Interview with my beloved teacher

For the end of the year edition of the school newspaper, I got to interview a teacher of our school. It really felt good to interview my former teacher, Mrs. Main. She taught me 2 years ago. For the interview, I had to schedule a time. Then I had to go to her classroom after school. I had to ask her some mandatory questions and some questions of my own. I wrote this interview report for the Marshall Pomeroy Elementary School Newspaper.

A Quick Interview With Mrs.Kathryn Main
By: Abhijit Ramaprasad

Abhi: Mrs. Main, can you tell us about your profession?
Mrs. Main: I’m a 2nd and 3rd grade teacher here at Marshall Pomeroy Elementary School.
Abhi: How long have you been teaching?
Mrs. Main: I’ve been teaching for 39 years.
Abhi: What are your responsibilities her at Pomeroy School?
Mrs. Main: I have to teach students academics and important life lessons.
Abhi: What skills do you need?
Mrs. Main: I have to be patient and motivate, lead, and inspire my students.
Abhi: What are some positive parts if your job?
Mrs. Main: Getting to teach children things they need to know for life.
Abhi: What are the negative points about your job?
Mrs. Main: I don’t think there are any negative points.
Abhi: Would you recommend this job to others?
Mrs. Main: Absolutely.
Abhi: Why would you recommend this job to others?
Mrs. Main: I think it’s is a great thing to do. It needs commitment and enthusiasm, and it rewards you with happiness.
Abhi: Can you tell us about your education?
Mrs. Main: I was in college for many years. I have a bachelor’s degree in teaching. I also have the required teaching credentials. I also took many extra classes in college.
Abhi: Can you tell us about some travel experiences?
Mrs. Main: I’ve been to Seattle, Washington, South America, Europe, and Mexico.
Abhi: Tell us about one of your interests.
Mrs. Main: I enjoy seeing my grandchildren, Atticus and Sebastian.
Abhi: Can you tell us about some other family members?
Mrs. Main: Other members of my family include my sons, Jeremy and Andrew, and my daughter in law, Bethany.
Abhi: How do you feel when an old student comes and visits you?
Mrs. Main: I really enjoy it. Once, a student of mine came to show me his report card. I really liked it. I like remembering the past.
Abhi: Do you want to say anything to the students here at Marshall Pomeroy Elementary School?
Mrs. Main: “Pomeroy is excitement personified”.

Mrs. Main is retiring this year, many years after she started teaching in 1970. Many of us, especially her old students, will miss her. Pomeroy staff and students would like to wish her a peaceful and active retired life.

March Madness

Many things happened in March. I will describe them in this blogpost.

On March 1, 2009, my 2 year old cousin, Avinash, got ready for his first haircut. It was called his juttu. It took place at the Livermore Temple. We came a little late, but we were still the first visitors. The first part was short, and after it, we had a very long break. During the second period, many people showed up. I even sold some chocolate to get funds for my school's 6th grade science camp program. I was present most of that time. However, some of the time, I was looking for my sister and 4 year old cousin (also Avinash's sister), Aditi. After the ceremony, we had lunch. We had finished late and we ate at 2:00. It was a good lunch but we had to leave early because of a conflicting arrangement.

On that same day, I had to go to my mother's music teacher's house for a music meet. It was called a musical potluck. It was a celebration of the teacher leaving and going to India. We had prepared to sing 1 song, but instead, we sung 2. I sang the songs with my sister. There were about 20 students who performed. We were probably were chosen to perform somewhere in the last 7 performers.

On the 12th of March, 2009, my grandfather turned 63. I wanted to make something very special. I wrote him a poem. This is how it goes:

Ajja, Ajja (grandfather)
You're 63
It's a great thing
We're as happy as can be
You love us and we love you
When somebody asks
We say,”We do!”
It's the 12th of March
It's a special day
Wonder why
It's your birthday

I also made him a word search because I wanted to do something original and new instead of just drawing a picture. I put in things like happy birthday and best wishes.'

For my Laya (rythym) class, I was getting ready for a really big test. I couldn't make a single mistake or use my notes. If I didn't pass, I would get kicked put. I had to practice 10 things everyday. I was really scared, but I got ready. It was rescheduled many times, but I wasn't going to take chances. I practiced and I am still practicing.

This year, my sister is in 3rd grade. She had to write a report, like every other 3rd grader, about our town, Milpitas. Part of it was writing a poem. I wanted to help my sister. Instead, I decided she would be cheating and I decided to send it to our mayor to put in a Milpitas brochure, the Milpitas Post, our town newspaper, and my school's (Marshall Pomeroy Elementary School's) newspaper club. I have posted the poem in another post.

One other thing that happened in March was getting our progress reports. I got really good grades and my teacher said I was getting better at writing.

One last thing from March was when I kept coming home angrily. I kept saying I was getting bullied. I still am, but some people have stopped

I also went to my friend Sanjana's birthday party and bowled there.

One last thing happened a week after the exact date that spring started, March 27, 2009. It was Ugadi. It is the Indian New Year and the first day of spring on the Indian calender. My family and I went to the Livermore temple. The trip took about 3 hours. On that day, I also got the learning student of the month award. Ugadi was a spectacular day with many treats. It was a fitting end for this magnificent March and a fitting start for the new year (Indian).

I also interviewed my former 3rd grade teacher. Her name is Mrs. Main. I interviewed her for the school newspaper. I really enjoyed the interview.

March has been an exciting month this year.

It has been awesome and I hope that Every month is like this.

Recent Literary Activities

In the recent past, I’ve had a number of literary ventures. One of them was being interviewed by an AP (Associated Press, the most prestigious group of reporters in the country) consultant.

The AP consultant’s name was Emily Fredrix. She was writing a report about businesses that have closed in 2008 and she stumbled on my Mervyns and Me blog. She posted a comment on my blogsite. I was extremely happy when I found out I was going to be mentioned in a newspaper and an online report by the Associated Press! She interviewed me by phone on New Year’s Eve, 2008. I told her about how I felt about Mervyns closing. I’d made a few notes on a scrap of paper for what to say. I also talked about my childhood and how much I used to enjoy going to Mervyns. That day, in her report, she wrote three lines about her interview with me.

Here is that article. Click on the image for a zoomed-in view:

Another literary venture was releasing my book, Potions and Portals for Dummies.

I started writing Potions and Portals for Dummies for my sister’s birthday. I was excited because I was making a real book. I dedicated it to her and autographed it on her birthday. My parents interviewed me about the book release afterwards. She read it out loud after 5 minutes. I had written 5 pages of potions, how to make them, and their uses. I also had printed some funny pictures. At her birthday party, I also gave regular copies to her friends. Three days later, on my mother’s birthday, I gave her an autographed and dedicated copy.

Now, time for another venture concerning my mother’s birthday and my sister’s birthday.

I gave both my mom and my sister poem cards on their birthdays. I had to use all my literary genius of the day for both days to think of them. I used a different format for each one. For my sister, I made a normal half - fold card. For my mom, I made a giant one – page poster card. These were the longest and best poems I have ever written.