here is Tyhiem’s piece that he races? There have been many read on stage: “I was inspired times when we pause to by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I discuss students’ questions have a dream too. I have a about race and its many dream that one day everybody components, including skin will be proud of themselves. color, last name, hair, first Everybody will be able to do language, the country your well in school. Everybody will family came from, and more. be kind to each other.” I see We also emphasize that the trees of green, red roses too... idea of race was created by people and “there’s no race -Kate written on you when you’re born”, yet racism impacts how often my response to students you’re treated in the world. Most GRADES 3 & 4 who ask “What race am I?” is to MHS NEWS: 05/17/19 PAGE 5
The third and fourth graders are Room 203 in their last round of Passport Jenerra & Mayra Math for the year. Mary and I are CLASSROOM NEWS
leading a group of Beacon Hill used to students who need be a poor part of the support with city, now it is really extending their rich. math knowledge a We talked about the bit further. We met Abiel Smith School. on Monday of this Lewis Hayden kept week, and as I gun powder in his talked about the house and work they would be threatened to blow it doing, cheers rose up if slave catchers with enthusiasm! “I tried to come in. love this kind of We went to the Abiel work!” one person Smith School again shouted. “Are there logic -Jenerra and learned more than last time. problems? I love logic I saw the Phillips School, it was problems!” It was clear that we only for white students. It was had struck the right note with Submitted by room 212 located in the black part of this group of mathematicians. As Beacon Hill. they took their work, got a pencil Room 207 I walked a lot and I went to and found a place to sit, the room Amanda & Amina Lewis Hayden’s house. was still buzzing with the This week, we visited the African Lewis Hayden’s house is in the excitement of the new math Meeting House and walked the same neighborhood as the Abiel challenges ahead. As everyone Black Heritage Trail with park Smith School. began to work, the room grew rangers. On the Black Heritage We created a poem about our quieter. Student’s were focused Trail, we started at the Robert community and the community on the problems at hand. Some Gould Shaw Memorial, visited that lived in Beacon Hill. got up to get scratch paper or to the Phillips School, saw the ask a quick question to their Hayden House and more. Here is -Amanda neighbor. They were not some information that the Lively working just to “get done”. They Learners Learned on the trip: Room 212 were working with confidence Cleata & Ayan and joy. This is how we hope all I stepped on the same floor as We are happy to share with you students in Passport Math, and Sarah Roberts. that the Panthers just recently Math in general, will approach I saw Lewis Hayden’s house. wrapped up our lesson on and tackle the work before them. I walked on the same floor biographies. We have been Their excitement was boards that were in the African reading biographies of Black contagious...Mary and I have American meeting house 150 leaders such as Martin Luther begun to solve the problems as years ago. King, Ruby Bridges, Elma Lewis, well! I went through an alleyway that Rosa Parks and many others. fugitive slave ran down. After reading these amazing
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biographies, the Panthers then classmates, which was very learning many new things about started writing their own exciting to witness. It was very each other that they didn’t biographies on one of their refreshing to see the students already know. They learned new CLASSROOM NEWS
information such as their kindergarten years, what While Abdi is on leave to do they want to do when take care of his father, Ms. they grow up, things they Courtney and I will be the do with their family, and teachers in 215. their hobbies. Finally, they wrote summaries of the -Kathy B biographies, which are GRADES 7 & 8 now up on our board in front of our classroom Room 213 along with a poster they Jenna & Natel decorated. Last Thursday, we had the privilege of hosting Dr. -Ayan Terrence Roberts of the Little Rock Nine at Mission GRADES 5 & 6 Hill School. Dr. Roberts spoke about his Room 210 experiences as a part of Nakia & Kat the group of nine black See photo and caption in students who integrated the center of this page. Central High School in 1957 and answered Room 215 questions from students Abdi & Courtney M. during an assembly. Dr. Lights ..Action . and so began, wasn’t afraid to tell the truth. Roberts maintained a … … “Emperor Stumps’s New Michelle, Liam, Ares, Luis, sense of humor and optimistic Clothes”, a play written and Ashton, Jaiden S., Jayden G., Eva, outlook throughout his directed by Paul for Major Skillz Students from Evolve class taking presentation while also cast. Noah, Emperor Stump, advance of the beautiful new picnic acknowledging that our country tables in our recess space. hooked us with his dramatic has a long way to go and a lot of rendition of a man with too work to be done around issues of and Adam entertained us by much pride and too little race. When students asked him playing their roles beautifully, intellect who got tricked into how he dealt with the abuse that making us laugh and clap, and showing his true colors when he the Little Rock Nine endured at were a true team coming paraded around with long johns the hands of white students and together to outwit a man who and a t-shirt on, not the adults at Central High, he needed a reality check. We are so exquisite, expensive clothes he instructed them to not let the proud and thank them, Paul, and believed were made for him. hate of others get to them; he their families for all their hard Eniya showed great courage by said that when people show hate work to create a memorable stepping in at the last minute to towards you, it is a reflection of experience for our community. play the role of his wife who them and their character and has
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nothing to do with you. This was thankful to Dr. Roberts for with us and for the people at the an amazing opportunity for our sharing his wisdom and time organization, Facing History and students and staff and I am CLASSROOM NEWS
Ourselves, who made this “I wonder what would happen if snapped on the battery packs. opportunity possible. I added five battery packs?” Then Then he flicked on the switch, everybody had a comment or the disk attached to the motor -Jenna suggestion. Some said no, others when flying in the air, bounced suggested that he should add one off the ceiling and kept on Room 214 or more battery packs but not spinning until it reached the Reginald & Frances five. However, most people ground. There was constant chatter in encouraged him to add as many the room. Most of us were sitting batteries as possible to see what Everyone kept working on their at the long table in the middle of happens. projects but encouraged Adler to the room. Some were making keep adding more batteries to circuits to light a bulb or run a Then he asked, “Reginald, can I see what would happen. It went fan. A few students, mostly those add five battery packs?” I asked on like this until it the end of the using Scratch, were sitting along him why he wanted to and what hour of elective and students the wall. We were all engaged in he thought would happen if he returned to their class. I look whatever activity we were doing. did then I said, “yeah, go ahead.” forward to next week’s elective. Until Adler, who had been Then the room started to buzz, working on a circuit board, said, all eyes turned to Adler as he -Reginald
SCHOOL-WIDE NEWS
Dear MHS Families:
The MHS Family Council will be holding elections for three positions that will become vacant at the end of the school year:
● Co-Chair of the MHS Family Council ● Secretary of the MHS Family Council ● Family Representative to the MHS Governing Board
All positions have a two-year term. We would like to announce the candidates at the music concert on May 22, and run elections at the Exhibitions & Recollections event on June 7. If you are interested, or have any questions, please reach out to [email protected]
Regards, MHS Family Council
Ayla Gavins, Principal Mission Hill K-8 School 20 Child Street
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Deborah Meier, Founder A Boston Public Pilot School Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 T 617-365-6384 Laura Perille, Interim Superintendent WWW.MISSIONHILLSCHOOL.ORG F 617-635-6419
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