Student Leaders, Student Baker = AWESOME students!

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I have said it before, and I will say it again… my students rock!!

I started the year with a post about my job and how much I love what I do – so as the 2011-2012 school year draws to a close, I would like to recap my school year

1. We became a Leader in Me School (great does happen at DeFranco Elementary)
2. “Coupon Cora” was written about in the New York Times
3. We collected thousands of cans to help those in need in our community (2 years in a row we have filled our stage with cans to support our own friends and neighbors, my kids rock)
4. Our school belongs to our students: I love how each day starts/ends by being led by a 5th or 6th grader!
5. We “dance dared” our Principal (we love him & are lucky to have him)
6. Terracycle Tuesdays became a tradition – we love recycling!
7. In our first year as a Leader in Me School we hosted an amazing Leadership Day to showcase our students and their strengths/talents.

Our Leadership Day, which occurred in the end of April, welcomed over 500 community members. All of our visitors (and even some from other schools) toured our school (with student tour guides), visited classrooms to learn about the 7-Habits (led by students), visited stations where students talked about how they were leaders in different activities, and even tasted foods cooked by our student leaders!

My students (as I have mentioned many times before) always amaze me in many ways. I wanted to take a moment to introduce you to the Next Big Thing! World, meet Meghan B.! Meghan has just finished her 6th grade year and is inspired by The Cake Boss, but at the age of 12 – she is ready to start giving him a run for his money. Meghan entertained our guests with her smile and they were then blown away not only by the taste but also by the looks of this cake which she created all by herself.

Now if that cake isn’t impressive enough for you, please take a moment to look below at the cake she brought in for her Birthday a few months ago. Yes – that is a cake (at least a foot across) decorated with fondant to look like a huge hamburger. Meghan’s classmates were are still talking about that delicious piece of artwork!

So any time that you hear something bad about “these kids” please remember that yes, there are always some “rotten eggs” but more often than not, we have some amazing kids who I have the pleasure of not only calling my students, but also my friends and inspiration….

Thanks to each and every one of my students… those who decorate, my coupons kids, my comedians, my heroes, my spell and grammar checkers, my book groups, my lunch buddies, my wedding planners, my writers and yes – even the ones who make me roll my eyes.

And I leave you with this, Today’s Question of the Day… As I think of students that I will never forget, what is it/was it about a teacher that makes that person one who you will never forget?