Thursday, May 14, 2009

Secret Staircase


By Alexa G. & Helena H.

On a chilly September day, in 1957, Oliver Wendell Holmes School was opened.
There were two known ways for the custodian to get into the basement: the north staircase, and the custodian’s elevator. But, there were rumors of another widely unknown way of getting to the basement. It’s a staircase, hence its name—the secret staircase. Most have heard rumors of infamous crawlspaces and trap doors, but we don’t know who is right. Only a few lucky students have been in on the secret--or so they say. No one really knew if there’s a secret staircase besides our custodian team. Mr. Helm explained to the editors of front page that there is a dual staircase other than the one on the north side of the school. A student’s only opportunity to go into the secret staircase is if there was a severe weather warning and the main basement area is full and so is the hallway. A teacher would then escort the students to the staircase for shelter and protection. All in all, do not try to find the secret staircase! Not only will you get in trouble, but also it is just not smart to go roaming in a mysterious basement! This is no longer a secret, and the staircase is no longer a rumor. It is there for all of our safety, and if the weather permits (or doesn’t permit), the ‘Secret Staircase’ will be there to shelter us.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Retiring Teachers

By Alexa G. & Helena H.

Three of our most beloved staff members here at Holmes are leaving us this year-Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Katz, and Mrs. Vickers.
Mrs. Hughes has been at Holmes School for 16 years. Why did she stay so long you ask? Two words--the people. Ms. Hughes is an inspiring teacher. Everyday she works with different students and helps them read. Next year, Mrs. Hughes plans on traveling, she looks forward to more gardening time, and also she will have lots of spare time to read. Mrs. Hughes told us that she will miss everyone. Her advice for students is, “Enjoy learning, make many friends, try new things, and ask questions—the recipe for success.”
Mrs. Katz has been here for three years. She loves the friendly staff here at Holmes and being with children. She is going to miss everyone, especially the children she works with. Ms. Katz is planning to go to Hawaii and maybe to Europe. Her advice for students is, “Keep on studying, keep learning, and to keep in mind that education is so important.”
We will miss these two teachers very much. Make sure you bid them a proper farewell. Go to the fifth grade page to learn about Mrs. Vickers.