Mock Newbery 2014 Club Summer #1 Meeting

Mock Newbery 2014 Club Summer #1 Meeting

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Celebrate #ReadWalkWater!

     Discover. Play. Build.

Wow!  What a day yesterday!  Sixth graders and staff walked for Water for South Sudan on Friday.  It was a beautiful day and the kids got into the spirit by walking with gallon jugs of water, honoring those women and children in South Sudan who have to walk miles a day to get water for their families.  My college daughter's friend, Jordan, came to teach my classes about the world water crises.  She brought Jerry cans (containers similar to what Sudanese people would use for water - they weigh 44 lbs. when filled) and 10 Day tattoos to remind kids that they're drinking nothing but water for the next 10 days.  What was our grand total in fundraising money so far?

$2,717.40!
 

 
     Our goal is $5,000, though, so we're not done yet!  Students will be donating money that they saved from not buying beverages for 10 days.  Drink water!!  We'll be selling #ReadWalkWater bracelets at a few upcoming school events, and I'll be presenting at the local Rotary Club at the end of October.  Keep up fundraising efforts and ask for donations from family, friends, and neighbors!  We want Columbia Intermediate School to be an official sponsor of a South Sudanese well!  Enjoy photos of our wonderful week:
 
On Tuesday, we Skyped with Water for South Sudan.  That was really cool!  Here was their Facebook post:


WFSS employees Lynn Malooly and Marie Cinti Skype (video conference) with over 300 6th graders at a school assembly at Columbia Intermediate School in Kings Mills, Ohio. The 6th graders recently finished reading A Long Walk to Water and are... going to begin a fundraiser for Water for South Sudan this Friday. School group fundraisers run by passionate students and coordinated by engaged, passionate teachers make an enormous impact on fundraising efforts which provides vital funds to allow WFSS to continue to do this meaningful and life changing work. Thanks to Columbia Intermediate School and teacher Holly Mueller as well as all of the school groups, past, present and future, who are taking matters into their own hands and creating change! We can't possibly express our gratitude enough!


Photo: WFSS employees Lynn Malooly and Marie Cinti Skype (video conference) with over 300 6th graders at a school assembly at Columbia Intermediate School in Kings Mills, Ohio. The 6th graders recently finished reading A Long Walk to Water and are going to begin a fundraiser for Water for South Sudan this Friday.  School group fundraisers run by passionate students and coordinated by engaged, passionate teachers make an enormous impact on fundraising efforts which provides vital funds to allow WFSS to continue to do this meaningful and life changing work.  Thanks to Columbia Intermediate School and teacher Holly Mueller as well as all of the school groups, past, present and future, who are taking matters into their own hands and creating change!  We can't possibly express our gratitude enough!


 

 My daughter, Libby's, friend, Jordan came to visit to teach about the world water crisis.  She's the founder of the Miami University chapter of Living Water.
  
Selling #ReadWalkWater bracelets during lunch

 
 
Jordan brought Jerry cans and water from the well she helped dig in Guatemala.
 
She brought 10 Day tattoos to remind kids to drink nothing but water for 10 days!

 
 
The walk begins!  It was a beautiful day!
 
 
Filled Jerry cans weigh 44 lbs.!
 
 
Even crutches didn't stop a Cameron!

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 
Jordan and me


 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 
THANK YOU to our 6th graders for thinking about others, helping to solve world problems, and believing a book can inspire people to take action!!

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

If Not You, Then Who?


Wow!  Time has gotten away from me, and I haven't posted for a long time!  So much has been going on!  The biggest thing right now is our social action project the 6th graders are doing as a follow-up to finishing A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park.  Everyone loved the book, and we were all inspired to raise money to build a well for Water for South Sudan, Inc.  Megan even wrote about it:



 
I loved that Megan found the African Proverb, "If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together." 
 
After we finished the book, we watched this video:
 
 

 
This week we started gathering pledges and donations.  We're up to $1000, but our goal is $5,000 so we have more work to do!  We Skyped the Water for South Sudan, Inc. on Tuesday.  It was awesome.  The kids did a great job asking questions, showing enthusiasm, and being polite.
 


Friday is our big day!  It's our "Walk for Water" day.  Don't forget to bring a gallon jug of water and wear a blue t-shirt.
 
 
 
We're selling rubber #ReadWalkWater wristbands and donated Rainbow Loom bracelets during lunch on Thursday and Friday, and possibly into next week.
 
Starting on Friday, we have another fundraising project starting.  We'll be drinking nothing but water for 10 days and donating the money saved from not buying other beverages to Water for South Sudan, Inc. 
 
 
It's so exciting to see how a book can lead to social action and making a difference in the world!!
 
 
I haven't forgotten the fifth graders!  They'll be participating in this project next year, but for now they're writing fractured tales after finishing their small group extended fairy tale books and writing claim paragraphs.  They're also enjoying their read aloud, Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin.