Sam and His Mates

Sam, with his best mates David and Trevor, courtesy of David's Mum, Claudine. David, on the left in both group photos, will be in Sam's class when he starts at PS321 in September.

Phew, Glad That's Over

After the singing and the poetry, the children relaxed with some bagels and juice. Here are Noemie, Dexter, Sydney, and Hannah talking it all over.

Friday at the Mosque?

No. It's the children in Hannah's class assuming the starting position for their performance of Marvin Gaye's classic, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." I didn't video it, but I can assure you that Hannah was most enthusiastic when belting out the chorus with her arms stretched out to the sky.

Poetry Day

The last Friday of the school year was Poetry Day. All the children read their poems in front of the class and their parents. Here is Hannah reading hers with her teacher Hilary Corbitt looking on. Hannah's poem was called "Crab Claw":

Crab claw
Crab claw
What else
Could feel
So sharp?
I could feel
Like sleeping
Beauty if I
Touched one
Like that.
They hurt
Me so
Much I think
I'll have to
Cry.

Artist Celebration

Another day, another school celebration. Throughout the year, Hannah's first grade class has buddied up with a fourth grade class to read books and study art. The culmination of the year was a field trip to the Museum of Modern Art and a celebration breakfast. The theme of the breakfast was Europe, home of all the artists they studied. Amidst the scoffing of croissants, Hannah posed in her Paris t-shirt with her fourth grade buddy, Mina, who is either confused about Britain's place in the world or is merely honouring Hannah's country of birth.

Why does everyone hate Park Slope?

Smug, moi? New Yorkers who don't live in Park Slope don't like us. Who knew? This article will tell you why. We look forward to many reassuring comments.

Byebye Hugg's

June is the time for all the end of school year events. At Sam's school, Hugg's, it was the class picnic in Prospect Park. Everyone sang songs, played games, ate pizza and bagels, and wore orange shirts. Cool, no? Here is Sam with his mates, Jackson and David.





Shortly afterwards was Sam's last day at school. Here he is in his favourite "Future Footy Star" outfit, saying goodbye to his teachers Sarah and Amy. They also taught Hannah in 2004-5. Sam will be going to summer camp at Hugg's during June and July, but with different teachers.

Statue of Liberty seeking assistant

Sam and I went to see the Statue of Liberty. Before we got there, we discovered Liberty herself, wandering around Battery Park, arms weary from holding that torch all those years, and the sun damaging her eyes. Sam was eager to help. Without hesitation, he leaped upon the pedestal and held aloft the torch of freedom so that the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses (well, those of them less than four feet tall) could shelter beneath. Afterwards, I was glad to put $5 in that strategically-placed bin to Liberty's right to assist her in getting back to her own island. It was money well spent - if I hadn't contributed, I think one of Liberty's "friends" may have deprived me of my ability to walk unaided.

Lucas has new glasses

Lucas has some new specs and, as expected, they are cool and hip. He called in to show them off.

Imogen comes to Brooklyn

Imogen Sage Veal, born January 11, 2007 in New York, NY, visited us for a spot of Sunday lunch. Here, Imogen gives us a big smile while Hannah demonstrates the best location and pose for TV viewing