Room 209 Fashion: Aaron and Philip

Aaron and Philip share a birthday, Valentine's Day. After we sang our Birthday Song (Panjang Umurnya) to each of them (Aaron RIGHT at the moment of his birth!), they selected their birthday treats - matching puppy hats. Of course, then they went full puppy and we ended up with this photo!

Thoughtful, Generous Students and a Grateful Teacher by Gabby

A lot of the class signed this card, you can see my name, the card had $100 for UNICEF. Shauna got the card for Christmas. When the gift certificate came, we voted and the money went to Health!

On Shauna's Birthday, Room 209 planned a HUGE Birthday Party during French. Me and Molly were distracting Shauna, not really good 'cause Shauna probably thought that we were doing something! When Shauna went into the classroom, all Room 209 jumped out and surprised her and Shauna started to cry. ("You did? Oh I didn't see!" - Laryssa, with a head smack). At the Birthday Party, there were lots of cards, every person in the class made one or two, because they might have made one at home, there was treats, and presents. People sang "Panjang Umurna", "Woop-en Shauna Style", "I'm Shauna and I Know It", "Octopus' Garden". It was a fun party. We had cupcakes and turtles ("Yeah, the turtles were good" - Laryssa) and other treats.

-by Gabby 

Panjang Umurnya

Here we are singing our Indonesian Birthday song to Daniel! Doesn't it sound so much more joyful and tuneful than "Happy Birthday"?

Panjang Umurnya

This year, we will be celebrating every student's birthday in Room 209, either on their actual birthdays or on surprise "unbirthdays"! There's something about the "Happy Birthday" song that has always struck me as sad - it's difficult to sing nicely and a roomful of people singing it always sounds off-key and kind of down. When I heard "Panjang Umurnya" this summer, the Indonesian birthday song, I fell in love.

We have already celebrated one birthday and we sound positively lovely singing in Indonesian!

We also add up to three good luck "Hip Hip yeahhhhs" at the end, as selected by the
birthday or unbirthday boy or girl!