Archive for the ‘Miss Sue’ Category

The Nearly New Toy Drive

Saturday, December 8th, 2012

The “Can Do” Kids were helping their parents and grandparents decorate the party room at the community center for the Holiday party. Just then Miss Sue, the center director, came in and asked to talk to everyone. Parents, grandparents and “Can Dos” all sat down to listen to Miss Sue.

“Good morning everyone,” said Miss Sue.” While I’m happy parents and grandparents are here, what I have to say is mostly for the “Can Do” Kids.” The “Can Dos” looked at each other, worried that they did something wrong but not able to remember what it could be.

Miss Sue smiled. She knew what they were thinking. “You are not in trouble, children. I want to talk with you about what we can do for all the children who lost their toys and books during the hurricane that hit the next town from us. The “Can Dos” looked sad at just the thought of losing all one’s toys and books in a flood from a hurricane.

Orrie asked,”How can we help?” Annie said, “What can we do?” Hector added, “We’re only kids, how can we help them get toys?”

“Well,” answered Miss Sue, “The holidays are coming and you will all be getting gifts of new toys and books. What about going through all the toys and books you have now and giving toys you don’t play with anymore and books you have read to children who lost all the toys and books they had?”

Hector wasn’t so sure. He loved all his toys, even the ones he didn’t play with much. Kathy and Annie were having a hard time with the idea of parting with some of their old toys too.

Orrie was the first to offer a toy and some books. Then Willie and Nellie agreed to go through their toys and books and find some that would make good nearly new play things. Pretty soon all the “Can Dos” agreed to give away a toy and a book to children who lost all their toys and books. Even Hector, Annie and Kathy said they would chip in a toy and a book.

Miss Sue told the “Can Dos” she was very proud of them. “Let’s call our project the Nearly New Toy Drive.”

Miss Sue added, “Be sure that the toy and book you decide to give to the toy drive are in good condition. They need to be clean and have all their pieces if they are games, parts if they are toys, and pages if they are books. Don’t give away anything you wouldn’t want to get yourself.”

The “Can Dos” all nodded. The parents agreed to help them pack up what they were giving to the toy drive. The grandparents offered to help the “Can Dos”write notes to go with the toys and books they were giving away.

Boys and girls reading this, here is a question for you…Do you have a toy or book that is in good condition that you could give to a nearly new toy drive near where you live?

Pocket

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Posted in "Can Do" Kids, Annie, books, decorations, games, gifts, giving, Good Choices, grandparents, Hector, holiday party, Hurricane Sandy, Kathy, Miss Sue, nearly new toys, toy drive, toys, What Can a "Can Do" Do?, Willie | No Comments »

The Halloween that Almost Wasn’t

Friday, November 2nd, 2012

There was no school on the day before Halloween and the electric company said there would be no school on Halloween.

When Hurricane Sandy hit “Can Do” Street, everyone was prepared to be safe and they were. Oh, there were problems…some streets flooded and a few basements of houses, some homes even lost electrical power for a day or so. But all in all, most problems were fixable. Well, almost all problems. You see the school had to close, because the lights went out.

The Can Dos” were really disappointed! No school! Most times they would be happy to hear…No school, but not on Halloween.

What about the costume parade, the prize for best costume, the Halloween games?

Not only was there no school, there would be no house to house trick or treating. The mayor had announced that some of the streets were in darkness and some streets had trees down…not safe conditions for walking from house to house.

Miss Sue, the director of the “Can Do” Street Community Center, came to the rescue. The day before Halloween, some of the parents came in to decorate the center. The seniors club made up treat bags and made Halloween cupcakes and punch.

Halloween Day dawned gray and misty, but the “Can Dos’ were glad they had somewhere to go to celebrate a favorite holiday.

The festivities began at 2PM with a costume parade all around the center. After the parade the judges gave prizes for the best costumes. Willie won for being an M&M. Maria won for being Dora the Explorer. Bobby thought he would win for coming as Sponge Bob Square pants, but there were several kids who wore that costume, so…he didn’t win.

After that there was a Halloween play staring Nellie and Hector.

Then it was time for the cupcakes, the fruit punch and Halloween songs and poems.

Just as they were getting ready to leave, the “Can Dos” were told to line up and pass in front of the line of parents grandparents and neighbors standing by the door. Imagine how surprised the “Can Dos” were when each adult dropped a Halloween treat in the baskets!

Well…it sure was a different kind of Halloween but all the “Can Dos’ agreed it was a good one.

