Hot Cocoa

My tenure on the Teacher Appreciation committee is over for this year. I wanted to post what we did this last year, because I was desperate for ideas last summer. The parents were kind enough to bring in dinner for Parent Teacher Conferences, and appetizers for a teacher in-service day. The PTO purchased doughnuts, and during Teacher Appreciation week had a lunch brought in and on Friday we brought in pies, which went over very well.

In addition, to the food during teacher appreciation week, we brought in mints with the sign "You are worth a "Mint" to us", and cans of pop with the message "'Soda you know how much we appreciate you." The children brought in flowers, cookies, drawings, notes and other individual tokens of appreciation during the week.

The picture above is from January. They are hot cocoa packets with the not "Here's a cup a cheer for all you do."

It was a fun year, and overall I think the teachers and school staff saw how much we appreciate all the effort they put into our children.

Chippewa Lake Park

Circa 1900’s, because of Industrialization the middle class began earning enough cash that they were able to spend a little money on entertainment. A popular past time during the weekend was taking a train out to the country and picnicking. Eventually many of those places turned into amusement parks. Coney Island, Cedar Point, Idyllwild and Chippewa Lake Park are just a few places that saw their start that way.

Chippewa Lake is right around the corner from us. For a hundred years it entertained people around the area, and then it closed its doors in 1978 and the woods took it over. The ballroom was a happening joint, apparently Lawrence Welk’s first broadcast originated from Chippewa. There was a hotel, roller coasters, a steam boat, and much more on the property. The old park is in the process of being cleared for a new resort. On the weekends, the property owners are allowing people to visit the site and take a look at the rusted remains, and we did just that last weekend. Here are some of the photos that we took, it’s just amazing how quickly and thoroughly the woods took it over in just 30 years.

The old entrance sign

Sport by the old roller coaster

The Ferris Wheel and landing dock

The kids just having a "blast"

Teacher Appreciation

Teacher Appreciation week is here and in full gear. For Monday, a friend and I made our own version of Stamp's and Smiles water bottles for the staff at our school. I think they came out pretty well. Here's to the teachers!