8th Grader Email Question: What is My Favorite Winter Holiday Tradition or Activity and Why?

Last Week's question was What is/are your favorite Winter Holiday traditions and activites and why? Here are some of the best responses! Happy Holiday to all!

"An activity that my family and I do, is my mom makes this little string of decorated toilet paper rolls.  Then she puts little strips of paper that say something special that we do that day.  Some of them last year were, go ice skating, go to the movies, make cookies, and lots more.  For every day in December there is a roll that has a piece of paper in it that says we get to do something special.  We have been doing this for a few years and it is always somethings to look forward to every year. "

"My favrite winter holiday traditoin is when me and my family gather around the fire and open presents. To me christmas means to just spend time with your family and loved ones."

"Thanksgiving is eating our meal as a big family. We all get together and play games, eat lunch and dinner, and watch TV. We have our whole family come from everywhere and we catch up on each others lives. I love Thsnksgiving because it is the one day that i get to sit and rememebr my great grandpa Reed. We used to do Thanksgiving on his farm and we would go play with the animals and in the barn.  After he died my grandma had to sell the farm, we never went back there and its really sad. So on Thanksgiving we all bring pictures and memories of him and pray for him as a family."

"I love going ice skating during the winter its my favorite winter sport and something I can do reallly well."

"One winter tradition that I really like is every year on Christmas Morning my brother and I wake up really early and get our stockings. then we watch old Christmas cartoons and look at the things in our stockings that aren't wrapped."

"My family tradition is have my birthday & my sisters birthday over Thanksgiving break, because sometimes my birthday falls on thanksgiving and my sisters birthday is just a week later. So we usually just have our birthdays on Thanksgiving."

"Going up to my Grandmas house for Christmas. We have snowball fights outside then go inside for a huge meal. They we either do a puzzle or watch TV or have a Nerf gun fight. After that we open the presents and then have a wrapping paper war. We have to clean it up but its still fun. Then we play with our new things there for a little while and then go home. I really love Christmas because my family gets together."

"My favorite winter activity is putting up the Christmas tree with my whole family. It is just nice to get everyone together after being so busy and just hangout as a whole family and relax."

"My favorite Christmas tradition is Sleeping Under the Christmas Tree. That's when all of the grandchildren go over to my grandma's house somewhere around Christmas. We watch a movie, eat popcorn, sing christmas songs, drink hot cocoa, and go caroling. We don't actually sleep under the tree because we wouldn't all fit. There are 9 grandchildren, but only 6 of us are old enough to do it. We go caroling around my grandma's neighborhood. It's kind of embarassing since I am the oldest, but I still have fun!"

"one of my familys favorite traditions is black friday shopping we always go out early in the morning and shop for christmas presents and other things because of the huge sale!"

"My family has an awesome Halloween party every year and we all get to see each other and spend time with each other. During that party we have a chili contest and I like to taste each one because my family makes the best chili to me."

"My favorite holiday tradition is when we all sit in like a circle and tell jokes around christmas then when we all take turn opening gifts. because, it brings my whole family closer."

New Marijuana Laws a Concern

   I have attached a couple articles from the Partnership for a Drug Free America in regards to concerns about two states that legalized recreational use of marijuana. Federal law still keeps marijuana illegal to sell or consume, but these states have made more and more people think that maybe marijuana is not harmful, including some of our students. But that is simply not the case. Marijuana is extremely harmful and has many negative effects and can cause many negative problems, both immediately and long term. The biggest concern I have heard locally is the belief that marijuana does not impair driving like alcohol does. And this is simply not true! But if students believe that and they smoke marijuana and then operate a vehicle, they are in control of a dangerous weapon, or sadly, not in control of it. More education will be needed on this topic with both teens and adults in our community and across the country. Please read the articles below as they have some great information about the dangers of marijuana usage, especially when paired with driving a vehicle.


