CECILY
IDK
I didn’t notice
PRIANKA
K
Vishal, Prianka
VISHAL
Yo my cousin comes tonight w/ his fam
I thought it would be nice if I met him at the airport w/ some peeps from school
Would ur friends want 2 go
PRIANKA
Um I can check
Ok to ask Victoria 2
We r trying hard to include her in stuff
VISHAL
Cool
MY GIRLZZZZZZZ
PRIANKA
U guys want 2 go meet Vishal’s cousin @ the airport w/ me tonight?
Vishal wants peeps to go & welcome him & make him feel included after what happened
No pressure
But LMK
VICTORIA
I can def go
My mom can drive 2
Want her to pick everyone up?
GABRIELLE
I can’t
Dinner w/ my dad 2night
Sorry
CECILY
I’m in!
Thx for picking me up, V!
What time, Pri
PRIANKA
Um like 6pm?
Cool?
VICTORIA
Perfect
CECILY
Same
Vishal, Prianka
PRIANKA
Victoria, Cece & I r gonna come w/ u
Cool?
VISHAL
Yes
Fab
PRIANKA
V’s mom is driving us
We will meet u there
VISHAL
K - Delta arrivals terminal
PRIANKA
K
MY GIRLZZZZZZZ
GABRIELLE
I am so sad I am missing this
But I can’t cancel on my dad
PRIANKA
It’s ok
NBD
GABRIELLE
I hate to miss stuff tho
Even V is going
PRIANKA
LOL
We r being better about including her
But don’t worry - we r not replacing u!!
CECILY
Yes
Proud of us
GABRIELLE
I gtg
Good luck @ the airport
TRUE CONFESSIONS
VICTORIA
Ummmm Vishal’s cousin is SO funny and cute and awesome
PRIANKA
4 real?
U think so?
VICTORIA
YESSSS
CECILY
LOL
We only talked to him for 5 min
VICTORIA
I could tell tho
PRIANKA
Haha ok
Go 4 it
CECILY
Every1 is SO SO boy crazy
PRIANKA
Want me 2 tell Vishal u think Arjun is cute?
VICTORIA
Noooooo
Def not
Promise u won’t????
PRIANKA
LOL
Promise
VICTORIA
Don’t LOL
PRIANKA
Ok
MEMO
From: Mr. Carransey, Principal, Yorkville Middle School
To: All Yorkville Middle School Students & Parents
Some of you may have heard that we received a grant from the state to purchase new laptops. They will be available for students to borrow for taking notes in class and for use in study halls and in the library.
I want to remind you and your children that these laptops are only intended for schoolwork and research. Students must treat them carefully and adhere to all the guidelines in the student handbook.
Edward Carransey
Principal
Yorkville Middle School
Be the change you want to see in the world. —Gandhi
PRIANKA
Ummmm u guysssss
U know what this means right
We can totes iMessage in study hall now
CECILY
No way
We will get in so much trouble
I bet they will disable it somehow
GABRIELLE
Omg
I can iMessage u guys all day longggggg
Dream come true
CECILY
U guys
No
We r going 2 get in so much trouble & get comps taken away
GABRIELLE
I can send Colin love iMessages all day long
Haha JK
CECILY
N e way - can we puhlease go back 2 discussing camping trip?
GABRIELLE
BRB
PRIANKA
I gtg set the table
Talk latersssss
Smooches
* * *
Journal Assignment
Now that you have written three characteristics and discussed with a peer, please write about the experience. Did your peer agree with the characteristics? Did he or she have different ones to add? Do you feel that you see yourself in the way others see you? Please take some time to think about this and free-write in your journal.
Cecily, Mara
CECILY
R ur friends as boy crazy as mine
MARA
LOL kinda
CECILY
So weird
MARA
I agree
CECILY
R u home
MARA
Yup
CECILY
K I’m coming over 4 a bit
MARA
Arjun, Prianka
ARJUN
Prianka?
Vishal gave me ur # in case I get lost
I’m not lost LOL but I do have a ?
R we allowed to iMessage during the day?
PRIANKA
Hi
No we can’t from school comps
Where r u now
ARJUN
Caf
Lunch now right?
