The Last Dance

Today was Drew's last day of elementary school.  I can hardly believe that this day has come.  Twelve  years ago, I was over eight months pregnant with Drew, waddling over to Ms. Gullo's kindergarten door for the very first time with Kelsey as part of a brand-new class of Irving students.  I remember thinking on the way over that in two years, Erin would be in kindergarten, and then I'd have my days to myself.  I barely got that thought out of my head when Drew delivered a hard kick to my lung.  I caught my breath a moment and thought Oh, but then there's this one.  Oh!  This child will be born in October - it'll be a late birthday.  I've set myself back six years in the school game.  WHAT WAS I THINKING?!  I started doing the math.  I figured out that I would be spending the next twelve years of my life at Washington Irving Elementary School.  Back in 2000, I could hardly fathom that.  At that point, Kelsey was only five.  The idea that I was going to be associated with this particular school for more than twice the number of years that she had been alive...well, that was just incomprehensible.  Honestly, it's gone much faster than I ever thought it would.  I truly am having some trouble wrapping my head around the idea that I'm officially a "former" Irving parent.  I took lots of pictures today to commemorate this event.  Here are my favorites:

Ms. Balicki's 5th grade class:

Drew playing hoops on the playground for one last time as an Irving student:

In place to watch the final teacher dance:

 

Mr. Hodge, beloved Irving principal, makes the final announcements of the school year before introducing the dance

The last dance Drew witnessed as an Irving student:

Last year, Mr. DiPaolo was Elvis; this year, he was Michael:

Drew and his fabulous teacher this year.  Ms. Balicki has had a tremendous impact on all three of my kids.

Looking forward to the next step!

New Kindergarten Parent Welcome

I spent the better part of Kelsey's kindergarten year locked in a shell-shocked haze.  Six weeks after Kelsey went off to her first day of school, Drew was born.  Juggling a newborn's sleep schedule with a half-day kindergarten schedule was tricky.  I also found that navigating the modern public school system for the first time was daunting.  I remember measuring the stack of paper that came to the house from the district and the school the month before Kelsey's first day of kindergarten.  It was an inch-and-a-half high, and most of it was double-sided.  This was also about the time I realized I would be spending the next twelve consecutive years at Washington Irving Elementary School.

It didn't take me long to fall in love with Irving, but I realized there were lots of people like me who were nervous to send their first child off to school.  By the spring of Kelsey's kindergarten year, I sat down with some veteran parents and asked if there was any way we could coordinate an event for new kindergarten parents, that would take place the weekend before school started.  If it was an informal, come-and-go-as-you-please type of thing, perhaps it would be a draw.  And if we could get the principal and the teachers to attend too, even better.  I promised that if the veteran parents would help me put the first one or two together, I would run it until I left Irving.  They agreed to help me, and the New Kindergarten Parent Welcome was born.

I had no idea the impact this event would have on my family, and on the Irving community as a whole.  This event is where we've met and become friends with many Irving families, including the Rappaports.  Several parents have told me over the years, "It was at the New Kindergarten Parent Welcome that I decided I wanted to get involved at Irving."

Today was the eleventh year of this event, and my last year coordinating it.  I've passed the baton to a newer parent whose oldest child is in first grade.  She's right where I was a decade ago.

I honestly can't believe this is the beginning of the end of my involvement at Irving.  From the looks of things, the school is in capable hands.

A Beautiful Thank You

I just love it when people say "thank you" with flowers.  This is the third time this year I've been so lucky to be thanked in such a wonderful way.  These gorgeous flowers are in a basket, which now hangs from my front porch.  Ms. Payton gave them to me (along with a note so beautiful and heartfelt it made me cry) to say "thanks for being a room parent all three times your kids were in my classroom."

Giving Thanks

After nine years of being on the Staff Appreciation Committee, I can honestly say that this year, we outdid ourselves.  Our theme was Giving Thanks, and we provided the Irving teachers and staff with Thanksgiving dinner in May.

