Classroom of the Month winners for January's theme - Esteem:

B Wing - Mrs. Kirk's class
C Wing - Mrs. Johnson's class
D Wing - Mrs. Davis' class

Classroom of the Month winners for February's theme - Conflict Resolution

B Wing - Mrs. Simon's class
C Wing - Mrs. Wolf's class
D Wing - Mrs. Germann's class

Classroom of the Month theme for May - Responsibility

for Thursday, May 17, 2012

Have you ever heard of world-class golfer Nancy Lopez?  People began to notice her for her hard work and positive attitude which helped her become a big winner at a young age.

She once said:

You can't win all the time, but as long as you are doing the best you can, that's important.

Ask yourself today: Am I doing my best?  If the answer is "yes" congratulations, you'll end up a winner!

for Thursday, May 10, 2012

Some of us think a gift has to be a thing . . . a material thing . . . usually an expensive thing wrapped in pretty paper with a big bow.  But the greatest gift we can ever give is not a thing.  It can't be touched.  It's invisible to the eye.  It has no price tag.

The greatest gift is the gift of kindness.

This Sunday is Mother's Day, a day set aside to honor the women in our lives who takes care of us.  Maybe it's a mom or stepmom or grandmother or aunt.

This Mother's Day give the person who takes care of you something really special.  Sit down with her and tell her how much she means to you.  Tell her how much you appreciate all the things she does for you.  Tell her what you love most about her.  Tell her why she's special.  Then wrap it up with a great big hug and seal it with a kiss.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make is a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, May 3, 2012

Did you know that people from all over the world travel hundreds and hundreds and thousands of miles just so they can come live in America?  Some people even risk their lives.  Why?  Because America is one of the best places in the world to live.  We are very lucky to live in America, and we need to help keep our country strong and free.

Former President Bill Clinton says:

The most important thing you can do for your country is to work hard in the classroom.

Why?  Because the harder you work, the smarter you will be when you grow up.  Smarter people make smarter citizens, and smarter citizens make smarter choices for the country.  Today, think about what smart choices you will make for the country when you grow up.  Then be a good citizen and work hard in the classroom.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make is a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, April 26, 2012

HOP - A - THON

A challenge is something that is difficult or hard to do.  Every human being on Planet Earth faces a challenge at sometime in their lives.  Challenges are something we all have in common, no matter the color of our skin or how much money we h ave.  But some people face challenges every day, like people with a disability.  For example some people can't walk, so they use wheelchairs.  We all  have muscles but some people have a disease that affects their muscles.  It is called Muscular Dystrophy.  It is a disease that makes their muscles weak.  We have been raising money to help kids who have weak muscles because of Muscular Dystrophy.  The money will help them buy wheelchairs and find special medicines to help their muscles.  Today to wrap up this fund raiser the entire school hopped for 2 minutes.  We are hopping to show that we are willing to help people with disabilities like Muscular Dystrophy in any way we can.

for Thursday, April 19, 2012

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said:

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Injustice means not being fair.  Dr. King is saying that anytime we are unfair with one person, it means we might be unfair to someone else.  He's saying it's important to be fair with one another and do the right thing when we are deciding how to treat people.

And what is the right thing?  What one person thinks is wrong another may think is right.  But there is one rule that always applies:

Treat others how you want to be treated.

It's that Golden Rule again, and it really is just that simple.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, April 5, 2012

What does it mean to be a person of character?  It means being a person who's respected for his or her honesty and the strength it takes to make the right choices.  So where does character come from?  Are we born with it?

An American author once said:

Character isn't inherited.  One builds it daily by the way they think and act, thought by thought, action by action.

That means that every time you think and act in a way that is honest, kind, and fair, you are building character.  Today, be a person of character and try your best to make wise choices.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make is a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, March 22, 2012

Have you ever noticed how life is full of endings and beginnings?  For example, we are getting close to the ending of this school year and the beginning of summer vacation.  That's an ending and a beginning I'm sure you're looking forward to.

But some endings are not happy endings, as when a friendship ends or a marriage ends or a job ends.  It can feel as if there will never be a new beginning.

There's an old Mexican saying that goes like this:

When one door closes, fate will open another.

The next time you are faced with a painful ending, remember that when one door closes, another will open giving you new possibilities maybe one you never even dreamed of.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make is a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, March 16, 2012

Making mistakes is a natural part of being a human being.  We all do it, whether we are a teacher or a student, a young person or an old person.  It's another one of those things we all have in common.  We all make mistakes. 

