As I reflect back the “good ole days” of grade school at Battle Creek Elementary (Magnet) School, I want to encourage the readers of this to never lose that child-like heart in life. Remember those times of watching cartoons?….
Chipmunks
Ducktales
Flinstones
He Man
G.I. Joe
Heman
*see about receiving more "power" from GoodnewsEverybody: Teachings-Holy Spirit (gift from God)
Transformers
Smurfs, I admit-I had a crush on that “blonde” smurf
Tale Spin
"The opening for the Tale Spin cartoon that used to air on the Disney Channel."
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Tom & Jerry
Voltron
Also, one of my fond favorite activities in Kindegarden class was “Share & Tell”, which we each had the opportunity to tell each other our personal interests or hobbies. I somehow always remember the time where we got to share our favorite t.v. sitcom-show-before cable came! My favorite show I shared was Little House in the Prairie, which I admit also that I had a crush on Laura Engles! Other favorite shows growing-up were:
little house on the prairie
Dukes of Hazard
Happy Days, which I wanted to be like the “Fonze”
AWA/WWF, wrestling
Related Sites:
Sitcoms
T.V. Shows
For cartoons:
I’m currently 26 years old and living in the college town I attend school-UMM at. I work at a group home for developmentally disabled adults, which I never thought I'll be doing after my early years of experience with being paired with a friend "Dennis" of the Autism Program during 4th grade. My birthday will be in several days. I’ve been having dreams these past couple of days in a row of past peers I grew up in grade school to high school. Also, I’ve been having many off and on in the past living in my life of season in this college town I graduated from in 1999. This morning, I woke up to a dream that was hard to describe, but a former elementary school buddy was in it. We somehow grew apart from each other as we got older when we both found different friends to hangout. I’ve met many people that has come into and out of my life. Sometimes I wonder what many of them do now.
Kingdom Attribute Bit-by-Bit
I went to my local church in St. Paul yesterday as I was in the cities visiting family with a young teenager I mentor in a regular basis. The sermon had a message about bringing the Kingdom to people God puts in our daily life. After reflecting on this with my dream yesterday (just as I’m writing this), I feel that each of us can bring a bit of the Kingdom to each of one of us daily. After coming to a personal relationship with Jesus beginning my freshmen year in college, God has begun opening my eyes to see this Kingdom perspective. I’ve now realize that God puts people in your life with a certain attribute that influences you-positively or negatively (depends on how you take it). Below are some friends from grade school that has somewhat influenced me positively that I’ve started to appreciate now:
Kindergarden: Davina-my first earliest dance I can remember with the opposite sex
First-
Second-Elliot-my first African American friend, which his race really didn’t become a factor growing-up that has became an issue later in life (see racism testimony)
Third-
Fourth-
Fifth-Jarret-a tall buddy of mine that look out for me as one of the small ones whenever I got took advantage or picked on due to my height. Also, he invited me to his birthday party that made me feel part of the boys! I remember he had a WWF Wrestling Ring Toy, which we played with some famous wrestling figures at the party.
Others throughout my grade:
-Danny, who was a “cool” guy and gave me first set of football cards
-Jason, who was a “nice” friend
-Ted, who was another cool guy that was into hockey (still have a birthday card from him)
-Brady, who was a “nice” friend (still have a birthday card from him) and became closer friends during one summer school year
-Tom, who was a taller nice friend that was into science (still have a birthday card from him)
Teachers that have played an impact:
Kindergarden-Mrs. Mitchell encouraged me to tie my shoe as I was slower to learn compared to my peers
First-Mrs. Sather-encouraged me on my drawing interest
Second-Mrs. ?-encoraged me also on my drawing; particularly my drawing of a bird that my older sister had her too and got jealous of and still remembers to this day!
Third-Mrs. Harrington's 3rd Grade Class (above)
Fourth-Mrs. Belisle-encouraged me with her nice soft voice
Fifth-Ms. Kobilarski-encouraged me by making me notice in front of the class whenever I was sitting quietly in my desk while my classmates were talking and being noisy-yes, I was somewhat a “teacher’s pet”
There has been many folks I’ve met through the years living in Morris that has pursued teaching, which I’ve grown to respect more due to their profession in making a difference in our younger generation.
