Bonjour! We are a group of middle school students in Chapel Hill, NC studying French- please join our discussion and read our articles...Leave Comments! Thanks to a grant awarded by the European Union, 31 students and 7 teachers traveled to Paris, Normandy, Brussels and Liege in March 2011. Check out: https://sites.google.com/a/chccs.k12.nc.us/belgian-trip-2011/. Watch us on UNCTV: http://www.unctv.org/ncnow/features/april_09_02.
Europe Day at Smith Middle
Saturday, September 5
Labor Day in America - Sept 7th
We have a holiday on Monday, Sept 7th. Why? It's a celebration that closes summer, rings in the school year and honors the American worker and labor unions. The first celebration was in New York City in 1882. In many places there are parades, lots of sales at stores and family picnics. This year may be tough for some as there our many unemployed Americans and this weekend will only bring more stress. Let us hope for a strong economic year and the compassion to help those less fortunate. What did you do on this holiday?
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Emer's reflection following the European Exchange Experience
“Tonight for dinner food is…..” Oh great, I thought. Where’s my dictionary? So, what was it again? Ah yes, a word beginning with “c”. I’m not even going to attempt asking the spelling, so I’ll just browse the “c” section for a meat of some sort. Ok, so it’s not there, I’ll guess. Lamb? No. Beef, YES!!! Ok, but isn’t beef- boeuf? Well at least I have some idea of what I’m eating…some.
Oh, the joys of living with a family in a different language. Sure, it’s hard and darn confusing, but isn’t that the point? It’s meant to be a challenge, you know? It’s meant to make you take a step back, and think before you say something, which will most likely be the wrong thing. Sometimes, I wish things would stay like that. Not knowing much of each others language and constantly learning. I got such a thrill from hearing them I never wanted to stop listening and talking. Mistakes? Always, but never a problem. One night, I told the brother I went to bed at 6 (pm) instead of I slept for 6 hours. Oops! It’s inevitable, but they come and go like clouds, and you just laugh and move on. It puts half the fun in conversing.
One of the main lessons I learnt on this trip is to take life slowly. We can’t always, speak, or type, or do things as fast as we (Americans) do. You’re learning a new culture, and if you go too fast, you’ll miss the small things that matter along the way, like the first time you think in French. Man, that’s amusing!
March 25th, my host family drove me to the train station. Let me tell you, in that car ride, I found a new meaning to “Never say goodbye”. All I could say was “PLEASE visit me in America, you’re always welcome” and “I’ll miss you a lot!!!” of course there was a ton of Franglais in there. Well, it’s the thought that counts! As the train pulled out of the station, me, Helena and like half of the American and Belgian students started crying- like sobbing crying. When that happens, you know that bonds have been made, and connections tied up. These are people- friends that we would never ever forget. We came across the big pond to learn about Europe, oh but we learnt and gained so much more.
I for one will never look at the word “Together” or “Ensemble” again the same way, because it means something bigger than the dictionary could ever say.
Dictionary definition: into or in one gathering, company, mass, place, or body: to call the people together.
My definition: united- when you and another person are doing something ~ you’re united in what you’re doing, with all differences forgotten, because, essentially, you’re the same, and being ~ or doing something ~ brings out that equality. The world is ~ and always will be, it just takes people who know that to show the rest of the world.
United in diversity- aren’t we all?
Diversity! Bingo!!! That’s what we are. The American and Belgian students, we’re diverse to the limits, and best of friends.
An adventure and friendship of a lifetime for me began with conversation. Sunday afternoon, doing homework and a window popped up on the computer screen.
“Emer”
“Yes?”
“It’s Flore, your pen pal”
“…OMG, HI!!!!” “I mean, Salut!!!”
Flore and I, our friendship began with conversation and I hope it always stays that way. I mean, the European Union was all about removing boundaries and borders, well, we’re about removing language barriers and not letting physical boundaries stop friendships from flourishing. Conversation is one of a couple ways to get rid of language barriers- for once I can be proud of my inability to not stop talking! What bad could happen from talking? Practice makes perfect and I truly believe that the more we practice talking to each other in each other’s language we will come to understand each other. And that- that would just be…a dream come true.
