Looking at the results on the Chess Super NAtionals website:

Rushawn, Sharock, Shareik and Markel  placed 9th in the nation for their division. (3 are/were mine)

Quinton, Richard, Justin and Ellana won 17th in their division (3 are/were mine)

Two third graders placed 17th in the country in their division

There were three public schools from Phildelphia represented - Blankenburg, a regular inner-city commnity school; Masterman - an elite special-admission academic public school; and Fels Junior High, situated in a fairly affluent section of the city. There was one other city school, the Russell Byers Charter School who did quite well also.

But I think it is amazing and a tribute to our kids and their coach for their wonderful showing at the Chess Olympics, the Super Nationals! They are something beautiful for sure!!!!

Thank you to all who made it possible for them to go!

Anne

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

Wow!  Anne, they may not be the kings and queens yet, but they sure are no rookies, and their coach should be knighted!

Love, Columbine 

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forkme:

Sounds like someone must be at Ft Riley.

As we used to say, back in the day: "Hoo-ahh!"

Well done and cheers!

 

 

Thank you!  Shaun is indeed at Ft. Riley.  He showed me around while I was there.  I got to see the blackhawks and a few other points of interest on post.  I'm so very proud of him and all he's done, but I can't wait to have him home and out of the Army! 

Anne, that's great about your chess kids, congratulations!

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God's favorite joke since 1984.

"If you don't think, you shouldn't talk!" - The March Hare, Alice In Wonderland

Posting in 2 places:

My class chess team came back winners from the Super Nationals in Nashville. These twoRushawn and Shareik were on the team that came in 9th in the entire USA out of hundreds of teams, thousands of kids. They also recently earned Honor Roll status after a struggle in reading in the beginning of the year.

What a surprise to check into the local TV coverage to find this!

And OKP related TV coverage here - wait for the end!

And the original broadcast

These two kids are among the nicest and smartest kids I have ever taught. If the streets don't get them, they will go very far in life. Something Beautiful, indeed!

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

Today I brought the snakes out of hibernation. Held my baby boy and my little girl for the first time in 5 months and it felt good to have them in my hands.

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'He was rough, but he was real.'
Steve, you will be missed, Mate.

www.sharkwater.com

Way to go Blankenburg!!!!  They will carry this experience with them for the rest of their lives.  What a blessing these kids are.  Hopefully they will be an inspiration to their peers. So glad the OKP could be of assistance.  These children deserve the fame and recognition they are receiving.  Such a bright spot in troubled times.

My three year old got into the (washable) markers and covered her face and arms and legs.  I found her but couldn't get her cleaned up right away as I was in the midst of making dinner.  I was not a happy mummy though.  My five year old got a cloth out of the drawer, got it wet in the bathroom sink, and gently washed the marker off his sister.  He even apologised because he couldn't get it off her legs very well; there was just too much.

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Sing an unwritten song or repent for the deeds you left undone.- GBS
If curious means that you trade your routines for something free, the freedom you feel's the whole point of the deal so curious I'll be! - BNL
Priates over Ninjas!!

LOL, all I could think of, was Robert Munsch's 'Purple, Green and Yellow'! You're just lucky they weren't 'super indelible, never come off till you're dead and maybe even later' markers!

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Carol,

We've all been there. That was great about your son. What a helpful person!

Have they cut their own hair yet? Mine all invariably did it right before they had to have their photo taken for school or a family portrait. *shakes head* I still had the photos taken. It's fun to get them back when they're older! *evil grin*

Anne

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

ACK! Bekka!  No fair getting engaged when I'm not on the OKP!!  Off to give you proper hell on Facebook!

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In the social order, I accept the bottom rung, until the wine is pouring and the Lord commands a song!

We are going to a Gavin Rossdale concert. We don't know anyone else who likes him, but we don't flipping care. Not one bit. We really don't!!!!! LOL

No paid work today (boo!) but I got a ride to the Portsmouth NH chantey sing (yay!)  Portsmouth is a great sing, lots of enthusiastic singers and lots of songs I hadn't heard yet.  I sang The Mermaid (although I kind of botched it), dedicated Celtae's Merchant Marine to Richard Phillips, and sang my "greatest hit" Six Foot Tom (if you want to learn that one, you'll have to join nechanteysings.com, which is also a good way to learn about chantey sing sessions in the Northeast.  It's in the Files section, both lyric and tune.)

Love, Columbine
 

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My SB was Friday. My class minus 3 who can't/won't follow directions went to the PA Academy of Fine Arts. It was a tour of paintings showing the history of the US from 1600 to the 1880's. The Academy itself was arranged artistically. It was stunning. The kids were divided into three groups for tours and I got feedback from all the docents that they were wonderfully behaved. After the tour we had a drawing lesson. My class loves to draw so this was a great thing. A couple kids had trouble with the sketch we did, one of which was my young lady with autism. Karen came with us and took her over to see the Picasso painting instead of drawing. Karen's knowledge and talents in Fine Arts was evident as she took others over and explained Modern Art. Even tough I felt like crap and was on my feet the whole time, it was an awesome day in the life.

Anne

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

It's a double dose.  I just booked a flight to Newfoundland for next month and just received my new free phone. I'm looking forward to seeing friends, good music and icebergs!

My Something Beautiful was Thursday. Since my car was totalled by an unlicensed driver a month or so ago, I have had to make my way on the trolley/subway/bus to my various afterschool activites. The other day I hit the jackpot on the trolley. The driver, Leon, must have been a stand-up comic (sit-down comic!) in a former life. He joked with the passengers, had long hilarious rants about Michael Jackson, Prince, and anything else anyone called out. There was a lot of back-and-forth betweeen him and the passengers and it was just the best, most light-hearted trolley ride I have ever had. Raised my spirits highly.

Anne

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com