PRIANKA
Yes
Wait outside 4 me
Be there soon
Prianka! Arjun is so so so so cute. He made me laugh at least 6 times during lunch. Can we go bowling the 4 of us this weekend? You, me, Vishal, Arjun? Double date? Hee hee. WB. XOXO Victoria
Victoria! Don’t write me notes in class. SO going to get in trouble!!!!!! Text me tonight and we can discuss. XO Pri
Dear Journal:
I sat next to Ayelet Birnbaum so we shared our characteristics with each other. She agreed about all of mine. She also said that she thinks of me as an “old soul,” which is a term her grandma uses. She says I seem really grown up and mature. Maybe the most mature one in the grade. This made me sad for some reason. I don’t want to seem old, especially since I still feel like a kid. Like, I am the only one who doesn’t care about boys or going out with anyone. How can I seem so grown up when I feel so young?
I agreed with Ayelet’s characteristics. She’s really kind and empathetic and she’s always thinking about other people. But she thinks of herself as shy and I was surprised to hear that. She always seems to be talking to people.
This was an interesting exercise.
—Cecily
CAMPING HERE WE COME
CECILY
U guys we r all signed up 4 camping trip
Did ur moms tell u
PRIANKA
Yesssssss
So pumped but now that Arjun is here Vishal is staying in Yorkville 4 summer so I feel kind of bummed to miss hanging w/ them
We r still going to India for 3 weeks @ the end of summer btw
CECILY
U’ll have fab time w/ us
And u can hang w/ them when we get back & b4 India
I AM SO EXCITED!
TENT TIME w/ my BFFs
GABRIELLE
LOL
PRIANKA
Gonna be awesome
Btw do u know Victoria loves Arjun
She wants us 2 do a double date
CECILY
4 real
R u going to
PRIANKA
Maybe
I want Arjun 2 meet friends & feel comfy here
GABRIELLE
Yeah that’s true
U guys should do it
CECILY
Super awk tho - what if Arj doesn’t like her like that
GABRIELLE
It’s only a few hrs tho
I gtg
CECILY
Love uuuuuuuuu
GABRIELLE
Mwah
PRIANKA
Tata, luvies
Dear Journal,
I didn’t get to finish this in class today. I was paired up with Victoria for this week’s assignment. And it was interesting to do this with her since we have had our ups and downs since she moved here.
She agrees that I am determined, especially with Colin. LOL. Why do I bring Colin into every conversation? I can’t help it. (This is prob TMI for a teacher if a teacher sees this, so I’m sorry.) She also thinks I’m friendly.
When we started talking, she told me that she really wants to fit in and that she’s a good listener and hardworking. I agree with all of those things, but I told her she shouldn’t try that hard to fit in because she’s doing okay with it.
XOXOXO Gabs
CECILY
Omg did u hear what happened
Mara was group iMessaging w/ Mae & Marissa on the school comp during history
All have in-school suspension tomw
GABRIELLE
What
She just told u??
CECILY
Yes
She came over crying
Her mom took her phone away 2 4 a rlly long time
PRIANKA
Omg we def cannot ever try it
CECILY
Def not
They r super serious about it
Hi, Arjun. What did you bring for lunch today?
BAGEL AND CREAM CHEESE. YOU?
Egg salad. So gross. Right?
I LIKE EGG SALAD. :)
Mrs. Gaines just looked @ me. See you @ lunch.
From: Cecily Anderson
To: 6th Grade Students
Subject: Booths for SPRING FAIR!!!!!
Thank you so much for sending in all of your booth ideas!
Here is the complete list!
Please complete the online poll with your top 5 choices.
BOOTH IDEAS:
THROWBACK Pin the tail on the donkey
Fortune-teller
Guess the number of jelly beans in the jar
Decorate a cupcake
Oreo-eating contest
Fastest texter contest
Nail art
Nerf basketball
Marriage booth
Magic 8 Ball booth
Mancala competition
Jump rope
Photo booth
Get the ball into the cup of whipped cream
Pie-in-the-face game
Knock down the bowling pins
Dunk tank (DUNK MR. CARRANSEY)
Spray hair dye
Water gun through the hole of a paper plate
Three-legged race
Soda taste test: Coke or Pepsi
Yorkville pizza taste test: Tomato & Company or Jennie’s
Thank you,
Cecily Anderson, 6th grade rep
I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship. —Louisa May Alcott
Dear Outdoor Explorers participants:
We are SO excited you signed up for an Outdoor Explorers camping trip this coming summer! In this packet, you’ll find a packing list, a roster of your group participants, FAQs, a safety waiver for our adventure and ropes course (completely standard), and other medical forms to fill out.
Please return all paperwork with your deposit by May 15.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email or call!