Sad Moments
Being a kid slowly growing up, I didn’t mature as fast as the others. When I forgot to get my lunch ticket from my sister, I was worried that I was not going to have lunch one school day. I went over to Ms. Flershinger’s (older science teacher), and knocked on her door to see if I could talk to my sister. I didn’t expect what was going to come-the teacher yelled at me for disturbing the middle of her class she was teaching. For some childish reason, I closed the door and started crying! My sister would come out to give me my lunch tickets after they heard me crying-what an embarassment!
Another was my last year at Battle Creek Elementary School-5th grade in Ms. Kobilarski class. We were listening to some teaching, and our science teacher across the hallway unexpectedly came and talked with our teacher. The whole class started to talk to one another and was wondering what was going on. Ms. Kobilarski told us to quiet and down and made a sad announcement. The bird that our class got close to just died after its’ cage was accidentally knocked down by one of our classmates. At first, many of us were mad at this particular peer, but we all quickly became sadden and some of us started to cry. It took awhile for some of us to get over with as Ms. Kobilarski shared something (I can’t remember to this day) that gave us peace.
In the same classroom under Ms. Kobilarski, we read once-The Red Fern Grows”....
Where the Red Fern Grows
"Written by Wilson Rawls and read by Anthony Heald "
....which was a very sad story. After reading the book, we had the chance to watch it in video, which was more emotionally impacting. I remember some or even a lot of us cried through hearing this story!
Funny Moments
In 3rd grade, there was this red-head that would always get in trouble for doing things because of his curiosity of the unfamiliar. One-time the teacher was gone, and he took a paper clip from the teacher’s desk and stucked it into a power outlet on the wall below the black board. Some of the class was busy talking or doing something without watching. Then the lights flickered and we saw this blue light in the corner of our eye coming out when this paper clip came in contact with the outage. The red head just got shocked and was kneeling still there for a moment. Our third-grade teacher would later come out and yell at him after seeing what happened. I still don’t exactly remember what happened after this, but the teacher somehow was more mad then worried at this red head. I just remember that he was ok! Scary at first after reflecting how serious this situation could’ve been, but it was very funny for all of us that day!
Recess
I grew into the loving sports by playing in the back yard-playground behind the townhouse my parents raised me and my siblings. I wanted to be as good as I can get to prepare myself for the various games we played with in recess:
King of the Mountain, where our strength is tested through who can stay in top of a small hill of snow
Kickball, where we can test a variety of our physical athleticism on the black top in the back of our school. I noticed there were girls that wanted to prove they can be good as boys by being very active in the game. There were others who would run away from a flying kickball heading straight towards them in the air.
Baseball, where we would throw overhand with a tennis ball or a hard baseball for more of a challenge.
Four Squares, where we would get up to 4 of your friends and bounce a kickball in each other’s square until one misses it!
Gym class was also a fun time where we can run around instead of sitting in our butts:
Trench
Dodge Ball
Floor Hockey, was one of my favorite games as it was close to playing hockey, which I couldn’t afford to get into.
Battle Creek: Bridlewood Neighborhood Friends
My parents moved to the very east section of St. Paul in the Battle Creek neighborhood in 1980 from Oakdale (suburb of St. Paul). They are still there to this day (2004) as I just visited them this past weekend. We lived in these townhouses, where many kids our age came to join my siblings and I with countless of activities. However, all of them have went through to stay and moved on once they got older:
Backy, Vietnamese-American, who moved to Woodbury and we somehow lost contact after visiting him once there.
Ethan, Caucasian American, who moved closer to the Cretin Durham-Hall neighborhood and once visited us after moving.
Kevin, Nathaniel, and other siblings whose names I forgot already-moved out somewhere?
Erin and Heather, who moved somewhere too?
John, Heather, ? who moved closer to Stillwater and invited us to their high school graduation a couple years ago, but couldn’t personally make it; however, my family did!
Brandon,-who moved closer to Stillwater also
Andy
Jordan
Tony & Fran (Hispanic-American)-who moved to the neighborhood after many of the people mentioned above were already settled, and then they would stay for several years before moving again. My brother saw Tony once recently (within a year) and was getting read for war in Iraq.
Wow, as I just finish making the list above (including my classmates), I realize how each one played small part in developing my personality and interests/hobbies:
Backy: Bruce Lee, karate (still have a picture of his birthday party where I dressed as a karate guy-remember the movie-”Karate Kid!)
As some of my years have been told already (see story) from some issues I faced during these years (6th grade to 8th grade/1989-1991), I will expand on the "good times":
I was part of the first 6th grade class at the "new" Battle Creek Middle School in 1989-1990 (?-somtime here), which it was formerly known-Battle Creek Junior High School.