We DID video conference with students at Smith on March 23 10-12pm
Thank you to Federal Express for offering their teleconferencing facility in Brussels so that our traveling students could share their learning with students back at Smith. Go FedEX!!!! This event was an incredible real-time learning experience!
Thank you to UNC and the efforts of Bjorn Hennings, manager of the Carolina Center for Educational Excellence. We appreciate all you did to make the connection.
Thank you to Rebekah Cole and Monica Liverman for making arrangements for Smith students.
Journey with us.... will try to send pictures along the way
March 17 - Leave for Paris
March 18 - Arrive Paris, rest and explore the city!
March 19- Explore Paris
March 20- Paris: museums, shopping and Eiffel Tower
March 21 - Head for Brussels; meet our pen pals in the "Grand Place"; visit the European Parliament together; head to Liege to spend the night in host families
March 22 - Spend the day at Saint-Benoit Saint-Servais- attend classes; my students will love English class; tour Liege,
socratic seminar on the EU; spend evening with families
March 23 - Early train to Brussels for visitation at European Commission - spend day in Brussels; return to host families
March 24- Tour Maastricht and WWII cemetery with families Souper-spectacle that night...what fun!
March 25 - Bid adieu to our host families and new friends; on to Brussels to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Signing of the Treaty of Rome
March 26- Going home!
Meeting my Fate and Justine ....by Angela
There were just seventeen days left until I would meet my fate. At least that was how I interpreted it. People have praised me, saying that I would be fine there, and that all of my years spent studying French would now finally pay off. And I guess that my three years of middle school French would make me a lot better off than those who had not even studied a year. Perhaps the most nerve-racking part of all was thinking about how I could completely forget all the French I’d learned while I was in Belgium. It would definitely be very different from speaking French in class—I wouldn’t be as comfortable speaking French to complete strangers (and trying not to make any mistakes at all with my limited vocabulary) as speaking French to my friends or my teachers (and knowing that they would understand if I did make a mistake). And then again, I wasn’t the most optimistic person in my class. But I can try to be optimistic about my fate. After all, it would be a great experience—and I could improve my speaking skills as well. And the best part of all would be becoming great friends with Justine Marchal, whose family will be my host family for a week.
I have also learned plenty in preparation for our seminars about the European Union, and in preparation for everything else that we will be doing there. I might even be able to say that I have learned more in these two or three months than I have ever in my life.
There has also been plenty of excitement in my life during these few months. Anxiety as well, of course. Who couldn’t be both excited and anxious about going to Belgium and living in a host family? And this my excitement and anxiety may well be beyond those of others—this is my first time traveling to Europe, my first time living in a host family, my first time traveling to a country where the official language isn’t English or Chinese. And this excitement and anxiety increases as I count down the days left until I am riding the train from Paris to Brussels. It will continue to increase as we near the train station at Brussels, as I glance around for the face of Justine Marchal and her family, which I have seen only in pictures, as I spot them and try to find a comprehensible sentence or two that I could say to them... And trust me—it’s not like I haven’t had nightmares about this.
This is also the first time that I have stopped to ponder about how I will truly miss them when I am forced to board the plane back to Chapel Hill, back to North Carolina, and back to the United States. But that does not mean that all hope is lost for Justine and I to stay friends, even though it will be much more difficult to do so from such far away places. But we will keep in touch. We will try to meet each other—face to face—every year, if possible. We will remain friends, bonded together by a type of friendship that can only truly arise from being unable to see each other whenever we want to.
And as for the long-term goals—they are countless. I will have something extra to include in my college resume. I will be able to consider a future abroad, to see if it really fits into my future. I will have a chance to find out if French is really for me.
