Election '08

Yesterday was Election Day for our country  as many (or all!) of you know...but it was also an election day for the second grade class at Trinity's school!

We were surprised but excited when she came home a few weeks ago and told us that she had decided to run for President with her friend Christa as her running mate. Several kids decided to run and she had some stiff competition! But early on, she said to me very matter-of-factly "Mom, I dont think I will win, but I still want to run anyways!".  Dylan ran for President (and won!) when he was in second grade also so we knew what to expect.

They did the whole thing:Campaign posters with their very own slogan and a whole week of campaigning in which they passed out buttons, stickers, candy, pencils, etc. On Monday, they all gave speeches (Trinity's was so cute and she had it down!!), and then yesterday they voted. They each received a voter registration card and had it punched when they cast their vote.

They have been studying about this for a few weeks and there is no better way to learn it then to actually go through the process themselves! It made it all make sense to them and explained it to them in a much more relevant way than just reading about it or having your parents explain it.

Well, sadly, Trinity didn't end up winning this year. Actually it was a tie between she and another girl and when they voted again, the other girl ended up winning. But I was so proud of Trinity when she walked up to the girl and said "Congratulations!". She just loved the whole experience of it.  I am so glad she gets those experiences and learns and grows so much from them. We are so proud of her and thankful for the wonderful education they are getting and the awesome teachers that add so much to their lives. I know this other little girl will be a great little president....and not lead their second grade class into moral bankruptcy. Oh, wait.....wrong election.

As we watched the election coverage last night, the kids were just as in the know about what was going on as any adult and were reading the screen and commenting on electoral votes. Trinity knew exactly what was going on and the different offices and was excited that the rest of the country was copying the second grade!

So here are some pics from campaign week of the things she handed out...

These are some Hersheys minis:

And some Tootsie Roll pops:

Some stickers:

And lastly, some bookmarks! Because second graders LOVE to read!

On a side note: Trinity's teacher is having her baby tomorrow and has said that she may name the baby 'Trinity Grace'! Trinity is so excited about that and thinks that would be so cool! I will let you know if she does!