Marijuana-related Car Crashes click here

DUI More Likely to Involve Drugs than Alcohol

Power of Drug Addiction is Tough to Overcome

Another KCCI story from today about a former Des Moines police officer whose life is very different today than it was just a year or two ago. All because of a drug addiction to marijuana and methamphetamine. Even after given a generous 2nd chance, the power of addiction was too much. Unfortunately, his life is going to change even more, but hopefully this change will help him finally beat this addiction. But for any teens thinking trying drugs "just once' is okay, for Mr. Singleton, "just once' was one time too many.

Click to watch video

Six Iowa Teens Charged in Sexting Case

  KCCI reported on a story today about some Iowa teens who were arrested and charged in a "sexting" case. Just another reminder that what some teens think is a harmless or funny thing to do with a cell phone, can be damaging and embarrassing for the victim, but also be against the law for the teens who send the picture message. I see stories like this from Iowa once or twice a year and it is a good reminder for our own teens to not only think before they speak, but also think before they send.

Click here to read the story.

8th Grade Email Answers: What am I Thankful for and Why?

When 8th graders were asked this week "What am I Thankful for and Why?", here are some of the best responses via email from this great group. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

"Im thankful for EVERYTHING in my life. My mom got my family into horses, my horses taught me how to ride, my trainer helped me get my dream to come true, and my dad is there for support and to help pay:) . I love having all the wonderful teachers that help me in all my classes at school. And of course to Jesus who had all this planned.

 I love my life."

" I am thankful most of all for my family. They are the reason I am who I am today, and why I have everything I have. I am pretty proud to call them my family. Sometimes we fight but we never can stay mad at eachother. I love them very much and wouldn't be here if it weren't for them."

"I'm thankful for my family, the roof above my head in school and at home. One thing at school that I'm thankful for Miss.Grieme i love the way she talks to us face to face."

"I am thankful for my parents and the roof(s) they put over my head, the food they put on the table, and the clothes they buy for me. I am thankful for their love. I am also thankful for my grandma who was the number one person who taught me my faith, which I am also thankful for. I am thankful for my sisters, even though I don't always show it. I'm also thankful that I have the opportunity to get a good education."

"I am thankful for my family and friends. They help me when I need it. They pick me up when I am having a bad day. I am so grateful to live where I do. This place has made me who I am today. I am thankful for my school and for the teachers that help me. Thank you!"

"I am thankful for so much in my life!  I have every meal of the day unless I choose not to. Not many people in the world can say that. I'm also thankful for my family. I am thankful for them because they care about me and support me in whatever I do. I think the main reason I'm so thankful for my family is because we love each other even when the world doesn't. I wouldn't be the person I am today without my family."

" I am thankful for my family and friends. I know that some people don't have that luxury and I am happy I do." 

The Peace Project: a way of countering bullying

Through the Guidance class, the students of Hartford Upper Elementary have been involved with a Peace Project.   We have been writing a peace agreement and focusing on skills which promote peace.    A survey we gave the students showed a small amount of bullying occurring in our school.    We decided the best way of addressing it was to promote more of what we want.....peace, respect, kindness, and responsibility.   We are also learning skills for dealing with aggression, bullying, and disrespect in an assertive way.    If you have any questions, please call! :)

High School Food Drive

Starting on November 7th, Carlisle High School students and staff will be collecting food and other necessities to help stock our local food pantry.  To make it fun, each grade level and the staff have a goal based on each person bringing in four items.  If the students in a grade reach their goal, they will get to pie a teacher in the face (meaning four teachers could get pied)!  Likewise, if the teachers reach their goal, we get to pie a student in the face!  Our overall goal is 2,512 items.

There are several items that are seriously needed to support local families during these tough economic times.  These include:  soup, cereal, canned fruit, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, kleenex, and toilet paper.  Some items that are NOT needed at this time include:  canned vegetables, ramen noodles, or baby food.  Remember- everything donated will benefit families in our community!

Ms. Hillebrand and the CHS student council are the sponsors of this event.  All donated items can be brought in to Ms. Hillebrand and identified by grade level (so it counts toward the grade level donation).  Donations are being accepted until November 16th!

If you or someone you know needs help acquiring food or other necessities, please contact Deb Moeller at 515-989-0365 (Carlisle Food Pantry) or the Warren County Necessity Pantry at 515-961-1074.

Hartford Needs Assessment