 

Pocket

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Posted in "Can Do" Kids, Bobby, can do kids in school, community center, cupcakes, Halloween, Halloween fun, Hector, Hurricane Sandy, Maria, Miss Sue, punch, senior center, treat bags, trick or treating, What Can a "Can Do" Do? | No Comments »

Footprints in Time

Sunday, August 5th, 2012

footprintsMiss Sue Came into the crafts class at camp and announced that a new path was going to be created from the back entrance of the community center to the lake, which is about a 1/2 mile distance. She asked that the “Can Dos” think about a way to make the path special. The “Can Dos” all nodded their heads yes, and Miss Hattie, who was leading the crafts session that day, smiled and said they would.

After Miss Sue left, the class got very quiet as they thought about ways of making the path special. Miss Hattie sat thinking to herself. All of a sudden she burst out with a big “AHA”and the kids all looked up hoping she had thought of something.

“Footprints, let’s make stones for the path with our footprints,” said Miss Hattie. “Huh?” answered some of the kids.

Hector wanted to know how they would get there footprints on stone. Maria was afraid it would cost a lot of money, and they were just kids and didn’t have any money. Willie wanted to know if he would have to take his socks off to make the footprint. He didn’t want to get clay or whatever material they would make the stones out of to get between his toes.

Miss Hattie said, “Not to worry, we can make the footprints stones out of baked dough, right here in crafts class.”

Another”Huh” from the class.

“It’s easy,” said Miss Hattie. “We just mix 1 cup of salt with 1 cup of flour and add 1/2 cup water for each stone. We knead it the mixture together then we roll out, with a rolling pin, on a piece of parchment paper on the floor. When it is the right size for a footprint, we take off our right shoe and sock and step right in the middle of the dough. Then we use a stick to carve our name and the year in the stone. Then it is ready for baking at 200 degrees for 2-3 hours, just until it is  hard, but not browned.”

The “Can Dos” loved the idea! Now they just had to convince Miss Sue that footprints stones would be a great way to decorate the new path.

Pocket

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Posted in "Can Do" Kids, community center, dough art, footprints, Good Choices, Miss Hattie, Miss Sue, path, summer camp, Willie | No Comments »

Camp Manners

Thursday, July 12th, 2012

camp mannersMiss Sue, the Director of the “Can Do” Community Center Camp, came into the crafts room and asked permission from the art teacher to address the “Can Dos”.

The “Can Dos” knew it was often not a good thing when Miss Sue asked to talk to them. It must mean that one or more of them were doing things, in camp, that needed to be corrected.

After Miss Sue said good morning, she said,”Boys and girls, I have received complaints from the camp janitor on the state of the girls and boys bathrooms.

I have also received complaints from the ladies who work in the cafeteria about the mess on the floor under the tables, and the food and wrappers left on the tables.

Let’s take time now to review how we are supposed to behave in both these areas. Let’s talk about bathroom manners and cafeteria manners. If we are not old enough to practice good manners in both these areas, maybe we are not old enough to be in camp.”

Then Miss Sue handed out two camp manners lists and said,”Let’s review these lists together.

Let’s start with the cafeteria list:

1. Don’t run in the cafeteria.

2. Say please and thank you when you order and receive your food.

3. Don’t cut in line while waiting to order on the cafeteria line.

4. Do not sit on the tables and don’t stand on the seats.

5. After you finish eating, clean off your place at the table and pick up anything you dropped on the floor.

6. Put your trash from the table and the floor in the trash can.”

Then Miss Sue turned to the bathroom manners list:

1. When you use the stall, close the door.

2. Flush the toilet when you are finished using it.

3. Take a piece of toilet paper, and use it to protect your hand from germs as you flush. Don’t flush with your foot!

4. As the toilet is flushing, throw the piece of toilet tissue into the toilet to be flushed away.

5. Make sure your clothes are properly zipped or buttoned or pulled up before you leave the stall.

6. Wash your hands with warm water and soap. Wash for at least 10 seconds (count to ten slowly).

7. Dry your hands with a paper towel.

8. Throw the towel in the waste basket after you use it.”

Miss Sue looked up from reading and asked,”Does everyone promise to practice these camp manners”?

The “Can Dos” all nodded, “We promise,” they all said.

Miss Sue smiled, thanked the art teacher, and went on to speak to the campers in the next room.

 

Pocket

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Posted in "Can Do" Kids, bathroom, bathroom manners, cafeteria, cafeteria manners, camp, Camp manners, camp safety, community center, good behavior, Good Choices, good manners, Miss Sue, responsibilites, summer camp | No Comments »