Friday, August 8, 2008

New School Updates

Well, Mama and Goldie went over to the new school
yesterday and took some updated pictures of Mama's classroom and other parts of this beautiful new school. Mama never thought in a million years that she would get a new classroom, and this is like a dream (or nightmare depending on our mood) come true!!
These pictures show a couple of the walls in Mama's room. Notice the white strips between the panels on the walls. They have holes in them where you can hang shelving or other things. Mama thinks they are really cool! She can't wait to get in on Tuesday and start making it her own!

Here is a picture of the soon-to-be playground. Mama thought that it was going to be delivered this week, but she has not seen it yet! She hopes the kids will have a place to play come August 21! A class without recess is like having monkeys trapped in a cage!!

And here is a view down one of the two identical hallways. Mama's room is the third one on the left side. There is also a mini workroom for teachers down each hallway, complete with a faculty bathroom inside. WOW! The principal came around with his little notepad and assigned rooms a couple of weeks ago. Mama thought she would be in a different room on the other side of the hallway, but is fine with this one, too. They are all identical anyway..... except for the view out the window. TF (Mama's Teacher Friend that came with her from Wellsville) is sad that she does not get the view of the cows out her window. :(









Here are some pictures of the gym. The floor needs to be stained and finished, but everyone is thankful that it is at least installed! They thought for a while that the school might open without a cafeteria, but it is about finished as well.
The stage is really cool! Behind it is a really big music room and a ramp into the hallway. It seems very user-friendly... if one could say that about a stage. It almost makes Mama want to do another Opera with her class.....ALMOST.

Here is the view of the library with the glass windows. This is one thing that might not be finished when school starts, and it will take years to build up a collection like the one at Wellsville. Hopefully the little city library will help us out.
This is the front office.... or part of it. This office has a conference room, a principals suite (At least it looks like it compared to the one in Wellsville), a very large faculty room and a work room. There are also some other little rooms attached that Mama is not sure what they are for... maybe a sick room? Who knows! AND there is a bathroom in the office. Wow the secretary could probably even answer the phone from there! (Let's hope she doesn't!) This school has so much more than Mama is used to, that it will be fun for her to just learn what everything is for!
Goldie looks a little perplexed about the mess. August 21 is coming right up!
Here is a view of the front of the school. Mama and Goldie are so happy to see that the blacktop is finally being poured! It makes it look a little less like a construction zone. Oh, and they put up the outside lights yesterday! Cool!
What memories are being made here in our little town! Nobody will forget the first year of the new school! Mama and Goldie are so excited to get to be involved!
Remember, fellow bloggers, and even you lurkers, please leave us your favorite Back-to-School memories! Or, if you have a school memory that involves us in some way, we'd love to hear about it! Have a happy Back-to School everyone!!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

A New Adventure

After 15 years at Wellsville Elementary, Mama Bear is moving to a brand new school just through the field from their cottage. Goldie is going with her, and they know that they are in for quite an adventure! Mama gets teary now and then thinking of the sweet friends and familiar surrounding of Wellsville Elementary. She never thought that she could leave that wonderful old school. Luckily, it is only 10 minuts away (if you drive the speed limit), and she plans to visit once in a while to keep up those familiar friendships!



As heartbreaking as leaving the old school is, mama and Goldie have really enjoyed watching the new school go up. They have gone over at least once a week to see how things are moving along... and sometimes they are even brave enough to tell the workers to "Hurry UP!!" School starts on the 21st of August, and everyone keeps saying that we will start on time. In May Mama took some pictures, and Goldie tried to star in every one of them! Mama plans to put some updated photos on the blog soon! But here is how far along it was last May:
This is one of the two identical hallways. It is pretty dark without electricity!
This will be the library. It is between the two hallways. Goldie is sitting where a big glass window will be.
Inside one of the "more finished" rooms. Mama loves the cubbies, but does not have as much storage area as her big old classroom at Wellsville.

A view from the tracks. Many of the neighbor children want to walk to school on the tracks, but the school and railroad are strongly discouraging this!!

This is going to be such a memorable experience for all that are involved. Our little town has fought for this for a very long time, and now it is finally here! It will change this little town in ways that nobody expected. We hope that it will only add to the wonderful community that we already have!

Hey, friends! In honor of our new school, and it being back to school time, leave us your comments about your most memorable school experiences... you know, the ones that you will never, ever forget! Mama, Papa, and Goldie will never forget the building of this new school!