Ridin' Back to School

Welcome back to school. Now I feel like going to Kmart to shop - these kids got me fired up. I also want to ride the bus . . . which would be weird for a teacher to do. Maybe I'll drive one instead. I bet they sell them on eBay. 

Ok, well I have my afternoon planned looking into these many options. Enjoy your weekends everyone. 

Calling all KnowStrengthers

New and old students alike, welcome to KnowStrength.com - maybe this is your first time ever visiting the site, maybe it's your tenth time today. Either way, I want to thank you for visiting your social studies website. This is not Mr. Klumper's site, it's our site. If you were on 6.3 two years ago, last year or you've just joined, I use the phrase "6.3 Forever" seriously. 

For those new to team 6.3 social studies, I chose the website name KnowStrength for two reasons - Knowledge gives you Strength, and to succeed in this class you must have Strong Knowledge. No amount of material goods, or gadgets or muscle is equivalent to Knowledge - people who constantly desire to learn are the most successful people - maybe not right away (as in Abraham Lincoln, Elvis Presley or Albert Einstein to name a few), but eventually you'll succeed if you work hard to learn and grow as a person. 

I would like to encourage you to scroll down, going into KnowStrength's history to see all the really cool things 6.3 students have done and accomplished. My sleeves are full of fun, exciting and unique ideas for this year's team of students lucky to have been placed on our team.

To former 6.3 students, I remind you of the obligation you have to look after this year's students, help them out whenever possible. You've been in their shoes before and know it can be nerve-wracking to start a new year in a new school. Good luck to you each of you this year, I hope to see many of you often. 

To new students on 6.3, I can't wait to get to know you and together make this the best school year of our lives. 

#63Forever

Summer Post #2

Wayne Klumper

The circumstances of my second summer post are not what I hoped for. Life changes, sometimes you see the changes coming, sometimes they sock you without warning. On Tuesday, June 25th, 2013, I got punched in the face by life.

As I shingled on Tuesday, surrounded by friends, my boss stoically called me off the roof - usually a joking person, immediately my radar indicated something could be wrong. 

As I approached my brother (who also shingles with me), I saw in his glossy red eyes that something was in fact wrong - he was talking to our sister on the phone. She was telling him that our dad, the loving, cheerful, humble, selfless man you see in the picture, had been in a very serious accident on his motor cycle. The day turned from wondering "what fun should I do with the rest of the afternoon?" to "is my father going to survive?" Punch number one.

You feel like you should rush in that situation, hurry up and do something, anything to take control, but really there was no need to rush. There was nothing I could do. In a haze of fear and uncertainty, I went home to change clothes and get cleaned up while my dad was rushed to the ER in Sioux Falls. 

My family convened in the waiting room of the ER and again, sat and waited. We waited for bad news. . . in that setting I feel it's part human nature to prepare yourself for the worst. In my head cycled images of what happened, what he looked like, what the future will be like now. After a few minutes we were shown to a private room where we could wait for the emergency surgeon to explain to us the situation. So we waited some more. Private rooms in the emergency room are usually reserved for families of people in bad shape - punch number two. 

An hour passed and the doctor entered. Doctors are serious - they do people no good by telling people anything but the truth. The truth was that our dad was hurt bad, and in serious danger. I can't remember his exact words because I was pretty much in shock, but when he made reference to being prepared to lose him, we lost it. It's the most scared I've ever been in my life. Punch number three. 

From the emergency room, a patient in critical condition is taken to the ICU. It took them quite a while to get him situated and hooked up to a lot of machines - which I've developed a huge respect for; they are very important. Usually I am a person that hates blood, or anything dealing with injuries, but when I stepped foot into my dad's room for the first time, my family and I had no choice but to put our game face on. He was in a coma (and still is), but he could sense our strength - we had to be strong for him. Under the surface I was spinning, churning, fighting to hold a tidal wave of emotion from bursting out. 