We decided to do two very different things this year.  First, we solicited the entire Irving community to write letters of thanks to the teachers and staff.  Last night we sorted all those letters of appreciation, bundled them up, and today we passed them out as the parting party favor.  Our staff was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love shown to them not just by our committee, but by the students and other parents as well.

Next, we put a unique spin on decorating the tables.  Each year we've transformed the gym to match the theme of our event.  Honestly, as we were beginning to plan for this year's luncheon I thought, What can we do differently this year?  After all, how many ways are there, really, to re-arrange tables in the gym?  This is where the creative genius of the entire team comes into play.  For the first time ever, we teamed up in pairs and brought our own tableware, flatware and stemware.  We tied all the tables together with matching tablecloths and folded napkins.  The place was stunning.

At the planning meeting last month, Bharthi and I bonded over our mutual love of Fiestaware, so we put our plates together to create a classic Fiestaware look, mixing the colors for contrast.  Those who get Fiestaware, loved our table:

Here's a look at the rest of the tables, plus some fun candids from the day:

This was Mel's last year as our Intrepid Leader, and I can hardly believe it's been nine years since we were in front of Ms. Gullo's kindergarten door, and I turned her down when she asked me if I'd help her with the staff luncheon. I told her it was just cold cuts and pasta slapped down on a table for the teachers, and I didn't want to be a part of that.  "That's not what I have in mind," is what she said.  Her passion and enthusiasm hooked me, and I'm so glad I changed my "No" to a "Yes!"

At the end of the day, here's what Mel had to say to all of us:

Hey there-
Well we did it again! We hosted the heck out of a mighty fine thanksgiving for our hardworking teachers and staff yesterday! Irving school is sure lucky to have all of you and sharing your company for the past month has been a great pleasure. Please remember to pass along your receipts next week. Links to blogs and pictures are included below this message.

So...okay here it goes...the annual Staff Appreciation shout outs...
To our committee members turned staff...Anne and Jamie...thanks for flawlessly blurring the lines between school and home. We all loved waiting on you, but loved that you came to the cooking night even more!
To the first-timers...Jen O, Molly, Michele, Bharathi, Marta, Penny, Lori, Laura, and Carolyn...your blind trust did not go unnoticed and your willingness to tamp down any confusion about the event was much appreciated! Your wide-eyed wonder at how it all came together was one of the highlights of the day for me and your energy and enthusiasm bodes well for the future of this event and Irving school in general!

To the old timers...Stephanie, Tee, and Nancy...having you hang around for 9 years inspired me to keep pushing forward with this event and having your voices there to help usher in new volunteers has been exceptionally valuable over the years. It is hard to believe this all started outside the kindergarten doors! Thank you for your loyalty and years of friendship.
To the new powerhouses...Talley, Gloria G, Gloria C...you three are the reason I know this event will continue on for years to come. Your creative energy, organization, ability to delegate, and willingness to take on big projects have impressed me to no end and I am honored to have witnessed your devotion to our school. You are a force to be reckoned with.
To Ron Martin...for returning and sharing his considerable talents with us again...To David Jordan...for cooking his butt off for me since 2006...and to both of you for heading up the carving stations yesterday; you were the perfect way to start off a memorable meal.

To Libby for being smart enough to use this committee as an outlet and escape this year and to Julie for managing my expectations with grace and honestly and allowing us to celebrate the exciting and courageous changes she has made in her life in the past couple of years. You are two of the most extraordinary women I know! If you ever need anything I am an email or phone call away.
To the turkey cookers, ham handlers, bakers, letter writers, and challah roll makers of the world...our lunch would not have been the same without you.

• Midge and Gina courageously offered to cook up the star attraction for our lunch and did incredibly well under pressure.

• Lisa, your challah is the hallmark of the family table and the fact you were baking until 2am for our teachers shows unparalleled devotion. Irving will miss you next year.

• Jen, your four step green beans were as good as they should have been! And thanks for following the dress code ;o)!

• Chloe, you lead the single most impressive cooking task assignment I've seen. Leading the ladies through apple pie making in the dining room was a favorite moment of the year for me!