If I had asked one of my Belgian friends what “E.U.” stood for, they would have probably immediately answered, “les États-Unis.” Of course, these three words are French. Translated into English, they mean “the United States,” or rather “the States United.” But here in America, if I had asked perhaps twenty people in Chapel Hill, or rather, anywhere in the United States, what “E.U.” stood for, none of them would have answered “les États-Unis.”
And that is because here in the United States of America, “E.U.” is an abbreviation for the European Union. And of those twenty Americans, perhaps only one or two of them would have known that. And it is our duty—that is, the duty of the UNION*—to increase that number by as much as possible. And to help us accomplish this goal, we have all attended the “Euro Club,” which meets every Tuesday after school and every Thursday during lunch, and we have all prepared an “EU journal” with notes from those club meetings.
So what exactly is the European Union? It is a family of twenty-seven democratic countries in Europe. They have shared values of democracy, freedom, and social justice. Their mission is to provide peace, prosperity, and stability for its peoples; overcome the divisions on the continent, ensure that its people can live in safety; promote balanced economic and social development; meet the challenges of globalization and preserve the diversity of the peoples of Europe; and uphold the values that Europeans share.
But that is simply a basic outline of the goals of the European Union. It does so much more, and deserves so much more credit for doing what it does. The European Union has funded our trip to France and Belgium. And now it is your job to learn more about the EU and to help others learn more about it. Spread the word!
*The UNION is made up of the students who will be traveling to Paris, France, and Brussels and Liège, Belgium in March 2007.
Emer's dream
Smith Middle School. It was the 3rd school I’d seen that day and I knew it wouldn’t be the last. The teachers there seemed so friendly, but what really intrigued me was the French Department. Apparently, they were making a trip to Belgium. My friends Olivia had previously told me that her school in England were going to Belgium, but I had never imagined a school in America would go. The name America had gotten as the land of oppertunities was suddenly maing so much more sense! It was from that moment on, I had told myself, if they go to Belgium, and I am taking French, I will be on that trip. Since I found out there was a trip happening it had more meaning to me. It had the meaning of a goal to achieve- a dream.
Another cool design for our T-shirts
Created by Angela
I know more about the EU than you....Nathalie
I’m so excited! Can you guess why? I didn’t think so. I’m excited because I know more about the EU than you. I have studied really hard, and I have learned that there are many differences between the EU and America. Just to clarify, the EU is the European Union.
You will be surprised on how many differences there are between the EU and America. Lucky for you, I will not name them all. But I am going to tell you about some of the main differences.
One of the big differences is space. In America people like their personal space and our houses are huge! Well, that’s different in Europe. People live small and close to each other. Their houses are sometimes even connected. In America with our big lawns and big houses, we also have a lot of junk in our houses. Most of it is unnecessary too. In the EU people have what they need.
Every day they go to the market to get food. They sometimes skip the bread in the market and go to a bakery to get food. Here in America we go to the grocery store once a week and buy a week’s supply of food. That is also because we have to drive everywhere to get what we want. In Europe they walk or bike to the store and back. That makes it easier for them to go every day.
I hope that you have learned from what I have just told you. And if you don’t believe me, just go to one of the countries of the European Union, and you’ll see that everything I’ve said is true. Oh…time really flies by when you’re writing. The bell is about to ring; I have to go! Bye, bye.
Nathalie
Thinking About Her Sister's Trip 3 Years ago..Abby's Reflections
Four years ago my sister was given the experience of a lifetime, and ever since then I’ve wanted that experience too. Ms.McMahon has finally given me that opportunity.
Before I could wrap my head around it, I would be on a plane heading to my dream destination, France. Though I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time, I’ve never been more nervous and afraid at the same time. Nervous about the plane ride, and afraid of forgetting simple things that I’m going to need to know like “where is the bathroom?” and “what time is it?” I have taken three years to learn this language, all for this experience and if I get all the way to France and forget everything I’ve worked so hard to know it won’t be a pretty sight. I’ve maintained a solid “A” all year long in French, but writing French and speaking French are two completely different things. I am a better writer than a speaker, especially in front of people who grew up speaking French as their first language.
