Tennis Club...Rained Out

Yvonne, Cindi, Sandi and I have started a tennis club. We meet once a week for a picnic supper and a game of tennis until the sun goes down and we can't see the ball anymore (the free courts are unlighted). It's been great to hone our tennis skills, stay active and enjoy a sport with friends. This week, the weather suddenly turned cold and rainy. We moved the picnic indoors, added hot soup to the menu, and played Rummikub instead.

Fun in Fifth Grade

During the first weeks of school, students worked in lots of different groups to get to know one another and practice working together on a variety of tasks. Here students write a map quiz to exchange with another group during a Social Studies lesson.

"Hmmm...what's the hardest question we could write for another group?" These boys are writing one challenging quiz - not for the faint of heart or the weary world traveler. I'm always amazed by the places my students have lived and visited around the world.

Meet the Fifth Grade Class!

Larissa, Natasya, Olivia, Brittany, Mark, Ms. Stevens, Stacy, Diana, Cassandra, Alexander, Sabastian, Lazarus, Paul, Ruth Anne, HanBit, Kyeung Taek, Miguel and Brice

Welcome, New Staff Members!

Meet John, Josh, Scott, Carrie, Beth, Melissa M., Whitney, RheaAnne, Melissa H., Nick, Leslie, and Amanda. These new staff members are excited to be here and eager to get this next school year off to a great start. Already, they have been a fun and easy group to get to know and I'm looking forward to working alongside them this year!

Around Vienna

These friends helped me celebrate the end of my summer German course with Viennese "Eis" (ice cream). This sweet treat was tasty on a hot day and I'm so thankful I was able to take a German course this summer.

My friend and former coworker from St. Paul, Kelsey, came to visit for a week at the end of July. It was so much fun to show her around Vienna and catch up on life together. Here we pose from the Gloriette behind Schonbrunn Palace, summer palace of the Hapsburg family who ruled Austria for many years.

My coworkers and neighbors, Jeff and Bethany, and their friend Jamie toured the Opera House with me after German class one day this summer. My favorite part of the tour was seeing the backstage area and learning about how they change the sets for the different operas and ballets that are performed there.

Good-Bye Yun Ju!

This is me with one of my summer tutoring students. Yun Ju was a student in my classroom last year. Her family is moving to Slovakia this month and she will continue her schooling there. We will miss her at VCS, especially her cheerful and friendly spirit.

Vienna Orientation Plans Underway

Does this picture look posed? J.J., Judy and I have been organizing and preparing the Vienna orientation program for the new staff members who arrive on August 1. Even though we look hard at work, we've had a lot of fun planning and laughing together this summer.