Halloween Parties

Today was a really fun day for our students. In the morning we had an assembly with tennis pros coming in to encourage the children to play tennis. One of our fourth grade students, and fourth grade teachers, Mrs. Cavoto, played with them. Mrs. Linde played the part of their mascot. After lunch it was a great day for the Halloween parade, led by Mr. Hodac. Mr. Hodac taught band here at Prairieview, and Ide for many years, and still returns to lead the parade with his accordian. The classroom parties are a nice end to the day.

Halloween

Historian Nicholas Rogers, exploring the origins of Halloween, notes that while "some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, it is more typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain, whose original spelling was Samuin (pronounced sow-an or sow-in)".[1] The name of the festival historically kept by the Gaels and celts in the British Isles which is derived from Old Irish and means roughly "summer's end".[1][2][3]

However, according to the Oxford Dictionary of English folk lore: "Certainly Samhain was a time for festive gatherings, and medieval Irish texts and later Irish, Welsh, and Scottish folklore use it as a setting for supernatural encounters, but there is no evidence that it was connected with the dead in pre-Christian times, or that pagan religious ceremonies were held." [4]

The Irish myths which mention Samhain were written in the 10th and 11th centuries by Christian monks. This is around 200 years after the Catholic church inaugurated All Saints Day and at least 400 year after Ireland became Christian. [4]

Enjoy the Season

Leaves change when dwindling daylight slows the production of chlorophyll, uncovering yellows that have been hiding behind the greens, according to Ron Wolford, horticulture educator for the University of Illinois Extension.

Sufficient rain during the growing season creates healthy trees that can soak up the sun's energy, Wolford said. Sun-soaked days followed by crisp nights such as the region has experienced this fall allow trees to use that energy to increase the production of sugar, which amplifies the red color of the leaves.

The appearance of hues like red and purple also depends in part on whether a plant's genetics allow it to produce certain chemical compounds, as well as how acidic or alkaline its leaves are, said Ed Hedborn, manager of plant records for the Morton Arboretum in Lisle.

In the Chicago area, yellows are common, but maples also ignite the sky with reds and oranges.

When leaves change color and fall, they help trees prepare for winter. Trees, Hedborn said, are "nature's original recyclers," holding back and storing nutrients, dropping their leaves, then absorbing additional nutrients from leaves that decompose on the ground around them.

How Do People Celebrate Columbus Day?

The people of the United States are invited to celebrate the anniversary of the discovery of their country with church services and other activities.
In some towns and cities, special church services, parades and large events are held. Most celebrations are concentrated around the Italian-American community.
The celebrations in New York and San Francisco are particularly noteworthy. In Hawaii Columbus Day is also known as Landing Day or Discoverer's Day.
Not all parts of the United States celebrate Columbus Day. It is not a public holiday in California, Nevada and Hawaii.
Moreover, Native Americans’ Day is celebrated in South Dakota, while Indigenous People’s Day is celebrated in Berkeley, California.
For me, it has come to mean the end of the beginning of the school year. I hope you enjoy this beautiful long weekend.

Homework

www.infoplease.com/homework/

This is a nice website for help with many areas of homework needs. Also, it is fun just to look at.