Yours in the outdoors,
President, Outdoor Explorers
From: Cecily Anderson
To: 6th Grade Students
Subject: Booths for Spring Fair
Hi everyone,
Wow, you all filled out the online poll so quickly! Thank you! Here are the 6th grade booths. Each grade gets to pick five so that’s why we had to narrow it down. But all of them were good ideas!
So . . .
Marriage booth
Magic 8 Ball booth
Dunk tank
Fastest texter
Decorate a cupcake
It’s going to be a great fair! Come to the meeting on Friday to sign up to help out with a booth and/or bring food donations.
I also want to tell you all about Mara Wilder’s idea for an inspiring-messages wall! Everyone will have a chance to add a Post-it to the wall. So please be thinking of nice, kind, inspiring, hopeful messages!
Thank you,
Cecily Anderson, 6th grade rep
CAMPING OMG!!!!
GABRIELLE
OMG OMG OMG
PRIANKA
What
GABRIELLE
The camping trip packet
It is really happening
CECILY
So so so so so so excited
GABRIELLE
Same BUT SO SCARED NOW
CECILY
This is my 1st time really away from home except like staying at my grandparents’ house
PRIANKA
Me 2
GABRIELLE
Well u guys know I went to sleepaway camp 4 a week when I was 8 and I cried the whole time
CECILY
We r going to have the best time
Best 3 wks of our lives!!
OMG u guys
GABRIELLE
What
CECILY
Every1 is obsessed w/ marriage booth
Literally every1 voted 4 it
So weird
PRIANKA
Why
I think it’s cool
CECILY
So weird
Why r kids thinking about getting married
GABRIELLE
It’s just like a jokey booth, Cece
No one is really getting married
It’s like you just walk up to the booth with a friend and have a little pretend marriage ceremony & get a certificate
CECILY
IK
Still weird
Can’t we think of other stuff that’s more interesting
Arjun, Victoria
VICTORIA
Hi
ARJUN
Hi
R we allowed to iMessage in study hall
VICTORIA
We can use computers
And it’s not a class
ARJUN
Ok
VICTORIA
So what’s up
ARJUN
Nada
Trying to catch up on math hw
VICTORIA
Cool
IDK what
Dear Mara,
I know you are still without your phone, so I figured I would write you an old-fashioned letter. But I’m just putting it in your mailbox because why waste a stamp when I live next door? HAHA. Anyway, how are you? I am excited for Spring Fair. Also, do you want to try a backyard campout when it gets warmer? I’m going on a camping trip this summer and I want to prepare. Write back and answer my questions. :) XOXOXO Cecily
From: Edward Carransey
To: Priscilla Melford
Subject: Computer privileges
Dear Mrs. Melford:
Victoria was caught messaging with a peer during study hall. This is not allowed under any circumstances. She will serve an in-school suspension tomorrow in the library. Her computer privileges will be revoked for one week.
Please see me if you have any questions.
Thank you
,
Edward Carransey
Principal
Yorkville Middle School
Be the change you want to see in the world.
—Gandhi
GABRIELLE
Guys, let’s play a game
3 people u wld marry @ marriage booth
Ready?
PRIANKA
Vishal vishal & vishal
GABRIELLE
LOL cheater
PRIANKA
U
GABRIELLE
Colin Colin & Colin
PRIANKA
LOL LOL
GABRIELLE
Cece?
U there?
PRIANKA
Cece wld marry ummmm
Who wld Cece marry?
GABRIELLE
Well she does
PRIANKA
LOL
Cece, where r u
From: Nicole Landenor
To: Victoria Melford
Subject: WHERE ARE YOU
Vic, where are you? You haven’t responded to any of my texts or emails. Are you okay? What’s going on with Arjun? Please write back!!!!!! I WILL CALL YOU TONIGHT.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO Nic
Dear Journal,
This sums up how I feel rn . . .
xoxo Cecily
BFFAEAEAEAEAEAEA
CECILY
Sorry I missed ur texts from b4
BUT I DON’t WANT TO MARRY ANY1 or a
All u 2 think about is boys
PRIANKA
Sheesh
Calm down
Also not true
I also think about world peace
& Vishal’s cousin & tolerance
GABRIELLE
Same
And I spend a lot of time on our journal assignments
PRIANKA
Same
CECILY
U guys know what I mean
PRIANKA
We luv u, Cece
GABRIELLE
WLYSM
CECILY
MY GIRLZZZZZZZ
VICTORIA
U guys, I am not allowed to text or call or anything
Stole phone back from my mom’s drawer just 2 text this
No time for emojis