I’m sure that this trip is going to be amazing, and an experience of a lifetime but I just can’t be excited when all I can think about is how I’m going to attempt to have a conversation with someone and just draw blanks.
When my sister went to France she had the most amazing time, and when she came back she couldn’t stop talking about how she wanted to go back. I wish I could have that, I wish I could be excited and not scared, but I can’t. Seeing my sister in videos of her in France, talking so easily and seeing how she couldn’t stop smiling and laughing, it all just made me want it more.
I know that this was going to be an amazing experience after I adjusted to the language and the culture, but until then I stick to being scared out of my mind.
.......from Jenny's heart
I’m either more worried than I should be, or less worried than what’s expected of me in situations like these.
No, I’m not talking about a hostage situation or an emergency situation.
This situation is traveling to Belgium in only near two weeks, and being thrust into a whole new culture that speaks a complete different language than from what I’m used to in the United States.
Just thinking about it gets me a little nervous, a little worried, mostly excited, and just a tiny bit scared.
I know that it’s going to be a wonderful experience, touring Paris and speaking French to native speakers. I’m also so excited that I’ll get to see my pen pal, Adrienne, and stay at her family’s home in Liège, Belgium. I always look forward to the emails I send back and forth with my Belgian pen pal, Adrienne. We’ve been communicating together since the beginning of seventh grade in 2005, and I’ve learned a lot about the modern culture and daily routines of kids who are my age who attend school and do activities just like me. Adrienne has always expressed a great hope of seeing the United States in her own eyes sometime, and she states that she would love to see the country she’s heard so much about. I only wish that after I’ve seen her country, I am able to take her to see mine!
There are so many differences between the Belgians and the Americans, besides the obvious. I’d like to see how the school system and curriculum in Belgium differs from our North Carolina Standard Course of Study, what games the Belgians do for fun, and what extracurricular activities are offered.
When I first signed up to take French as a language in sixth grade, I never dreamed that it would lead to this opportunity to learn more about another culture and broaden my global understanding. But yet, here I am, panicking over how many pairs of socks I’ll need in Belgium and wondering if I’ll make a taboo mistake when I’m talking in French.
Another aspect of the trip I’m excited about is going to the headquarters of the EU (the European Union) and learning much more about the EU from European residents under the law of the EU. I’ve learned so, so much since I started my quest for knowledge a few months ago, and I only want to keep expanding this knowledge and put it to good use for the future. Who knows the day when the EU will surpass the United States in power? From the view today, it’s very likely that that will happen.
Until March 17th, then!
It's all about being "united in diversity"... Mme McMahon
On the surface it looks like just another funding opportunity for yet another school program. Let it sink in however, $67,000 and it has deep implications as well as benefits of equity and advocacy for students in our school district.
In January of this year, the European Union awarded Smith Middle School 51,000 euros (roughly $67,000) for its “Getting to Know Europe” , a proposal I submitted after attending last summer’s EU workshop hosted by UNC’s EU Center of Excellence and World View. These dynamic international organizations invited teachers from around the state to explore and create lesson plans on the EU while sharing this grant opportunity and encouraging teachers to apply.
Why has the European Union funded a public school? There are lots of reasons, but the clearest one to me lies in its name: Union. Union means bringing together, sharing knowledge, power, ideas and resources. Union means making choices for the common good. The EU has invited our American students to learn more about their institutions, their system of values that are also shared by our nation, and their being “united in diversity”- a richness of cultures brought together in one body. Nations around the world are drawing lines in the sand – demarcation lines that promote a we versus they mentality- opportunities such as this grant provides, breaks those barriers as students learn how to respect each other’s opinions, value multiple perspectives and honor international relationships while bridging the gap to understanding through language.
