West Seattle schools: Arbor Heights third-graders’ resolutions

| Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

With the new year just one week old, resolutions are still fresh, and the future’s bright. Arbor Heights Elementary teacher Mark Ahlness mentioned his third-graders’ resolutions today via Twitter; after checking them out, we got his permission to share the link. Some are simple; some are big dreams, and not even on behalf of the resolution-makers. Writes Yadira:

My wish is that everybody can have a house. Because then if people have a house and it rains people won’t get wet. But if people don’t have houses people will get wet. So they have to have a house so the people don’t get cold.

Read them all here.

Paula Tortorice January 8, 2011 (5:24 pm)

Mark – you are such as awesome teacher! I am truly blessed to know you, be one of your colleagues, and to watch the wonderful things you do with your students. The resolutions clearly are heartfelt! Thank you for sharing :D

Mark Ahlness January 8, 2011 (8:43 pm)

Over lunch on Friday, I vascillated between chuckles and lumps in my throat as I read through on my laptop the Wishes and Resolutions submitted by my kids. (All of them had to be approved by me in order to appear on their blogs.) I had not had a chance to read very many before they submitted them, since the editors, for the most part, were their classmates. They’re an incredibly gifted and hardworking group of 8 and 9 year olds, and I feel lucky to be their teacher.

This has been a very sad day, what with the assassination attempt on Gabrielle Giffords. With that in mind, I leave you with this wish excerpt from Elias:
“2. I wish there was less violent games because: some people play violent games and are not as kind as they could be if they didn’t play violent games.”

I’m not saying that violent video games are the cause of the Arizona tragedy, but I AM suggesting that our young people understand they are influenced by what they see, hear, and do.

So on this sad day for America, I still have some hope, knowing there are good young people, responsibly making their way through our schools to adulthood. I hope their voices get heard along the way.

Thanks, WSB, for getting them out there. – Mark

Kate K January 8, 2011 (10:06 pm)

“I wish my mom would find a job.”
“I want everyone to have a home.”

I love these kids!

Melinda January 8, 2011 (10:09 pm)

Thank you, Mark, for all you do for our children every day. You not only are a great advocate for children, but also for our teaching profession and for our earth.

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