Georgia O'Keeffe Poppies 2014

In November each year, the grade 5's create poppies in the likeness of the artist Georgia O'Keeffe. This year's poppies were painted using oil pastels.  The following are a few of the students' pieces.

Remembrance Day 2014

As I was thinking of a way to make Remembrance Day more real to my young students, I came up with the idea to have the students bring in a picture of somebody they knew, past or present, who served in the Armed Forces.  If they didn't have a picture, then I told them to write the person's name on a card.  These photos and names were then placed on a cross in the classroom and the students took turns telling the stories behind all of the featured individuals.  We then prayed and gave thanks for all of those people who served and are serving to make our country a safe place.

The photo below is just one of the many photos that were on our cross on Remembrance Day.  This is Joshua's great-grandfather, Thomas Pott.  He was one of the lucky ones to return from World War I after serving in the Armed Forces.

Thomas Pott

Joshua never had the privilege of knowing his great-grandfather, but as a child, Joshua's mom grew up listening to the war stories of Thomas Pott, her grandfather.  What follows is a story that she believes was first told to her when she was about Joshua's age.

Thomas Pott was a "runner."  He delivered things from camp to camp.  Back in those days, the weapons they used had chemicals that would burn your skin.  If a chemical bomb went off, as members of the army they were taught to cover their faces with a wet cloth for protection.  If you didn't have water to wet your cloth and protect yourself, the soldiers were instructed to use whatever liquid they had available, which may sometimes have not been very pleasant.

Joshua's family is very thankful that Thomas Pott went to war for our country and that God brought him back alive. 

Thank you to all of you who have served and are presently serving our country!