A great American writer and speaker once said:

A mistake is not something to complain about,
or to be ashamed of.  It is a great teacher.

The fact that you realize you have made a mistake means you've already learned something.  You've learned what not to do in the future.  That's good.  Today, take responsibility for your mistakes, and remember, a mistake can be a great teacher.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make is a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, March 8, 2012

Today I want to tell you all about a girl named Leslie Fish.  Leslie has a mental handicap, because when she was a very small baby her brain was injured.  Even so, Leslie went to school with other children in her neighborhood, she took art lessons, and she learned to skate.  In fact, she worked so hard at her skating that she went to the Special Olympics!  Leslie is proud of herself.  She wants to be a teacher's assistant to other handicapped children when she grows up.

When Leslie was a baby, some people might have thought she didn't have much of a future because of her handicap.  But Leslie took charge of her life, did her personal best every day, and made a good and happy life for herself.  And we can all do that.

We can do our very best each day and feel good about ourselves.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make is a great day. . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, March 1, 2012

Our hearts almost always know the difference between right and wrong.  We just need to listen.  Sometimes it's hard to listen, especially when our heart is saying "This is wrong" while our mind is telling us "Everyone else is doing it."

Next time others are trying to talk you into doing something you know you shouldn't, have the courage to listen to your heart.  Then remember these words from Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States:

One person with courage makes a majority.

The whole group may be doing something wrong, but if you are brave enough to say, "Hey, this is wrong," then you rule.

Be a leader.  Remember, when you're courageous enough to do what's right, you join the ranks of some of the greatest men and women in history.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day. . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, February 9, 2012

Did you know that American President Woodrow Wilson was such a low learner that he couldn't read until he was nine years old?  That's right.  Even though he couldn't read until he was nine years old, Woodrow Wilson grew up to be president of the United States.

You might be slow at learning something too, but don't give up!  Remember Woodrow Wilson, and remember these words from "The Tortoise and the Hare."

Sometimes . . . 

Slow and steady wins the race.

Today, if you are having a hard time learning something, put one foot in front of the other, and slowly but surely you'll figure things out.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, February 2, 2012

Pope John Paul II was a spiritual leader.  He once wrote a letter to the children of the world.  He wrote:

Love and harmony build peace; hatred and violence destroy it.

Remember, love connects people, and when people feel connected, they get along.  Hate separates people and can cause people to do harmful things.

Today, help build peace in our world and in our school.  Be caring with one another.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, January 26, 2012

An ancient Greek Poet once said:

He harms himself who does harm to another.

Sounds like the other side to another saying we've heard before:

Treat others like you want to be treated.

Yes the GOLDEN RULE!  It is a piece of wisdom found in all religions across the globe.  Are you remembering to practice the Golden Rule?  If your answer is YES, you've learned something more priceless than gold.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, January 19, 2012

Did you know that no two snowflakes are alike.  That's amazing to think about when you consider all the millions and trillions of snowflakes that fall to earth each winter.  Imagine - each snowflake a different shape and a different size, unique and unrepeatable.  Sounds like human beings.

Here is a poem about snowflakes:

Though each flake is very different
There is one point you should know
As the snowflakes reach the Earth below
They become one in a great blanket of snow.
 

Just like a great blanket of snow, made up of all those unique and unrepeatable snowflakes, we are one huge blanket of unique and unrepeatable human beings covering Planet Earth.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, January 12, 2012

Did you know that children, even very young children, have wisdom inside them?  Here's some wisdom from an eight-year-old named Chris.

I would like to tell other children to do good things for others.  When you help them, you feel good about yourself.

When Chris was just five years old, she wanted to help feed hungry people.  She and her grandmother started going through their neighborhood collecting canned goods.  Several years later, she had collected so much food and helped so many people that former President George Bush honored her with a very special award.

Today, think of just one way you can help somebody.  Offer to help your teacher, do an extra chore at home, help a friend who seems sad, but remember, just because you are small does not mean you can't make a difference.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, January 5, 2012

Albert Einstein once said:

Our task must be to widen our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.

In other words, he is saying that one of our jobs in life is to be kind and caring to each other, to all living creatures and to the planet Earth.

As you move through the day today, notice that although we human creatures come in different colors, shapes, and sizes, we share a common bond with each other.  We live on the same earth and under the same stars, and we all want to be treated with respect and kindness.  Today, focus on what we have in common while celebrating the differences that makes our country great!

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours. 

for Thursday, December 15, 2011

December 25th is a day when millions of Christians around the globe will celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Jesus said:

Love thy neighbor as thyself.