• Karin, I love that you brought your mom this year and the committee will forever be better off because of your suggestions about becoming more eco-friendly over the years! You helped shift this event in a better direction. Thanks!

• Liz, thank you for supporting Talley and making time to share with us in the midst of book fair insanity. You are an Irving school hero!

To Jane (aka Treasure Island)...for being one of my favorite keepsakes of all.

To Rashmi...for attaching her jury duty summons to an email...moments like that make me feel drunk with power and I love that! The seriousness of your devotion to this committee is most admirable.
And one more shout out to Talley Hann for agreeing to take charge of this event next year. Who is planning to ditch her? NO-ONE! Time to pass the bracelet...and a glass of wine.

On a personal note, I want to thank each of you for being a part of ending something that has been exceptionally special to me. I left feeling as appreciated as our staff members and I cannot express how that feels.
Love,
Mel

Irving's Winter Concert

Every year, the production that is the Irving Winter Concert never ceases to amaze me.  The music teachers are wildly talented musicians and composers, and yet they choose to teach elementary school children.  All three of my kids have truly been blessed to sit under the influence of Ms. H and Ms. T

This year, Drew was chosen to be a part of an African drum ensemble that accompanied the first song the fourth graders performed.

As great as the concert was, it was very clear that the Irving School Rap stole the show!  All the kids really got into the beat, and they rocked the house not just with the song, but with pride in their school.

Double Dipping on the Volunteer Front

I must admit, I love everything about Irving School.  I love the dedication of the teachers.  I love our principal.  I love working side-by-side with good friends for a worthy cause.  Today I volunteered for two separate events at Irving:  the annual soup and chili luncheon for the staff, and the book fair.  Both events were run by good friends with whom I truly enjoy working, so even tho it made for a hectic day, I enjoyed double dipping on the volunteer front.

The day started off with Erin's parent-teacher conference at 7:30 this morning (she's doing really well, big surprise).  Then I dashed home to put the final touches on my potato soup with herbs for the annual soup and chili luncheon, took it over to the school, helped with set up, then bailed right as the teachers were coming in so I could take my shift helping with the Irving School book fair.  My shift with the book fair ended right about the time the teachers finished eating, so I hustled back upstairs to the teacher's lounge to help with clean up.

With all that running around, I neglected to grab my camera this morning as I left the house, but Mel caught these great shots with hers:

Working on the soup and chili luncheon reminds me yet again that many hands make light work.  Seven soups, four types of bread, a giant salad with two kinds of homemade dressing, and enough desserts to last the teachers well into the evening, make for a fabulous luncheon, don't you think?

As if all this wasn't enough, Drew's conference was this evening (he's doing well academically but needs to control his talking, big surprise), and afterwards we enjoyed a late, casual dinner with Hanns at the Ale House.

Crazy busy but crazy fun.  I wouldn't trade this for anything!

Last Day of School Traditions - Part 2

I've mentioned before about Mr. Sak's head-shaving ritual on the last day of school.  Even tho Mr. Sak gave up his classroom for the Student Support Specialist position, he still shaved heads today.  "Mr. Gray's Barber Shop" was set up with four stations:  two for initial hair removal and two for the actual shave.  Since several of the boys (including a kindergartner) were getting shaved and there was limited time, Mr. Sak called in reinforcements in the form of his brother, who also keeps his head shaved, and Mr. Gray.  Mr. Sak did both hair removal and shave, switching between two stations.  Mr. Gray manned the other hair removal station, and Mr. Sak's brother manned the other shaving station.

Last Day of School Traditions - Part 1

Ever since Mr. Hodge took over as principal, the Irving School teachers have kicked off the last day of school with a dance.  It's such a fun tradition, and it truly sets the tone for a celebratory day.  The teachers have always danced to the Electric Slide, but this year they changed their tune, moving and grooving to I've Got a Feeling.

You can watch the full Youtube video here

Indoor Outing

The third graders were supposed to spend all day at Rehm Park today, having a picnic and enjoying outdoor games.  Instead there was enough rain and mud to cancel the trip to the park.  The students instead played indoor games until the weather broke.  Drew and several of his classmates played Apples to Apples...

