Merry Christmas from the Whitakers

O Mod Tannenbaum Christmas

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'Twas the day before Christmas vacation

If you have ever taught school or have children of your own, you are well aware that the day before any type of vacation (whether it be Veteran's Day or summer vacation) is the equivalent to putting Fun Dip powder through the air vents at a place like Fun Station. Needless to say the children are EXCITED! Heck, the teachers are excited too! We had a great last couple of days before the two week break. Here are some pictures to sum it up...

We did get some learning done! We've been busying study about elements, atoms, and the periodic table. Here is an element superhero.


Art work done by:


We used our math skills to construct snowmen that could be no heavier than 50 pounds, and not cost more than $25.


We stuffed stockings full of treats.



As our elf, Jerry (the kids choice), and his friends looked on.




We made sweet ornaments to take home.


We collected money to buy a flock of geese for a family or village in need through Heifer International. Not quite your typical six geese a laying!


Geese provide eggs and protein for people living in third world countries all around the globe.



Our class hopes that your holiday season is full of magic, love, peace!

Merry Christmas...

Beaming with pride!

I am so proud of Katie for being selected as our school's student volunteer of the year. Way to go Miss Katie!




By the way, what's really special is that her Papa (Mr. Armstrong) was selected as our school's senior volunteer of the year! (I don't have a picture of him, but you can catch him at the Killearn Publix being the friendliest bag "boy" around!).

So what is lake effect snow?

I don't know about you but every time I turn on the television some meteorologist seems to be talking about lake effect snow. Maybe my cluelessness is due to the fact that I am a Floridian who had a short stint leaving in the north until Old Man Winter blew me back south. My curiosity got the best of me and I had to do a little research on this wintertime phenomenon. The fifth grade version goes like this:

Lake effect snows occur when a mass (a front) of really cold air moves over a body of warmer water (the lake), creating an unstable (just not right) temperature in the atmosphere. As a result, clouds build over the lake and eventually develop into snow showers and squalls (storms) as they move downwind.

The technical version comes from weather.com. Check it out for more info!

My scientific theory is that when you have freezing temps outside, you should stay inside. Preferably at a mall or store shopping! Miss Mallory, our shopper extraordinaire, did a little of just that last night. She took the liberty to arrange her own display in honor of the newest elf!

And first place goes to...

Hannah Wong brings home top prize in school Tropicana Speech Contest! Listen to her prize winning speech about all the different types of parents. Congrats Hannah!

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