The cover story for the December 10th issue of Time Magazine emphasizes the need for schools to enter the 21st century by teaching more about our world. Students need to learn how to be “global trade literate, sensitive to foreign cultures and conversant in different languages”. I can teach this from the front of the room, or I can take my students to host families in Belgium where they will experience European life up close and personal. Thanks to the EU grant, many students who used to “watch from the window” as their more affluent classmates boarded the plane to Europe are able to join us on this voyage of self-discovery and new cultures. Six teachers will be traveling from grant funds and are excited about bringing back new lessons for the classroom.
How has our “journey of learning” progressed since we received this award? Traveling students have been meeting once a week after school or during lunches to learn not only about the European Union and its institutions but also about how life for a teen in a Europe is similar or different from life in America. With guidance from high school students who speak French well, my students can discuss many topics of EU life in French including: capital punishment, free market system and travel -friendly legislation with the introduction of the Euro. A university professor and local French speakers have visited my classroom to add depth to the studies. We have studied Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream speech” in French so that they can discuss his dream for human rights in America with their Belgian pen pals and compare it to the EU’s mission as well as their own personal dreams. In a few weeks Belgian and American teens will be discussing “shared values” and hopes for the future, not only for their respective countries but also for the world.
My students asked, “How do we publicize what we have learned?” After discussions with my Belgian colleague and his students, “Union” came out the front runner for our T-shirts explaining that Union is the same word in English and French and shows that there is strength in unity. My students agreed, two student artists created the logos and all of us will be wearing T-shirts honoring this international friendship.
The physical journey begins March 17 as twenty-nine students (26 middle school students and 4 high school students) as well as 6 teachers board the plane for Europe. At least fifteen of the travelers were fully or partially funded by the grant. One student cannot stop smiling as he whispers daily “I am going to see the Eiffel Tower” –one of several economically disadvantaged student travelers who thought that this trip was only for those who could afford it- never dreaming that the EU would pay for this experience of a lifetime.
The plane lands in Paris first where we will spend three nights. We will meet our Belgian pen pals at the “Grand Place” in Brussels on the 4th day. This first meeting when the students exchange “la bise” and begin to communicate face to face is one of the most memorable days of my life. They have been corresponding by email or MSN for a few months, but actually witnessing their excitement at seeing each other makes the time and effort for this trip pale in comparison to the joy of watching these young people connect. I can feel myself saying, “ Yes, I can do this again.”
With our Belgian hosts we will visit the European Parliament and return to Liege to spend four days with our international families. My students will attend classes at Saint-Benoit Saint-Servais school in Liege, participate in a “rally” of the town, visit Maastricht and the American WWII cemetery and be entertained by the Belgian students for a host-family/American “souper-spectacle” on Saturday night. The American students will return to Brussels on Friday to visit the European Commission, and we will leave Liege to spend one night in a hotel in Brussels on Sunday, March 25th, an important date in EU history because it is the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome.
Thanks to the European Union, a journey of learning about international affairs, friendship and self-discovery has begun. My deepest gratitude goes to UNC’s EU Center of Excellence, to World View for all their encouragement and support and to M. Labeye, my Belgian colleague who has worked with me for ten years on this creating successful Exchange Experiences.
Robin McMahon
French Teacher
Smith Middle School
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Willing to go the Distance...by Sarah
A boring bus ride and maybe a stay over night, this is what comes to mind when you think of a 8th grade field trip. Ms. McMahon put a whole new definition in my head of the meaning of what an educational trip can be. Eight hours over seas and a ten night stay in Paris, Belgium, Brussels and many other places. This is a child hood dream that has been granted. This amazing opportunity has become open to the students taking French in Smith Middle School.
There is no doubt that this trip will be full of new experiences and life long memories but it scares me out of my mind every time I think about having to talk and stay in a home with a Belgium family. No books, no teacher only what I had learned in class. I am scared that the culture shock will cause me to forget all I have learned or how to say that I DO NOT eat sea food. This only means that I have to work very hard to get the work done. I also have to dedicate lots of time to all my other classes to keep good grades so I am eligible to go. I am willing to go the distance and I am positive that it will all be worth it.
