The day started with Suzanne getting these pictures of
Sarah and Jane posing in their
costumes by the house
and then by the tree.
Jane finally got her picture of the house
before I took control of the camera for the rest of the day.
It being Halloween, we had pumpkin seeds
and Suzanne was wearing her standard issue teacher's Halloween
sweater
while the candy lay in wait
and the orange flowers
gave the colors of the season along with the pumpkin tray
and the Cyclops pumpkin
guarding our house.
I drove to Johnson park school and parked
along the road. I walked up to the school
and paused for a picture to add to my
signage collection. Inside the school was Benjamin's cat picture (upper right)
which didn't do well at close range.
There were also the gates of learning.
and I wanted a chance to Ask the Scientist
but he wasn't there. Elena from down the street was there
as was Kaylen's day
who must have a name and Doris Shea
and the Steinhardt's.
Then it was time for the parade to start.
As Dr. Ginsburg introduced the parade
this lady with the funny hair appeared
and soon we saw Benjamin's class approached led by his
teacher and her dog.
They got closer
and then Benjamin appeared behind the ninjas
He turned to see what his teacher was saying
and then posed for the cameras
a few times. Next I scanned his class
and got a picture of Alice Barfield, Parker's mom
and then a few of Benjamin's back
sometimes with people passing by. Betsy Ie
asked where the magician was. The Queen of Hearts walked by
and Benjamin got ready to march back
as Suzanne posed with Elena
with Kurren's mother
in the background.
We caught a few pictures of Carlotta with her teacher Sue
Heller
and then the witches appeared
and marched by
followed by some odd costumes
We watched the fifth graders practice with their letters that
spelled out the school slogans in this post-9/11 world.
before going back to Benjamin's class
and finally getting a good picture of Hot Dog
The slogans began with fairness
then respect
and citizenship
while the kids watched
and then caring,
responsibility
and trustworthiness
Ian watched Dr. Ginsburg
as they began to march back
and we caught a glancing picture of Carlotta
and Benjamin's teacher
passing by on their way back to the classroom.
Once in the classroom we saw Benjamin's desk
at his table
Then, the magic tricks began. Suzanne got together a table of kids,
sat with them
and started to deal the cards
she built cards that added to 10
then some more
and even more as Benjamin watched by her side.
Next, she put one in the deck
and then the rest
and she started to deal out 4 piles of cards
She moved a card here
and then a card there
and then a final move
and turned up one 10
and magically everything she turned up was a 10.
Finally, she showed the kids the cards to prove that it
wasn't just a deck of 10's.