And if they ask about the best Photoshop ever, they’re referring to this picture:

Dear Parents,

I cannot believe it is already the end of the year!  Where has the time gone?  Each year, as a 6^th grade we do a graduation activity as a celebration of the year.  Our activity day this year is on May 28. We will be taking the kids to the Rush Fun Center where they will get two hours of unlimited activities. I’m not positive which activities this includes.  They will give us an explanation when we get there.  The Fun Center will cost $10 a person.  The school will cover $4, making the fee for the trip $6 a person. After that we will be walking to the park behind the Little Caesar’s where we will have lunch and play games.  We will be getting pizza for lunch. Regular school lunch rates will apply. Students are allowed to bring home lunch.   This entire field trip will be a walking field trip.  We will begin walking to the fun center around 10:15.  We will leave the fun center around 12:45.  Lunch and the park will take us until about 2:30 when we will walk back to the school.  Please have your permission slip returned and money paid no later than May 15.

Volunteer Opportunities: We would like 3 parents from each class to accompany us on the entire trip.  This would include the fun center.  If you would like to participate in the activities at the fun center, then you would need to pay the $6 as well.  If you choose not to participate, chaperoning will not cost you anything.  Parents would be allowed to buy themselves a drink at the fun center if they wish, but please, do not buy anything for any of the students, not even your own.

We will also need parents to help us run some games at the park.  Previous year has done this as Minute to Win It style games.  (For ideas, go to this website: http://www.incredibleevents.com/minutetowinlist.html)  The more parents we can get the volunteer, the smaller the amount of students per group would be.  Ideally, we will be able to have at least 8 to 10 stations the kids can rotate through.

With that being said, we need to star rounding up costuming.  Please take a look at the list below.  Things listed in red should be brought in by the student playing that part.  Things listed in blue, we need help finding, so if you have access to one we can borrow, it’d be greatly appreciated.  Things listed in black, I will be supplying for them.

Luke Briscoe
Seth Camomile
Brayden Done
Abby Fielding
Teah Fowers
Emily Horton
Anna Mortenson
Hope Mickey
Sam Orchard
Adi Steele
Emilie Walker
Makenna Wilson

The school fair will be this Wednesday.  Please show up to school just a few minutes early to sign in and set your things up.  You will be called down at some point throughout the day for judging.

The top three projects will receive prizes, and the winning project will go on to represent us at the Weber State Science Fair on March 18.

Congratulations to all of you and good luck in the future rounds!

Check out this adorableness!!!

Pratt’s Class

Henson’s Class

McGuire’s Class

Mayer’s Class

Should Valentine’s Be Celebrated? by Brooke

Valentine’s Day by Abby

Valentine’s Day No More by Sam

]]> http://blogs.syracuseartsacademy.org/apratt/2015/02/07/valentines-day-3/feed/ 0 http://blogs.syracuseartsacademy.org/apratt/2015/02/07/valentines-day-no-more/ http://blogs.syracuseartsacademy.org/apratt/2015/02/07/valentines-day-no-more/#comments Sat, 07 Feb 2015 20:08:35 +0000 Aaron Pratt http://blogs.syracuseartsacademy.org/apratt/?p=1963 Continue reading →]]> by Sam

In my opinion we shouldn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. You may disagree with me but I say otherwise. People can gain emotional issues around Valentine’s Day and may get depressed. People also put too much funding into this holiday making it a waste of money and time. Finally the sweets and chocolates are extremely unhealthy to the average human. People also may put too much effort into it making it possible for their Valentine to reject them. This vicious circle can leave children and teenagers depressed and alone. We must put a stop to Valentine’s Day.

First emotional issues around Valentine’s Day may develop. For most Teenagers and children and I speak from experience when I say this, can feel awkward or uncomfortable thinking about love and dating. Especially when you’re sitting in class without a Valentine, this can be embarrassing to most. You may also become depressed if your offer is rejected or put down by somebody else. This may also happen when you are alone without a Valentine and people leave you out because of this. This might make you fell useless or alone. Another reason is that Valentine’s Day is only once a year. This festivity of love lasts only twenty four hours then ends the next day. So what happens to teenagers after Valentine’s Day? Do they just ignore their Valentine for the rest of the year?