I remembered some fun classes during 8th hour, which was more of a relaxer:
-Lego Class
-Board Games (first time to play Backgammon; chess, checkers, etc..)
-Computer Class (games)
-Archery Class (using a bown and arrow for the first time)
-band class: played the trumpet for 2 years that was rented from the school, so I didn't take it seriously as I should've. I remember playing at a night concert and I just faked it! I just wanted to feel a part of something!
I remembered the "bad times" too, which I can laugh now:
-getting hit with a basketball and getting a "black-eye" after trying to get the ball I shoot while others were shooting the net
-getting picked on by a "bully" for my homework as he notice I was very studious! A friend-Jim, went between me and this guy as the bully pushed me to the lockers when I refused to give my homework to him to copy
-getting "gleacked" on or having "spit balls" shoot at me as I sat there and laughed as I felt defense less
-getting laughed out of state as I received some reward in front of the school as my last name was pronounced as "Monteaguda". I still don't remember what the big deal was-maybe it was for something I had on myself that I didn't notice
-getting expelled early in the school day for carrying bullets that a friend and I thought was cool and throwing it around the gym
Yes, there was some funny episodes:
-a classmate of mine put some glue in the chair and slipped it under the teacher's desk to teased this substitute teacher during Home Economics Class. There are countless other stories about substitute teachers that I look back that I need to ask forgivness
-substitute teacher played this video our music teacher gave to her for our class to watch while he was gone. Surprisingly, the music teacher accidentally gave the wrong tape, and it was some rate "R" flick-I can just remember some ladies dancing showing some skin-naughty!
Overall, the years here was probably my roughest years growing-up as I didn't know how to handle some issues like I do now because I have Jesus! However, I look back and it was a definite learning growing experience. Yes, there were girls I had a crush on, like any other boy/guys during their puberty stages! Now, I wonder what they are all doing now....
Games
-Arcade
Miscellaneous
Movies
the films of the 1980s
" Some favorites from the decade
Category: Film & Animation
Tags:
scarface blade runner ghostbusters tom hanks back to the future johnny depp oliver stone cruise footloose "
The Neverending Story Trailer
"What is the secret of this enchanted book? What wonders are hidden within its pages? What magical spell does it cast on all who read it? What is the secret of 'The Neverending Story?'
"But that's impossible!"
You will enter a world where a young boy's imagination becomes a vivid reality. The world of Atreyu and Artax, The Rock Biter and the good and kind Gnome; a world that is vast and eternal, Treacherous and Dazzling, Unforgettable and Free. For anyone who's ever made a wish, believed in a fantasy, or had a dream. This is 'The Neverending Story.' "
Related Sites:
Wikipedia
"...is a 1984 fantasy film based on the German novel of the same name by Michael Ende. The production was directed by Wolfgang Petersen and starred Barret Oliver as Bastian Bux, Noah Hathaway as Atreyu, and Tami Stronach as The Childlike Empress. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive film to ever be produced outside of the United States or the USSR.[1]..."
Bo, you don't know DIddley!
"Ahh.. in 1990 Bo Jackson was da man.."
Bo Jackson, Wikipedia
"Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson (born November 30, 1962 in Bessemer, Alabama) is an American athlete and a former multi-sport professional. Jackson played at the highest level of sports in the United States in both American football and baseball.
In football, Jackson played running back for the Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League. In baseball, Jackson played left field and designated hitter for the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago White Sox, and the California Angels of the American League in Major League Baseball.
Although a hip injury severely impaired his professional career, Jackson was the first athlete to be named an All-Star in two major sports.[1] Before his professional career, he earned the 1985 Heisman Trophy, the prize annually awarded to the most outstanding collegiate football player in the United States. He reportedly ran a 4.12 40 yard dash.
In 1989 and 1990, Jackson's name became known beyond just sports fans through the "Bo Knows" advertising campaign, a series of advertisements by Nike promoting a cross-training athletic shoe named for Jackson.[1]
-Baseball
1987 Twins World Series Parade
"The parade after the Minnesota Twins defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to 3 "
*see GoodnewsMinnesota: Twins Baseball
I remember getting out of school early to see this parade in downtown St. Paul. It was a one-time experience I've never encountered yet again in my life-time with this magnitude of a celebration!
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