Officially my father is a TBI patient (traumatic brain injury), but he's also got several broken and dislocated bones, burns and cuts. The fractures are in his shoulder, ribs, head and face - he's in rough shape physically, but the main concern is his brain, the mental side. Bruising has caused swelling in his brain which can bring serious danger, so we've been monitoring that very closely each day. At this point it appears he's avoided brain surgery, but I won't rest easy until we've made it through a couple more days. 

I have been inside this same waiting room for 81 hours, leaving only to visit my dad in his room, to get a short workout and to run an errand. Otherwise we've been right here, ready to back my dad up with anything he needs. Every doctor has told us that the danger zone is 72-96 hours after an accident like he experienced, so we're getting closer. With each scan and test, and each probe and monitor, my strong, strong dad keeps passing. He's a fighter, a courageous, tough, determined man. Punch number four, but this time, the punch was thrown by my dad. Fighting back.

The reason I write is to inform you all of the accident, but also to plead and beg you to stop. Just stop what you're doing - put down the controller, sit down for a second, stay up a few minutes longer at night, and just pray. Pray that he'll get better. Pray that the unbelievable people in charge of my dad's health keep making good decisions and use steady hands. Pray that nothing like this happens to your loved ones. In three days, thousands of prayers have been said for my dad. He's a tough guy, but he wouldn't be able to get through this without all the help from other people - family, friends, people he's met once and even total strangers. 

I stressed a lot to you how important I feel it is to tell people how you feel about them and how much they mean to you. I'll tell you honestly that Sunday night, before I drove off from my parents' house, I looked both of them in the eye and told them I loved them. Thank God my dad will hear me say it again, but if the circumstances were different, and I did not have the chance to talk to him again, I'd feel assured that the last thing he heard his son say was "I love you big, dad." 

I will keep you updated in a short time - hopefully with encouraging news. This is not a sprint, it's a marathon. I laced 'em up tight for this one, going for a long run with my dad to bring him back. 

Watch out, more punches coming - Wayne is ready to fight for his life. 

Summer Post #1

I know what you're thinking - "mr k has forgotten about us."

Insert the buzzer sound from game shows that means WRONG!

I thought I'd fill you in with a couple things going on thus far during our summer break. Oh, and by the way - I have not forgotten about a single one of you. Never will. When I say 63Forever, I mean forever. 

You see a small collage to the left, those are some pictures I've taken this summer. I'll explain them to you - what I was doing/thinking at the time.

Top left - my second oldest niece, Isabel, and I. She is going to be a 2nd grader at Brandon elementary. Her older sister is going into 5th grade. Every time I see them I try talking them into moving to PH for middle school. Anyway, that picture was just taken during a short family vacation we took to Okoboji, Iowa. She and I were trying to pretend like we didn't want to be there - but truth is, I'd give anything to be back - hanging out with my family and being able to relax, laugh and (unfortunately) eat too much good food!

Top middle - that's a monkey statue at Arnold's Park in Okoboji (it's an amusement park). I stuck the KnowStrength sticker on him when no security guards were looking. Hey, might as well let the KS spread reach more new places right? I did not go on any roller coasters. I also did not go to jail.

Top right - after eating at a restaurant in Sioux Falls, I saw in one of the 'claw' type games a 1Direction pillow. I could think of nothing better to rest my head on at night than this, so I spent eight dollars of hard earned money trying to get it. Eight dollars and three minutes later, I left convinced the machine is impossible to win anything - it was the weakest claw I'd ever seen. . . long story short - no pillow.

Bottom right - B n G Milky Way. It's an awesome place to get ice cream, so swarms of people go every night. But if they didn't, I think I single handedly could keep this place in business. I have made many trips to get treats for myself, sister, brother in law, nieces, neighbors, pets, random people, imaginary friends, etc. 

Bottom middle - one of my friends from college is getting married in the fall and asked several guys to join him for a weekend in the Black Hills. This picture was taken before we started a death-defying journey up a huge mountain. We made it. It was fun. My back hurt so bad the next three days I could barely walk. Worth it.

