The Maverick Mailgram



[pic] The Maverick Mailgram [pic]

"All the Twice Monthly Maverick News That Is News"

Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015 * E-mail: James.Morris@ Richard.Williamson@ * Vol. XI, Edition 5

WEB Site: SHUTTERFLY Site:

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A Word from Mr. M and Mr. W.

Just before we had a well-deserved break our class took our first field trip, and the class was perfect. The month of October is going to be a whirlwind of activity. It is going to sweep through here and be gone before we know it. We are going to lead with the IOWAs next week. Why do we take the IOWAs? Well, there is an article below about that. We will have conference week next and then close the month with Mavericks from History, Banana-Rama, and Exploding Pumpkins! What a month this is going to be.

Elly Kang is a Winner!

Our very own Elly Kang is a Super Star again as she was the overall winner of the PTA Sail into Reading fund raiser. Ms. Kang not only read some 1,776 minutes, but she was also the winner of the essay contest! For her efforts Elly received a Target gift card and recognition from the PTA. I may add that Ms. Kang was a leader on our Mt. Bethel Elementary Science Olympiad Team last year, will lead our ESO team again this year, and is a star student in our class. Congratulations, Elly. We are all very proud of you.

The Truth about the IOWA Test of Basic Skills

Well, the annual call has gone out and the Mavericks are again answering. Yes, the State of Iowa has called on Mt. Bethel to again help their Iowa children pass their yearly test. In fact, the poor students in Iowa have so much trouble passing this test the nation named the test after them! The Mavericks think this is bullying, and think the government should call the test something else. Anyway, starting next Monday, we will be taking the IOWA Test of Basic Skills to help all the little Iowa children. We will be testing for about two hours every morning beginning at 8:00. So, what can parents do to help? There are several things. First, it is a proven fact that children will do better if they can test with their class on the day the test is given. Please try to have your child here on time all that week. Being here by 7:30 gives the child time to settle in. Secondly, they need to be well rested and, thirdly, they need a good breakfast because it is “the most important meal of the day!” If you could help us with those things, the class and Mr. Williamson and I will take care of the rest.

Poetry

As a culminating activity to our book Get on Board the Underground Railroad, we developed posters, maps and poems. On the back of this mailgram, I offer you two exquisite poems written by Samiha Bala and Pragya Salian. Great work ladies!

To the Atlanta History Center We Went

It was a stunningly beautiful day as the Mavs boarded buses with Ms. Peacock chaperoning to head to the Atlanta History Center. The class experienced a distraught Celeste Roberts, the wife of a plantation owner off at war, as she questioned herself about the morality of slavery. The class became Union and Confederate soldiers and either died or survived the war, and looked in-depth at why and how you could survive and still have problems after the war. Oh, and Isabella Krishnamurthy lost an arm to the Civil War Surgeon! Poor Isabella.

Some Dates to Remember

Oct5-8-IOWA tests/ Oct9-End of the 1st 9 Weeks/ Oct15-Science Fair/ Oct19-23-Conference Week/ Oct30- Banana -Rama and Mavericks from History/ Nov6-Symphony (Another Dress Nicely Day)/ Nov11-End of 4½ weeks/ Nov18-4½ weeks Midterms Home/ Nov23-27-Thanksgiving Holiday

Maverick Moment

“A person seldom makes the same mistake twice. Generally it’s three or more times!” Marilyn Grey

I Will Run

By: Pragya Salian

As a slave I have no right,

but to be free from bondage I will fight.

I will run away very far.

Follow a path towards the Northern Star.

Although I know I am up to the task.

Should I stay is what I ask.

The path to follow I must know.

I won’t trust anyone friend or foe.

But to the North I will go

I will gather up my clothing and shoes,

for I do not have much time to lose.

To a Virginian I was sold,

who’ll make us through rain and cold.

You’ll always have work, young or old.

Living in the comfort of being fed,

will not be an option on the road ahead.

I will have to travel in the cover of night,

and hope that I will stay out of sight.

Escape to a state where slavery is not right.

I would rather run with these chains on my feet,

than spend my life harvesting wheat.

No matter what dangers I meet.

I’ll say bye to my master with a final wave,

for I no longer wish to be a slave.

The Promised Land

By: Samiha Bala

The drinking gourd will guide you north to the Promised Land

Moses has gone back and forth to guide us to this land

On the other side of Jordan, away from Egypt’s land

The gospel train is coming

So, let’s head for the Promised Land

Moses will show us the light to the Promised Land

When the sun is tired and the moon is bright, we’ll go to the Promised Land

Follow the left foot and peg foot, a clear trail on the land

Along the river banks

It’s time to go to the Promised Land

Follow the trail along the river to the Promised Land

Where the Great and the Little Rivers meet, you’re almost to that land

I can hear an engine, the train is near this land

Come along, let’s get on board

We’re closer to the Promised Land

The conductor will be your guide to the Promised Land

Hide in the day and move in the night on the way to the Promised Land

The hounds are catching up, they’re running quickly through the land

So, we’ll wade through the water

We will get to the Promised Land

One day, in the morning, you’ll awake in the Promised Land

While slave hunters journey north to drag you back to Egypt’s land

So, run like the wind to Canada, the real free place of the land

The gospel train has helped you

That’s why you’re in the Promised Land

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