The History of Mrs. Pickles

The Continuing Biography of Mrs. Pickles
~After trying her hand at a career in gardening, Mrs. Pickles began to get bored. She needed more than just cucumbers and lettuce in her life. She approached her great uncle Dill. He was known for his wisdom. The family called him Sweet Dill. She traveled to Kosherville, Tennessee to seek his advice. They sat down to a dinner of bread and butter pickles. She listened to his advice and moved to Jacksonville Florida where she met........................

Uncle Sweet Dill in his church clothes

Find out the rest next week

Milkweed Book Review

~Wicked cool Youtube video about Warsaw ghetto if you scroll down!

~Today was our January End of the Month Luncheon. You will have to wait until Monday to see pictures....Mr. Gibbons forgot his camera at school. Thanks to all the parents that came out! And there were a lot! We enjoyed a nice meal and got some valuable information about upcoming field trips. Any Ape Student attending the Luncheon had to have at least 16 books read independently, and the 9 we have read as a class. For February's luncheon each student must have read 20 books independently. The four books for February must all be chapter books!

~Congratulations to Lillian and Andy! They were this week's Star Students!

~A special thanks to Mrs. Walker for delivering our luncheon, baking us some cookies, and supplying this month's drinks! She rocks! Mrs. Powell has agreed to supply February's drinks.

~A BIG Congratulations to Jasmine Simmons. Jas has joined Octavia in the 50 BOOK CLUB! Remember, ALL Apes will read 50 books this year!

Parent Workshop

~duPont Middle School is offering a free workshop on Keeping Kids Out Of High-techTrouble on February 26 at 6:30 pm. Many students find ways to get around fire walls and Internet blockers. This guy will show you how to stay one step ahead. Click on link below for more.
High-tech Workshop

~Here is some more information about the life of Mrs. Pickles. After flunking out of ballet school, she decided on a life in agriculture. It was her calling. Here is a picture of her with her wheel barrel. She attended Vlassic A & M College and earned a degree in vinegarology. Her interest in flowers soon soured. Find out why next week.

The Pickle Ballet

I found a picture of Mrs. Pickle when she was younger. She wanted to be a ballerina but soured on it later in life. When asked if it bothered her that she became a teacher instead of a ballerina, she replied, "It was not really a big dill".

Luncheon

If you plan on coming to Friday's End of Month Luncheon please send in the form that went home today. Also, remember to send in your permission slip and $9 by Friday for our UNF field trip.

Jim Ugly and Cici's

Partner and Guided reading Jim Ugly

K-9 and Cody

Robbie and Grif

Don't fall asleep Trenton

Chris and Griffin

Jas and Tsar Nick

Now this is the way to read!

Matilda and Madison

Mrs. Peck's group got the nice cool and sunny picnic table.....my group was on the floor!

(My favorite picture so far this year)

~Mrs. Ross stops by to play with Bridey. Where's Mrs. Ryan?

~Some of the Apes met at Cic's Pizza to help raise money for the PTA. Evan left before the camera came out.

A fashion statement!

Former Ape Abrianna

Miss Hartless

Former Ape Arturo

Jim Ugly

We started our new novel today, Jim Ugly. We worked in circles today reading with small groups. It is difficult to read any novel after reading Milkweed but this one is off to a good start. Did you know that wolves do not bark? More information later today.

Monday

~PTA Fundraiser at Cici's on Old Baymeadows tomorrow night from 5-8.

~Permission slips for our field trip went home today......please return them as soon as possible. please send in cash only. If you have difficulty coming up with the $9 just let Mrs. Whitelaw, Mrs. Peck, or Mr. Gibbons know before Thursday.

~Today was a crazy day. We were supposed to start our new novel Jim Ugly today. Due to an assembly and an hour in the computer lab we did not get started.

~We learned some of the basic rules of basketball today and had a blast. Stop fouling Evan!

Nice defense Dylan

Rashod dunks the ball

The Whitelaw Apes practice some throwing and catching

Reading FCAT Prep after school with Mrs. Zinn

Math FCAT Prep with Mrs. Hayden

Math FCAT Prep

Mrs. Peck poses with VonKeisha

They all fight to hold VonKeisha

There's no escaping boys!

Your child is bringing home a fundraiser today. They are also bringing home a permission slip for our trip next week. Please turn in money by this Friday! If coming up with the $9.00 is a problem please let me know before Friday. Thanks

Field Trip
Room 71 and 73 are going on a field trip February 6th. We are going to the Nature Trails at UNF. The cost of the trip is $9.oo. This includes the field experience and the bus ride. permission slips will be going home on Monday. Please send cash only. If the fee is a problem and cannot be paid by Friday, please contact Mr. Gibbons, Mrs. Peck, or Mrs. Whitelaw and we will figure something out. Please bring a bag lunch. We will have a blast!

