It's HERE!

I've been sucked into the vortex of full-on school!  Sorry, Wagoneers and Wagon Watchers, I've had no time for blogging as a result.

Meet the Teacher was August 14 for an hour in which I had the opportunity to meet my cherubs.  August 15 was our first day of school in the Learning Garden.  Such a sweet group of 2ndies!

I'll get caught up shortly and post some classroom and kidlet pics.  Hope your year is going smoothly if you've already started.

More Moore

As you can tell by the number of posts I have made about it, the tornado that ravaged Moore stirred my heart. 

 

I so appreciate Amy Braun for helping me coordinate the delivery of the teaching materials my friends and I made.  She graciously took the time to drive me  around to see the unbelievable destruction.

 

Here are some more pictures I took.

Flags that were hung immediately after the storm can still be spotted along the tornado's path through town.

 The tragedy at Plaza Towers especially was immeasurable, but so has been the outpouring of love and help.

 Click here to view a video to see how this organization has helped.

DELIVERED!!!

Today I had the privilege of delivering the teaching materials to Moore.  I met my friend and Moore assistant principal, Amy Braun, who will distribute the materials to the teachers from the two destroyed schools.  She drove me around to see the two school sites, which by now are fenced off and have been cleared to their slabs. 

Plaza Towers Elementary was the school where lives were lost.  Its fence has become a shrine with t-shirts and safety vests worn by volunteers from all over the United States who came and helped.  Stuffed animals still dot the fence.  Broken bricks from the building have names, pictures, and encouraging words painted on them.  It was difficult to view it without crying.  Note the first date on the sign.  May 20 was the date of the tornado.

Thankfully, no lives were lost at Briarwood Elementary.  The display created on their fence says, "Hope."  The words on the handmade plaques staked to the ground echo the theme of hope. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Administrative Service Center used to be Moore Municipal Hospital, where my daughter was born four decades ago.  Its boarded up windows and parking lot full of construction workers' cars indicated the reason all personnel had to be relocated to other buildings within the district.  

 

Workers are also busily finishing repairs on Highland East Jr. High, so it will be ready next Friday for the first day of the school year.Emmaus Baptist Church stepped up and offered space for Briarwood.  A wing at Central Jr. High was remodeled to accommodate the Plaza Towers family. 

Students and staff will continue to need your prayers as they begin school on Friday.  It's sure to stir up some feelings of anxiety, as will rainy, thundery days.  Please put a Post-It note on your mirror to help you remember to lift them up.

Success!!

I want to give a huge thank-you to the approximately 30 people who made Helping Hands for Moore Teachers a success.  We cut, colored, constructed, and covered folder games with miles (it seemed like) of Contac paper.  Other teacher items were donated as well.  Above is the result.  Below are just a few of the helpers.

Today"s the Day!!!!!

Help us change this (above) to ready-to-use new classroom materials for the Moore teachers.  Details here.  

Come help even if it's only for a little while.  If you don't live in the Tulsa/Broken Arrow area, you can email me materials you donate.

Welcome Wagon

I have a Sunday salute for my newest Wagoneer, Anita, of Primary "Teacher"piration.  Anita was a 2ndie teacher before her retirement.  Now she has the time to focus on crafting wonderful learning tools for her TPT store.

I ran across a fabulous give-away/linky the Kindergals had posted on their blog.  You won't want to miss this one!!

 

Welcome Wagon

The computer gremlins aren't gonna get me this time!  Sorry to be so slow in posting, new Wagoneers.  I'm excited to have you join my wagon train.

 

Let's all welcome Kelly from Oklahoma, whose blog has the delightful name, I'm Not Your Grandpa, I'm your TEACHER!  Another new Wagoneer is Lesa of Moore News: Hoppin' Into Second Grade.  

 

Both of these ladies will appreciate your visits to their blogs, Wagoneers and Wagon Watchers.

 

Please be sure you have read my previous post below and consider helping if you can.