"Doc" the Tree that Helped Me All the Way

By Julia

It began in 1^st grade when I first saw the tree. The first grade and I called him “Doc.” He was just a sapling at the time, but I instantly fell in love with him.  Every day, I would watch the tree sprout into memories (like when a tree sprouts branches). Now that I’m older I still look at the tree and it gives me hope. He was there to remind us of our teachers father, or as she called him “Doc.”

            Ever since I was young, that tree always reminded me of school and how much I actually liked school. Every day I think of the tree realizing how much it reminded me of my past and somehow my future. What I mean is that while I grew up, I gained many friends, like a tree grows branches. Also, how I would lose friends, like a tree loses leaves. When I grew I would get stronger as the tree would, but somehow I would always feel weak. “Doc” was not just a tree he was a tree with purpose.

            The people at St. Martins, Isabelle, Pauline, Tyler, Andrew and Wayland (maybe Mr. Chafe) are like a second family to me. Loving and caring, yet sometimes can get on my nerves. But hey, isn’t that what family is for? “Doc” always reminds me of that family and how over the years, our bond grew stronger.

            As long as “Doc” stands, I will remember St. Martins, and how a little tree helped me feel confident, strong and joyful.

English Class With the Dark Knight

By Mr. Chafe

      A new year is upon us, the gremlins are back at work, and I'm thinking about Batman.

If you are a gremlin, odds are you already know about my obsession with the Dark Knight. You know that he stands on my desk and watches over my papers when I am gone. You know that I definitely think he could beat Iron Man in a fight. And you know that I mention him as often as possible during English class. 

But why do I love Batman so much? And what does he have to do with school?

     It isn't that he is an excellent teaching tool (though he is). The reason that I talk about Batman so much is that he is different from most other superheroes. Batman was born a normal guy. He became a superhero and the world's greatest detective through hard work, practice, and (believe it or not) making mistakes. He is my reminder to keep trying my hardest, even when things seem impossible. He is my reminder that if I have a goal, the only thing that prevents me from achieving it is lack of dedication. 

That is why I think of Batman when I think of school. When I was in school, some days it felt like everyone had a special talent but me. Sometimes I would struggle with work that the rest of the class got right away. That was OK. All I had to do was think about how Batman would handle the situation. 

     Would he be upset? Probably.

     Would he get frustrated? Sometimes.

     Would he quit? Never. 

     So now that I'm a teacher, I think that my most important lesson is to teach my students to not give up, to always try to be the best student they can, and to never give anything less than their best effort. In other words, be more like Batman.