Can you imagine a world where we all had good self-esteem and, because we felt so-o-o good about ourselves, we were able to really love others . . . and it wouldn't matter what color their skin was or what their religion was or what kind of home they lived in?

We would actually have:  Peace on Earth!

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.  Enjoy your break, and Happy Holidays!!!

for Thursday, December 8, 2011

There was a nineteenth-century Mexican hero, who said:

Respect for another's rights IS peace.

In other words, peace comes from showing respect to other people.  When we show respect to each other, we are less likely to argue and fight, right?

Peace on Earth means more than just peace between nations; it means peace between people like you and me.  Each time we show respect or compassion to others, we build a little more peace in the world.

Remember, Peace on Earth begins with you.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, December 1, 2011

Gandhi is a national hero of India, a man who made a huge difference in the world by teaching that being violent is not the best way to solve our differences.  Gandhi was a role model for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who also taught nonviolence.  In other words, what Gandhi said and did affected the life of Dr. King in a positive way.

Did you know that you don't have to be a world-famous hero to affect someone else's life?  In fact, you don't have to be an adult.  No matter what your age,

You can be a positive role model.

That's right.  Being a positive role model just means that you set a good example for others to follow.

Today, be a positive role model by helping a younger student or setting a good example for your classmates or choosing to do the right thing even when it's hard to do.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, November 17, 2011

Many times we look at a situation and think "This is impossible."  Louis Brandeis, former Supreme Court judge, once said:

Most of the things worth doing in the world had been
declared impossible before they were done.

Did you know that it took Thomas Edison approximately one thousand tries to create the light bulb?  But he kept trying and trying.  He didn't give up even though some people thought that what he was doing was impossible.

Today, remember this: It doesn't always take a thousand tries to reach a goal, but it may take a lot of perseverance.  That means sticking to it until you get it.  So if you have a dream or a vision or a goal, remember Thomas Edison and keep at it!

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, November 10, 2011

The word courteous means polite and respectful.  When we are courteous, we behave in a way that shows good manners and respect.  We try not to be hurtful to others.  There's an old saying:

The greater the person, the greater the courtesy.

So, what does being courteous have to do with being a great human being?  Great people understand that when you hurt others, you hurt yourself.  They know that when you are respectful to others, they are more likely to be respectful to you.

I believe that every one of you has the potential to be great.  Today, start showing off your greatness.  Be courteous to others.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, October 27, 2011

How many of you are Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts?  Did you know that when kids become Scouts they make a promise?  They promise to do their best.  That's a very important promise.  Why?  Because everyone can't make the best grade and everyone can't be the best ball player, but everyone can choose to do his or her very best.

Choosing to do our best is a special power we all have within us.

Today, make a promise to yourself.  Promise to do your best.  You don't have to be perfect, and you don't have to be Number One.  Just be the best you know how to be, and you'll be a winner.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, October 20, 2011

There's an old story about two stonecutters.  When asked what they were doing, the first stonecutter replied, "I'm cutting this stone into blocks."  When asked the same question, the second stonecutter replied, "I'm building a great church."

The way we see the world can change in an instant with a simple change in our thinking.  For example: If your attitude toward school is negative, guess what.  Your time spent at school will be negative.  If you see school as a chance to learn and grow and meet great people, you will be happy with going to school.

There's a saying that goes:

All happiness is in the mind.

It's simple, but true.  Today, notice how you think about school and the world around you.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, October 13, 2011

Has everybody here heard of Dr. Seuss?  His Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham have made us laugh and smile.  Dr. Seuss always kept a positive attitude in life.  He once said,

Whenever things go a bit sour, . . . I always tell myself: "You can do better than this,"

So the next time things are going badly with your schoolwork or with a friend, remember Dr. Seuss and the way he has made us smile.  Then keep a positive attitude and tell yourself, "I can do better."

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day. . . or not.  The choice is yours.

for Thursday, October 6, 2011

You've heard the saying,

Every Cloud has a silver lining.

In other words, behind every problem is something good, but sometimes we have to take a good, hard look behind, around, and over the dark cloud in order to see what good might come out of a bad situation.

An American author once said:

Good people are good because they've come to wisdom through failure.

In other words, good people are good because they learn something from their mistakes.  They let each failure and each mistake be an opportunity to learn and to grow.  Today, keep a positive attitude and look for the good, even in bad situations.

With something to think about, this is Mrs. Lueck.  Make it a great day . . . or not.  The choice is yours.