Opening Day

Siena holds the "message" invitation. Jaden holds the bottle it came in. India pretends to be disinterested in the background.

In our school room, coloring the year maps while I read Treasure Island outloud. (This is the first morning after opening day.)

All the kids in their hats and shirts with Emily and Billy. Good luck finding mine. I'm pretty sure they are in there somewhere. Cousin Olivia with pink skirt and sandals front row.fUncle Braden as "Billy Bones" with the Black Spot.

The Saturday before school started, the children received the traditional invitation for opening day. It normally is a clue, but not a total give away, to the topic for the year. This year, the doorbell rang and there was a message in a bottle from Emily Dickenson. I guess they know what to expect now, because as soon as the doorbell rang and I urged the kids to run to get it, India sighed "Oh Brother, Mom". Fortunately, that has been the only attitude so far. All the kids are having a great time.

After a picnic dinner, the kids were introduced to "Emily Dickenson" who came to tell a little bit about her life and explain the meaning of her poem that inspired this years theme:

"There is no frigate like a book to take us lands away.
Nor any courser like a page of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take without oppress of toll.
How frugal is the chariot that bears the human soul."

Part way through her lecture we this kids were suprised as "Billy Bones" (from Treasure Island) stumbled in with the black spot. He gave the kids their adventure "Maps" and invited them to sign the ships roster. They were given a teeshirt, Captain's Journal, and a clue to start them on a treasure hunt for the next day at home. My kids followed the clues around the house, collecting their school supplies at each stop. At the final destination was a treasure box with Treasure Island inside.