One scene from the trails at UNF

Star Students

Andrew and Jaliyah are the Star Students for January 23, 2009

Milkweed
~We officially finished Milkweed today. At the end of the novel we finally realized that the whole story was Misha ranting from a street corner in Philadelphia. He was a damaged man who just needed someone to listen. Two old women who were survivors finally comforted him and told him he could stop and that he would be OK.

~Janina did not survive, as Kuba, Henryk, Enos, Ferdi, Uri, and Olek also did not survive. Misha tried to go to the "ovens" and join his "family", but was unable to get there due to the kindness of Polish strangers who hid him.

~In the end, Misha found his true family that he did not even know he had. He named his granddaughter Janina and was able to relieve himself of some of the pain that he carried due to the Holocaust.

~In the words of Trenton, "I give it a 15 on a scale of 1-10".

~Mrs. Peck and I are glad we experienced Milkweed with you, and hope that you share it with others.

The Best Misha! Eb needed some kleenex.

We finished! Is Andrew still crying?

We finished Milkweed! Now we can eat Uri's favorite food with a twist....Kool Aid

Derek wanted to eat his NOW!

Mrs. Ross stopped by to experience the cherry pickle

Mr. Sofferin wants the recipe

"They are actually good Mr. G."

What a combo!

Mrs. Pickle and the Picklettes

Extended Day Fun with Mrs. Runyon

Janina

~Today Janina was herded into one of the trains at Stawki Station outside of the Warsaw Ghetto. Misha did everything to get to her but a Jackboot soldier picked her up and threw her into the cattle car. The door slammed shut before he could get to her. Just as Misha was about to be shoved into a cattle car, a Jackboot soldier grabbed him, threw him to the brick wall, kicked him while other soldiers laughed. Then the soldier pointed his pistol at Misha's head, and pulled the trigger. The soldier was Uri! I'm sure you all have a million questions about Janina, Misha, and why Uri was in a Nazi uniform. We will try to finish tomorrow. Below is an actual picture of Jews being forced onto a train outside the Warsaw ghetto at Stawki Station Warsaw Ghetto Jews forced to wait outside the cattle cars

Ghetto Jews and Jackboots just before being sent to Stawki Station

Warsaw Jews being herded onto cattle cars

This is an actual cattle car that transported Jews to Auschwitz (note the small area on the left of the cattle car for a soldier to guard the deported)

Thursday is cooooold!

Milkweed

In Milkweed today, Mrs. Milgrom has finally passed away. On top of having to bury their mother, the Milgroms had to endure the bombing of Warsaw by the Russians. Uncle Shepsel is convinced he will be saved because he converted to being a Lutheran. Is he naive or what?

After her mother's death, the filthy living conditions, and a sever shortage of food even for smugglers, Janina has begun to give up like her mother. Will Misha save her? Will he also give in to the desperation? Find out tomorrow! We have discussed many of the causes of the Milgrom's misery, and the effects of the stoppage of food, medicine, clothing, electricity, and water into the ghetto. Your children are becoming experts on the study of the Holocaust.

We will finish this novel this week. It is an awesome accomplishment but it is also sad to see the story end. We have grown to love Misha and Janina, as well as Henryk. In many short discussions, most agree that it is the best book they have ever read. Some may change their mind when we read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

~End of Month Luncheon is coming up January 3oth, the 98th day of school! Mark your calendars.

COLD!

Congratulations to Octavia Powell! She has read her 50 books! All students in Rooms 71 and 73 WILL read 50 books. She is the first. there also 8 students who are close and we are only half way through the year!

~Please make sure that you dress appropriately for the cold. Tomorrow is not supposed to get out of the forties! Brrrrrrrrrrrr! Please do not wear shorts or sandals.

~Please be on the lookout for your child's field trip permission slips over the next week.

King and Obama

Every year in January we celebrate the life of assassinated civil rights leader Martin Luther King. He spoke of a country that did not see color or status. Tomorrow the United States of America, our country, will swear in a Black man as President. How impressive is this? The Untied States is only 12% Black. America voted on the qualities of the man and the content of his character, and not the color of his skin. It shows that we are on our way to fulfilling the dream that Dr. King spoke about. I am proud of my country, as you should be too.

Peck's Earrings

Did you see Mrs. Peck's new earrings?

Pickles

This coming Friday is Kool Aid Pickle Day. The pickles are ready! They have marinated for two weeks. I tasted them last night. OK, Kool Aid and pickles sound gross together. I was amazed! They were actually DELICIOUS! Let's hope you have your 15 books ready by Friday so you can enjoy them! They will cost on ONE Gibbo Dollar. What a bargain. I'll be right back, I am going to eat another one.