NAME:
Ms. Trainor
SCHOOL:
Menands School
CLASS:
Kindergarten
SCHOOL PHONE:
465-4561 x153
When you plan for a year, plant a seed.
When you plan for a decade, plant a tree.
When you plan for a century, educate a child.
Chinese Saying
Hello everybody! My name is Ms. Trainor. This is my 9th year teaching at Menands School.
Before teaching at Menands, I taught for 2 years in a Multiage Developmental 1st - 1st Grade class
at Molly Stark Elementary in Bennington, Vermont.
I have a Bachelor degree in Psychology from Western New England College, a Masters degree in
Athletic Counseling from Springfield College, and a Masters in Elementary Education from Syracuse
University.
Before beginning my teaching journey I worked for 1 year as an intern Althetic Counselor at the
University of Deleware and for 2 years as an Athletic Counselor at Siena College.
When I am not teaching I spend time with my friends and family, my dog (Josie) and my
seven cats (Addie, Little Man, Boogie, Phatty, Pudge, Tigger and Little Man Jr.).
Boogie was a stray cat that found her way into our house and our hearts. She is a special cat
because she is disabled. She has Cerebellar Hypoplasia which means she is wobbly and unco-
ordinated with head tremors. The head tremors are evident when trying to focus on something (e.g.
a bird). It often looks as though her body goes the opposite of what she is telling it to do, or one
part goes in one direction while the other tries to head off elsewhere! She has adapted to these
challenges, but will always be clumsy. Boogie had 4 kittens and we kept all the kittens so that is why
we now have 7 cats. They are so fun to watch.
I enjoy rollerblading, hiking, running, camping, traveling, reading, and spending time with family
and friends.
The Star Polisher (Leah Becks)
I have a great job in the universe of occupations.
What do I do?
I’m a “star polisher”.
I have a very important job.
If you want to know how important
Just go out at night and look at the stars.
Twinkling and sparkling.
You see, I’m a teacher.
The stars are the children in my class.
My job is to take them in-
In whatever shape they’re in-
And shine and buff them and send them out to take
Their places as bright little twinkling beacons in the sky.
They come in my room in all shapes and sizes.
Sometimes they’re bent, tarnished, dirty, crinkly, and broken.
Some stars are cuddly, soft, and sweet.
Some stars are prickly and thorny.
I tell them that the world cannot do without them.
I tell them they can do anything they set their minds to do.
I tell them they can be the brightest, shiniest stars in the sky
and the world will be a better place because of them.
Each night as I look at the sky, I'm reminded of my very
important job and awesome responsibility.
I go and get my soft buffing cloth and my bottle of polish in preparation
for tomorrow and for my class of little stars.