67 comments:
labor day was a very lazy day for me:)
courtney smith
fredy smith middle
vatsal-smith middle
on labour day I stayed at home and rode my bike. I also did my homework.
I enjoyed the good information. I like Labor Day.
-Anders, Smith
I went to a tennis clinic, and did nothing else at all except stay at home.
Andy - Smith Middle
What I did on Labor Day weekend was hang out with my friends in my neighborhood. Also, my older brother visited and my parents grilled. I also watched my brothers play football together.
Melissa-Smith Middle
Labor day was pretty great, made me feel like like it was summer all over again. Enjoying the rain on labor day was all I did, nothing else special. Except, we did have a small cookout once the rain passed. Loved sleeping in on a Monday.
Tyler - Smith Middle
I didn't really do anything for the holiday, but I had a friend over. I'm mainly just glad we got a day off. :D
Matthew W. - Smith Middle
my cousin came over to visitus. we made lots of his favorite sugar cookies. my sister my mom and i sang to the sound track of mama mia, my cousin sung dancing queen. we thin mama mia is his favorite movie. aren't we weird??
caitlin
I went to New York City over Labor Day weekend. I got to visit my brother, who lives there, and tour the city. We also got to go to the US open which was an amazing experience.
Sarah M- Smith Middle School
It was great, I went to a fun labor day Barbeque for my neighborhood! I also went to the Durham Bulls baseball game!
I wish that we had huge parades in Chapel Hill like other cities do.
Smith Middle
Labor Day was GREAT! I went to my friend's birthday party, which was held at a Durham Bulls baseball game. I think that Labor Day is a good time to enjoy another free day anywhere...a vacation, a party, and many other things!
Daniel Smith Middle School
it maens that I get a day off. wwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
by seb-smith middle
I celebrated with my family and it was so cool!!!
I went to the amphitheatre and to a museum with my cousins and my mom cooked my favourite dessert and that's what made it special...
Erika- Smith Middle School
Oh cool, I didn't know that! I went to flushing meadows, NY to watch the U.S open. I had a lot of fun because I could watch a lot of players play! There was a lot of long matches that was really fun to watch. The stadium was really big and I got to watch at the front row! I had a lot of fun and I want to go there next year! This Labor day was really fun!
Bryan- Smith Middle School
This year for labor day i went to the beach with my parents and a friend. THe water was really cold!
Lydia-smith middle
Labor day was just a normal day to me. I just stuied and watched T.V.
and my parents went on a labor day shopping. Actually Labor day was a little boring day for me. I hope the next time I spend Labor day at U.S.A I get to do something special.:)
courtney smith
I went to... nowhere this Labor Day. :( It was boring and i just did nothing because it rained,too. :( But there was no barbacuing and no holidayness. And also there were 2 break ins over during the weekend again after another 3. So, my weekend pretty much wasn't good at all...
-Roo/Smith Middle School
I went to a Durham Bulls game
(baseball), and then i slept at home, but i think it means that people who's hard labor made this counrty possible are finally getting credit!
i didnt really do much this holiday but have a sleepover with some friends. we watched a bunch of scary movies and ate alot of candy it was fun. oh and i had to clean my room...
miranda-smith middle
toucan
maiaiscool
maiaiscool
My family celebrated Labor Day on Sunday, instead of Monday. We drove out to my dad's friend's house, way out in the country they have four dogs, one cat and two horses. They habe==ve
I went to Smokey Mountains this weekend. My nana, poppo, Aunt, and Uncle. We left on Sturday at four o'clock, and got to the mountains at eight o'clock. We listened to music, saw the mountains, talked about what we want to do while we were there, all sorts of stuff while we were in the car. But we only went on a train ride, to two restaurants, a train museum, and a souvineir store. The train ride around the mountain was long, and sort of boring. It wasn't the train ride we thought it would be, and it took up most of our day Sunday. It takes four hours to get from the train place to somewhere else, and two hours to get back to the train place. But I had lts of fun.