Next we will be talking about the funding for Valentine’s Day. On average most stores raise their prices on this day of love, knowing that people might do anything to get their Valentine. So men and woman spend way too much money than they should, and for what? A simple card or a box of chocolates? People sometimes also go over the top with Valentine’s Day. What I mean when I say this is that people put too much effort into this celebration of love. The decorations are also a waste of money; you might only have them up for Valentine’s Day itself. If the decorations are only up for one day then what’s the point? A person may spend hundreds of dollars for the most amazing gift they can get only to be rejected by their love and cast away. So all of that money you’ve spent would go to waste.

Finally the treats and chocolates are very unhealthy so some people. Chocolate in a heart shaped box may be a common gift to your wife or girlfriend. This candy is also extremely unhealthy. Chocolate and candy in general may have a lot of calories. The more calories that’s added on to that the more weight you can gain, which can lead to obesity, heart disease, and Diabetes a disease that you can acquire from gaining weight. Candy can also cause moth problems from tooth decay to gum disease. This can give you stomach aches, make you vomit, or just all out make you ill. So you may not make it to school the next day or be embarrassed by everyone around you.

Valentine’s Day needs to no longer be a holiday. Due to children and teenagers felling left out and annoyed by Valentine’s Day making them fell depressed and alone we need to get rid of it. The funds for Valentine’s Day are also a waste of time, effort, and money. Decorations and cards are just a scam to get people to pay more money. The person you give them to might not even acknowledge your gifts and they might never see them again. The chocolates also contain many calories making you unfit or obese. These are the reasons Valentine’s Day should not be celebrated.

Valentine’s Day is a romantic holiday, and an ideal day to spread love for those around you. It is a great time for couples to get gifts and pamper each other. But is it really necessary to celebrate in school? I advise teachers to eliminate Valentines celebrations. Often times it leaves some students upset. The candy is also a big problem. Often times, Valentine’s Day is way over the top. I think it is okay to have adults celebrate it, but do kids really need to celebrate this holiday all about love?

Some kids, especially girls, can be left upset and heartbroken on Valentine’s Day. Celebrating this holiday encourages the idea of a “valentine.” Often times, kids will ask the “cute” boys or girls (depending on gender) to be their “valentine.” This can lead to tears if someone is rejected and embarrassment if someone is accepted. Often times, kids will get their “valentine” extra things. Most classes say, “If you give something to one person, you have to give it to everyone else,” but sometimes, students will ignore this rule and give extra things to their “valentine.” this can lead to jealousy from other students, especially those rejected be the one giving their “valentine” extra things. Not to mention, having a “valentine” could be considered having a boyfriend or girlfriend, which is a relationship not appropriate for those under high school age. Jealousy, anger, and tears are results of this romantic holiday.

One word can describe one of the biggest problems of Valentine’s Day: Candy. Candy is the result of obesity, and often of jealousy on Valentine’s Day because students with “valentines” want to give their “valentine” extra candy. Candy is a big cause of the obesity epidemic in America because kids are constantly eating unhealthy snacks. Eliminating unnecessary holidays, such as Valentine’s Day, in school can help make kids healthier. Not to mention, candy is way overpriced around Valentine’s Day because students buy candy for classmates and stores want extra money. In the article “Top 10 Reasons Not To Celebrate Valentine’s Day” it says,” Candy Makes You Gain Weight: The typical Valentine’s Day gift is chocolate and although it is yummy, probably not a good idea to eat unless you can resist eating all the candy you get.” It is difficult to stop yourself eating all your candy. Perhaps eliminating Valentine’s Day in school can lead to healthier eating.

Valentine’s Day is way over the top celebrated. Some students have Facebook accounts, and often times, those who do had a “valentine” and want to post annoying pictures of things they gave them. Often times, kids and adults, will give their “valentine,” spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend big, expensive presents. Again this can lead to jealousy, especially if the gift is posted on Facebook. Not to mention, if one boy gives his “valentine” a $5 gift and another boy gives his “valentine” a $10 gift, the girl of the first boy might think her “valentine” doesn’t love her as much as boy number two’s “valentine”. This can lead to jealousy and anger. Not something a teacher wants to deal with. Celebrating Valentine’s Day in school is not a good idea.

Valentine’s Day is not a holiday meant for school. Adults are okay celebrating it, but it should be eliminated from school. Valentine’s Day makes some kids heartbroken. Candy often given out, and that is a big problem. Valentine’s Day is to over the top. This is not a good idea to celebrate this holiday in school. Valentine’s Day encourages relationships inappropriate for Elementary and Junior High School. Adults can celebrate what they want, but this holiday should be eliminated from school. We don’t need to continue celebrating this romantic holiday with kids Kindergarten to 10th grade. Valentine’s Day is not something kids need to celebrate.