Kaela's school birthday

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At our little school they celebrate everyone's birthday by inviting any family members to come and have lunch with them. Kaela's birthday isn't till July, but they designate a day during the school year to celebrate the summer birthdays, so no one gets left out! Leon has always done this before, but today he is out of town, so the honor fell to me. They have a separate table set up for the birthday child, siblings & guests, and after everyone's done eating they all sing happy birthday. I stuck around a bit afterwards to watch the kids. Before they go outside for noon recess, the younger kids all sit on the floor and wait while the older (4th & 5th) grade boys mop up the floor & fold & put away the tables. Kaela also got to be helper today, by holding the door for the clean-up crew. Here's a few scenes from my hour at school with the kids.
**As a side note here, "Our" little school is one that was formally a Class 1 school. In other words, one of those schools "THEY" did away with, deeming them unnecessary expenses, among other things. Some of the highlights of this school were: (some have remained because of long term teachers & attending families)
*children all saying grace together before noon meal *Children responsible for chores around the school...as you saw in the pictures, also taking out the trash, cleaning chalk boards, room duty chores. Things we did back in the 60's & 70's when I was in grade school.
*All grades have recess together, and all the kids in different grades get along.
* Teacher ratio in each grade is 1-6, although we have 2 grades per room, 3 teachers.
*Parents volunteered their time for clean-up, & yard mowing.
I could go on and on about this one, it's a huge rant! The expense it's caused the school district here on just consolidating this school is huge. I can't imagine what it was state wide. They hired at least 4 more "employees"...after all, if a teacher is teaching the "3 R's", then surely she can't teach P.E. too!! (or do any office work, ect) oh yes, as these students defiantly needed the services of a guidance councilor! O.K...I'll stop. We still choose to opt out of district to go to this school because of the many advantages we feel like a small school offers, despite what we've lost!



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