On Labor day, I went to Greensborl for a cook-out at my grandmothers house. My grandmother made ribs, salad, bbq chicken and green-beans. After we ate, we played some games like soccer and kickball. After that, I picked some tomatos and green-beans from their garden.
Hannah - Smith Middle School
This year labor day, I end up spending time with my uncles having a cook-out. It started great until the rain showed up. Of course, some of the foods got wet ,but we didn't really care. We danced around in the rain and celebrated this year labor day.
When it was time to clean up, we end up having a cold. Still worth it, though.
Aung Zun 8th, Smith Middle School
yoyolala268
On this long weekend our family went up to the mountain house to celebrate my dad and grandpa's birthday. we had fun and got to eat lots of cake XD.
- lyndsey
Bonjour~!
As for me, on labor day, not too much happens... :)
I enjoy the day, because everyone is off from work and school, so it is a good time to relax with family. Because of our bad economic status, Americans also use this time to hunt for sales, which are widely advertised on T.V.
LABOR DAY SALE! LABOR DAY SALE!
My family chooses not to shop, but relax on labor day.
:D ~ Emma V.
I slept in and went to my family's house in virginia. There I saw some of my friends who live there. Then I came back to Chapel Hill and did homework.
I slept in and went to my family's house in virginia. There I saw some of my friends who live there. Then I came back to Chapel Hill and did homework.
On labor Day in America I went to the beach, the beach was called kure beach I think and I went with my 3 friends and 2 of their families it was really fun and I had an EXCELLENT time, haha.
- Jack H. Smith Middle
I hung out with my friend whos visiting from Hawaii. My older bro and i played scrabble with like no rules and it was sooooo much fun. Everything was nice and calm and i just relaxed and watched the Simpsons for like an hour. I went outside to play soccer for about a couple'v hours and i ended up kicking my ball into a tree for the 100th time this year!!! I love labor day, no school was nice.
Kendall Cunningham SMS
Labor day is a celebration and stress this year. I love all the sales at the stores i love like American eagle, nordstrom, urban outfitters, and charlotte ruse!lol! (oh yea lol= to laugh) I was at my beach house with some friends of mine. Labor Day is to celebrate the workers on America. With the Economy right now labor day reminds us of the problems of today. It is funny that i have been in school since two weeks before Labor day but my friends start the tuesday afterwards! crazy.
-Georgia
Pour Labor Day, j'ai eu a picnic avec mes amis a la piscine. We had Chick-fil-a. C'est bon.
Bonjour!!!
Labor Day isn't a huge holiday or anything for my family, but I still like it cuz my parents don't have to work! Friday night we grilled hamburgers, which is technically before Labor Day but it tasted good. On Labor Day my mom and I went shopping because everything was on sale! My mom really likes all the Labor Union stuff because there weren't a lot of unions in North Carolina so workers were underpaid but now there are Unions and that is good. I also love Labor Day because we don't have to go to school! (Sorry Madame!)
-Annie Lo Smith Middle School
YO, yesterday was labor day. It was pretty fun. I watched pearl harbor with my cousin. Before that we painted an entire living room. that was our labor for the day. For dinner we had some meatloaf and mashed potatos. It was a very american dinner.
Pour le jour de Labor, Je spent la jour avec ma famille. J'aime n'aller pas ecole. Je suis alle Franklin Street to eat lunch. Aussi, Je suis alle a la piscine. J'ai regarde beacoup de la football americain. Also, i went for a long bike ride with my neighbors.
Kelley S. Smith Middle School
Pour le jour de labor je (celebrated by going to) Wetnwild. Wetnwild est une grande waterpark. J'ai season tickets. J'aime le waterpark. Je suis aller avec mon amies. J'ai apporter mon reefs(flipflops) J'aime mon flipflops. J'ai une sunburn. Je n'aime pas une sunburn. That is how i spent mon jour de labor!
-Jaime B.