Bottom left - it's small, but this picture is very important to me. I actually took it just yesterday (June 16 - Father's Day) at the nursing home where two of my grandparents live. My dad was reading the card he wrote to my grandpa. I'm sure you all know that I have a bit of a sentimental, softer side to me when it comes to things ending (like the end of the school year). Knowing that my grandpa's time with us may in fact be ending sooner than we would like, I try to soak in every moment I get to be around him. Seeing my dad spend Father's Day with his father a great memory. I won't forget it. 

I hope that you're all having a fun, exciting and very importantly, safe summer. Whatever you do, each and every day, please never forget that it's in style to do the right thing, to be nice to other people, to lead by example - and it's never going out of style. I already can't wait to see you all next fall. I'm excited for new students on team 6.3, as I'm excited for you all to experience new teachers in your life. But of course, no once can be replaced on our team - each year has a special place in my heart. 

#63Forever. 

They're not actually in Lunch Detention

"Lunch Detention" is all the videos we shot during the second-to-last week of school when tables of students came down to my room to eat, converse, film, and as you'll see, have a great time together. 

Most students chose to answer the question "what was your favorite memory from the year?" but some also chose to share their advice for next year's students while others shared one last message for their teachers. 

Each of my students is unique and special in their own way - I've never been more proud to be a teacher. 2013-14 has got some large shoes to fill. . . 

#63Forever

It's A Choice

Assuming about 180 days of school, 9 periods per day, 25 students per period coming into the room, and subsequently exiting the room, the number of times this slogan was passed over this school year is quite high. It's no surprise that it looks like this today - tattered, beaten up and fading away. Nonetheless, whether you even noticed it by the end of the year or not, this slogan was a good reminder that everything we do revolves around choices - the good and bad, the ups and downs, all come to us by way of choices.

No one can make your choices but YOU - no teacher, parent, coach or friend can make you do anything. That seems at times intimidating, the fact that we're responsible for ourselves. We talked early in the year about how powerful we are as people. We decide and determine our choices and the consequences that come along with them. 

This summer, continue to make wise choices - choices that you can be proud of whethere someone is there to see it or not. Be the person that stands up for good, stands up for love and fairness. Those are things that are always in style. 

#63Forever

End of Year Vid pt2

What didn't make it into the End of Year Video? Well, here's some of it. After nine months of footage being sifted through, there are many funny/goofy moments yet to share. Hope you enjoy, and remember, no matter the passage of time, we are #63Forever.

Who are YOU?

Originally the intent was to include these photos in the End of Year Video, but they didn't quite make it. So, I've found them a new home - their own separate video. If I had to make a sign right now, it'd say this, "I Am. . . not happy school is over."

And I'd be frowning. . . not crying, just frowning. Ok, well maybe I'd be. . . well, nevermind any of that.

#63Forever

#63Forever

One pride I take is always living my life in a way that tells people how I feel about them - by how I treat them, take interest and help them feel important. No greater hope is within me than for this to be true to each one of you students. This video was difficult to make - each minute spent putting it together was an unwanted reminder our end was approaching. 

And here we are - the evening after the last day. Bitter-sweet doesn't do justice how I feel at this moment in time. I am so grateful for our year together and excited to send you into new chapters; a special place has been etched into my heart for this year's team 6.3.

One more time. . . #63Forever. 

Apparently you blink and nine months pass

The students I call mine; being able to say that makes me so proud. 

Most Typical Student

Ever wondered what the most typical student would look like. . . Would she (would it be a she?) have blonde or brown hair? How about eye color? Height, ancestry, likes/dislikes? Well this video will describe the most typical (common) characteristics amond this year's team 6.3. 

Although it may seem cool to be typical while watching the video - I believe we're all mean to stand out, be unique and forge our own path. 

Enjoy 6.3's Most Typical Student

Our Stars

Enjoy the images from Thursday, April 25th during the Team 6.3 WaxMuseum - as an overwhelming success, these 109 students joined forces to create an unforgettable evening. With certainty I say this night will always have a special spot in my heart. 

#63Forever