...and I initiated a scrabble game.  I think there were nine students who, at some point, contributed to the words on the board.  Here's what our board looked like at the end:

I was especially impressed with how "uncap" became "suncapped."

Retirement Tea

This afternoon on Irving School's front porch, we honored our two retiring teachers, Mrs. Stychara  and Mrs. Loco.  Mrs. Loco has spent her entire teaching career - more than 30 years - at Irving.  For as long as anyone can remember, she has been a wildly popular second grade teacher.  I first met her when we were both chaperoning an after-school bowling league back when Kelsey was in first grade.  I was so impressed with her confident, loving disposition and professional appearance. 

When Erin was in second grade she was lucky enough to land in Mrs. Loco's classroom.  From the trucker buddy to Where's Waldo, Mrs. Loco filled every minute of second grade with hands-on learning, and made it the very best possible year Erin could have asked for.  She even overcame the terror of discovering a family of mice hiding out in one of her classroom cabinets.  Erin offered to stay after school and help her clean it out, and they've been good friends ever since.

Mrs. Loco didn't just teach second grade, she was Irving's resident tooth puller.  School legend has it on good authority that she is a direct descendant of the tooth fairy, and many a student with a wobbly tooth has made his or her way up to Mrs. Loco's room to have the thing removed.  Drew was an especially frequent customer.  As soon as one of his teeth would begin to wiggle, Drew would say, "Maybe Mrs. Loco can take it out today."  More times than not, his ventures into her classroom for a tooth status check would net in a "I'm sorry, Drew, it's just not ready yet."  Mrs. Loco had pulled so many teeth over the years, she knew exactly when one was ready and when one wasn't.  She was always so tender and so gentle, the students never felt more than a slight tug.  Over the years, many parents sighed with relief when their children came running out of school, baby tooth in hand, exclaiming, "Mom!  Look what Mrs. Loco pulled for me today!"

Thank you, Mrs. Loco, for your years of dedication to our children and school.  You will be sorely missed!

Get the Scoop

The students at Irving School were challenged to collectively read 3,000 hours in one month.  They were given pieces of paper with ice cream scoops on them and told that for every half hour they read, they should turn in an ice cream scoop.  Each week the scoops were collected and posted on a wall near the school office, creating a giant ice cream sundae.

Drew was determined to do more than his fair share to enure the ice cream party happened.  He read wherever and whenever he could.  He contributed 48 scoops to the project.  He was on his own little quest, reading all of Eragon and part of Eldest.

The students found out today that they had exceeded their goal, and this afternoon they enjoyed ice cream sundaes with every topping you can possibly think of.  Sweet!

Taste of Irving

Tonight was the annual Taste of Irving.  This multicultural potluck has been an Irving tradition since before Kelsey went to kindergarten.  I've been on the planning committee off and on over the years, but this was the first year that I was in charge.

We had planned an outdoor, block party-style event, but the weather refused to cooperate.  We switched gears at the 11th hour and pulled the party inside.  The food was as diverse as those who attended: there was everything from Moroccan meatballs to Italian beef to fajitas to savory appetizers from India.

Irving parent Norman Kerr and his band, Ifficial Reggae Movement, provided entertainment, to the delight of all.

This event is exactly why I love Oak Park.  We all came together and acknowledged our differences, yet celebrated our common ground.  It's a great way to acknowledge that together, we're stronger and better.

Yearbook

The 2009-2010 Irving School yearbook came out today.  Drew was thrilled to get his, and is planning on spending the next several days filling it with autographs from teachers and friends.

Everything PLUS the Kitchen Sink

This morning I was up early, dropping Erin off at Julian so she could catch the bus taking her to the track & field sectionals. On the way home, I swung by Irving School to help MJ set up for the Irving Yard Sale. Wow, I couldn't believe what I found! The entire first floor of Irving School has been transformed into a giant yard sale! There is everything you could ever imagine at this indoor yard sale, including a kitchen sink.

AWake collected the first sale before 8am.

Get over there this morning before 1pm and help support the Irving Schoolyard Project!