Smith middle school
yo what up, on c'est septambre 7 it was Labor Day. to celebrate it moi mere took work off. my mere, frere, sere and copains had a picnic at the une la plache. It waz soooooo much fun. we had a lot of food. There were chips, brownis sandwiches and a bunch more. We also went to a baseball game. It was the Durham Bulls our minor leauge team. So tha waz fun.
Pour le jour de labor je (ran a triathlon called the Goofus Challenge.)(I swam across a small pondand got up and) je mets les chaussures et je (run) trois (miles. Apres, je monte le bicyclet pour dix (miles.) Ensuite, je mange un glace (it was patr of the race) et je monte le bicyclete (again.) Apers je 9(ran a mile and) je saute a le (pond again.)
I invited my friends over and had fun.
Brynn P-M, Smith Middle School
I rode my bike. I also hung out with my friedns. I had a lot of fun
Jacob E. Smith Middle School
Over Labor Day pretty much what I did was hang out with my friends and celebrate with my family*
Blake E. Smith Middle
Over Labor day weekend i went to a pool party and hung out with my family and friends!!
Lucie A. Smith Middle
I played video games. And i slept for 9 hours. I was sleepy.
Gilberto D. Smith Middle School
for labor day i went to my grandmothers house and at her house we had a big dinner, and we also had to help her with her rib cage because she broke it riding a horse.
Jacob O. Smith Middle School
I slept late and woke up late. In the afternoon I played correctly 94 chess plays based on the book I just bought.
-Jeanne Lee
Smith Middle
It was kinda boring for me... I watched LOTS of movies. :)
-Vibha P.
Smith Middle School
I went to motechello. Where Thomas Jefferson lived. I went with my friend. My dad had to work which i thought was pretty wierd but it was fun.
Nick Y. smith middle school
i went to the beach with my family and neighbors!!!
-Jay P. Smith Middle School
i went to the beach with my family and neighbors!!!
-Jay P. Smith Middle School
G.Baldauf Smith Middle-
My old softball team got together this weekend and we played a game together
I went to my great grandma's house for a family reunion. I was there for 2 days Saturday and Sunday. I had a lot of fun.
justin smith middle school
On labor day I watched a old T.V. series called Band Of Brothers and went to my friends house.
-Chris
Smith
Yesterday during LaborDay I went to a cookout at a cousins house. We each brought a little bit of food. We had over 20 steaks!
Luis S Smith Middle School
bonjour!!! on labor day I went to the mall and it was really crowded! :)
Au revoir!
Leah S
I came back from Nashville ,Tennesse because my uncle died in a car crasch. And the other person is goinging to die in a 15 day or a month. And he is are cousin.
Janely Manzanares
Was at home all weeked did and do a thing.
neal D
Claire L.- Smith Middle School
This labor day My Family and I rode bikes here in smith middle school's parking lot and on some of the trails back behind smith. we took my 1 year old golden retriever puppy-Megan It was so much fun
P.s. my dad coaches my softball team and so he organized a practice!
Harrison Y. Smith Middle School
On Labor Day I Went shopping with my family for my new freezer and patio furniture!! I also went with my dad to play catch and practice punting, passing and kicking for an (American) football comepetition!!!
For this Labor day weekend I went to Washington D.C. to visit my cousins.I also went to a friends Bar Mitzfah.
Francisco C. Smith Middle School
i had a very relaxed labor day!
Treasa
DUDE I WENT TO THE BEACH TO THE BEACH WITH VIRGINIA AND BEN AND JACK!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :)
ms mcmahon is awesome!
bonjour
!!
my labor day was lazy and im working on posting a comment!!
Treasa
Labor day was fun. I went shopping :)
Elise smith
I did some math homework, and had an extremely long monopoly game with my friends. Fun!
So far it seems that people take advantage of labor day by catching up on homework, spending time with friends... I know I did the same! :)
-- Katya K.
i spend the labor day in my house doing nothing
on labor day i went to my grandma's house in henderson and me and my cousins went to a party in butner and we spent the night with my big brother and we stayed up to 4 am in the morning it was very fun
-rosa d. morrow
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