"CHOM-PAS! CHOM-PAS! CHOM-PAS!"

There is a tradition at my school, where every sixth grade student is issued a class "Chompa" (sweater). By receiveing a chompa, it signifies that they are officially a sixth graders, and are now leaders of primary school. A rite of passage if you will. Ever since the first day of school, the kids have been hounding me for their chompas! I swear it is the first thing out of their mouths when they arrive at school, and their pleas have been never-ending. Well, I am glad to say that their wait is officially over, because yesterday my students were finally issued their new chompas.
We were at an assembly and all the primary classes were excused... except for us. By that point we had been seated for over and hour, and I was at my wits end. Suddenly, "The Mothers of Sixth Grade" as I like to call them (officially not their title, but their presence is definitely felt non the less), came out and took the floor. The place erupted! You would have thought Justin Beiber just entered the auditorium. Every student began screeching, "CHOM-PAS! CHOM-PAS! CHOM-PAS!...". I thought we were about to be overrun by sixth graders.
Apparently "The Mothers of Sixth Grade" are in charge of designing and coming up with these sweaters, and they look great! Each one is adorned with a capital A  on the left breast, with 2013 stitched below it. On the back of the hoodie is a giant 6, whose design is made up of the "School Values", which are repeatedly written in both English and Spanish. My favorite part of the hoodie however, is that every student got to choose to have either their name, or nickname stitched on the right sleeve. Oh, did I mention teachers get one too?!  I feel honored to have one myself, and to be a small piece of their "educational puzzle."
After being issued our new chompas, parents and yearbook staff took pictures of everyone before we were dismissed back to class. Here are some that I took of my kiddos.

Morning Class Happy

Morning Class Goofy

Afternoon Class Happy

Afternoon Class Goofy