Images of Late Autumn Snow

Before I left for school today I tried to catch a photo or two since it is often too dark when I return home. We didn't get the big snow that was predicted last night, but there was enough to add beauty to the trees.
The covered basketball courts by my classroom waited in stark silence this morning for the hustle and bustle of middle school students as they began to arrive at school. They often shoot a few hoops not minding the below freezing temperatures or the blanket of snow.A group of girls just walked around quietly at break time making distinct trails in the snow. When they headed in to get warm and begin class the footsteps remained intact. With the cold weather that is predicted the footprints may remain for a few more days.

Sadness Surrounds Us

The hallway that leads to my classroom was quieter and more somber this morning. We got the news that my student B's mother had died last evening. She had been in a coma since spring. There were tears, discussion about what we could do to help B, and long, quiet pauses. The class he is in created a large card for his whole family today. They made a collage of photos from the album we have created in the classroom. They also found pictures that would make him smile. They remembered funny stories about B. The healing slowly began.