Read With Me Cultivating a Literary Community 

This morning, as we gathered together for Flag Raising, Mrs. Phillips talked about something that happened 8 years ago today in New York City.  On Wednesday, as we read the story 14 Cows for America, I realized that you do not remember that day.  You were all babies then.

As Mrs. Phillips said, today is Patriot Day.  Congress declared September 11th Patriot Day on December 18, 2001, only 3 short months after the tragedy occurred.  Those of us, like your teachers and parents and perhaps even older brothers and sisters, can understand why.  It was a very sad day in America and around the world.

If you’d like to learn more about what happened on September 11th, 2001, I invite you to check out this website, created by children and teachers of Public School 89 in New York City.   You will learn a lot through their drawings and writing about what it was like to be in the city on that day.  Everyone’s experience that day was unique, but I’m sure no one will ever forget it.

Today is a day to remember and give thanks.  We are all very lucky.

Today, we were all moved as we shared our current book of the month, 14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy…even if Mrs. Nash did cry….AGAIN! In this story, Kimeli, a young Maasai who had left his home in Kenya to study medicine in New York, came home to tell his family about the tragedy that occurred in New York City on September 11, 2001.  He felt compelled to do something to help his adoptive nation.  But what could he do?

He knew what he should do.  When he was a child, his elders taught him that he could help to heal a suffering heart by sacrificing something that was important and dear to him.  But, he knew that some burdens are too big for one chest to bear alone.

After speaking with his elders and his people, the Maasai tribe decided to give America a very unique gift:  14 cows.  It is the wish of the Kimeli and his people that whenever someone hears of their gift, we will find some small measure of comfort and peace in our hearts.

Why was this gift so special?  Perhaps this video (Psst! Click here!) will help you understand a little more about how important a cow, or a water buffalo, can be to people in worlds very different than our own.

Oh, and don’t forget your tissues!