No pencils

Hello,

I don't know how many years in a row that this has happened, but I'm sure that you probably have read about another two million dollar or so surplus for the school district.  I can assure you that it never feels like we have any extra to spend.  This year we underbudgeted for dry-erase markers.  We were all out before Christmas.  Today came word that we are out of pencils.  Sounds crazy, but the only way we will have new pencils this year is out of pocket.  Our class has gone through at least 300 of the ones that I bought from those ridiculous back to school sales back in August.  I should have bought more.  I will be purchasing more in the coming days, (our parent group has given all the teachers Target gift cards to help out with in class purchases), but I would be very thankful to anyone willing to donate a box of ten or twelve.  Thank you so much.

We will be making islands tomorrow.  Thank you to all of the dough makers.  We were a little short for today, so I'll make some more tonight and that should be enough.  We practiced making some land forms this afternoon with clay, and tonight's homework is to put down a rough sketch of a plan for their island(s).  It should be fun.  We'll be wearing our aprons that were so generously donated a couple years ago by Wild Oats, but I would still recommend that students don't wear their Sunday best.  We will be painting the bases first and I am more worried about that than the flour or cornstarch dough.

Crazy weather today.  I'm hoping for power when I get home.  Kids were in for the first recess, but got to run around a bit in the afternoon. 

I can't believe it is only two weeks until February vacation.  This year is going fast.  I've got some work to do.

Have good night.

Mr. Shea