Beach Cleanup

Yesterday my homeroom class did a beach cleanup day. Out of a homeroom class of 32 students 14 of them were able to come, which was quite impressive seeing as most of them had to catch busses into town. And the fact that they were all at the park right on time was even more impressive to me. They actually told me that I was late because I walked up right after the bell rang 9 a.m. At first the kids were a bit hesitant at picking up any trash at all, but when I told them that I would buy the person who picked up the most trash a coke, suddenly picking up trash was fun.
An hour later we had collected 8 full bags of trash along the beach front. We were all dripping with sweat and filthy. I didn’t want to even think about what was on my hands. We found a dumpster to throw our trash bags in and then went to the “beach” to swim. The girls jumped in with their clothes on but the boys opted for playing volleyball instead. They all kept talking about how they wanted to see Erica’s and my house, so I invited them back to the house for lunch. Two loaves of bread, a 4 pound can of tuna, lots of popcorn and 2 gallons of Gatorade later they were all fed. They all crowded into our little living room pulling up stools, plastic chairs and sitting on the back of the couch. They were laughing and screaming and making fun of each other. They ended up putting on a war movie, and all 14 of them crowded around our little 12 inch TV. Only the boys stuck it out for the whole movie- they didn’t leave our house until after 2 p.m. The girls gave up after about an hour, frustrated by the boys’ extra sound effects and enthusiasm over the movie.
It was fun to have a full house though and for the students all to be here. Everyday I am more and more thankful for these kids. For Ervin, “the teddy bear” who makes me laugh every time I see him. For Ian, who has said less than 20 words since I first met him. For Samir, my “protector” and handyman. For Seleni, who calls me her “mom.” For Ruby, whose laugh is contagious. I am thankful for these and all of my students. For the way that they make me laugh, make me want to scream and make me want to be kid again.