Merry Christmas!

     I was asked to come and speak at Susan and Company Dance Studio at their dance students Christmas party! It was a lot of fun and it was great to be asked to come back and speak again this year. This is where I began my journey speaking about "EveryONE Counts!" It was great to come back this year and talk to the children about Christmas! I read a Christmas book and asked the children what makes Christmas so special to them? It was so great to hear little boys and girls say that "Jesus is the reason for the season." I made sure to tell the children to enjoy spending time with their family and friends. It was so heartwarming to see so many sweet young children talk about giving other people gifts. At this Christmas Party we also had every child dip their hands in paint and hang their handprints up in memory of the Sandy Hook Elementary School victims. I also had the opportunity to spend time with some of my former dance students that I taught when I was in high school! This Christmas party was so much fun and I'm so glad I got to share my love of Christmas with all of these precious children and hear why they love Christmas so much!

Sarah 

Helping prepare food for the kids!

With my former dance students

Sloane's Wardrobe Preview!

The Amazing Sloane Roberts! 

     This was my first year to attend Miss Arkansas' Wardrobe Preview for Miss America! It was a very fun and exciting experience! I'm so glad that I got to go and show my support for Sloane. Sloane is such an amazing Miss Arkansas and she always amazes me! She has such a kind heart and she is someone that I look up to. I can't wait to watch her rock the Miss America stage and take home the Miss America crown! Sloane's dresses were all beautiful and breathtaking. It was such a great experience and very neat to see all of her amazing gowns and dresses she will be wearing throughout the week. Good luck Sloane, I know she will amaze us all throughout her Miss America journey!

With the Fabulous Tony Bowls!

Graduation, Miss Ouachita River, and Miss South Arkansas

     On December 15, 2012 I graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with my Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education! It was one of the most exciting experiences of my life! When the graduation ceremony began I felt like I was dreaming. When Mr. Courtway told all of the graduates to turn their tassels to the left, it really sunk in that I'm really GRADUATING!! My family and friends got to come and cheer for me when my name was called. I got to walk across the stage and receive my degree by UCA's President Tom Courtway. It was such a special moment in my life and now I can look forward to starting on my Master's Degree in the Spring in School Counseling!

All of the girls I have gone through the Education program with

My Grandparents and Me!

     That night, I went to watch Miss Ouachita River and Miss South Arkansas. It was so exciting to see two former friends win Miss Ouachita River and Miss South Arkansas! Congratulations to Abby Lindsey and Claire Hodgson! I'm so excited that we are all going back to state together again! This night was also a very exciting night for a close friend, Grace McClanahan, she has done many preliminary pageants to go to the Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen pageant. After watching me in my first preliminary pageant she decided that she wanted to give the teen system a try! I'm so happy that she gave it a shot, because now she is Miss Ouachita River's Outstanding Teen! I'm so proud of her and I know that she will do amazing at the state pageant this summer! I was so happy to be at these two pageants and cheer on all of my good friends! As you can see, graduating and attending these two pageants in the same day was quite an exciting day!

Sarah

Miracle Ball

      On December 8 I was invited to attend the Miracle Ball in Little Rock. It was such a wonderful experience because I had the chance to meet many new people. It was for a wonderful cause and I couldn't have been more excited to help raise money for the children at Children's Hospital. Miss Arkansas, Sloane Roberts, was also there along with a few current title holders. It was great to catch up with some of the current title holders that are going back to Miss Arkansas 2013, as well as getting to know some of the new girls that will be competing this summer. Throughout the night we went and greeted people there by thanking them for coming to support a wonderful cause. We also got to talk and mingle with Governor Mike BeeBe during the Miracle Ball which was also very fun! During the ball we went around and collected donation cards to help build a new wing in the Little Rock Children's Hospital! It was a wonderful experience and I'm so thankful to have been able to be a part of it!

Sarah Sutton

Brejamin, Morgan, Sarah, Chelsy, Me, and Brooke

Chelsy, Morgan, Miss Arkansas- Sloane Roberts, Brooke, and Me

Brejamin, Sarah, Me, Governor Beebe, Chelsy, and Brooke

Last Day Of School

     I spent my last day with my students on Thursday. It was very bittersweet for me because I've become so attached to my 2nd graders. The students all made me cards telling me goodbye and my mentor teacher got me a bracelet with a heart on it to remember her and the students. Some of my students also brought me gifts such as: letters, a snowman picture holder, an ornament, and one student baked me a heart shaped cookie cake.


   This semester was definitely one of the most challenging semesters of my college career. I didn't look forward to having to wake up every morning at 5:30 and commuting. However, my students made every mile and minute worth it. I have been blessed this semester with an amazing mentor teacher who has prepared me in every way to be the best teacher I can be. Even though this is an exciting time in my life and I've looked forward to graduating college it's also very bittersweet. I never thought I'd miss all of the talking, stories, running, laughing, losing teeth, hugs, jokes, I love you's, tattling, and drawings from my second graders. These sweet children have been such a big part of my life that it's hard to just pick up and leave. They have all greatly impacted my life and made me love my job! I'm forever grateful for these precious children and everything they have taught me to prepare me for my own classroom. It's not always easy finding a job you love, but I know that I've found mine. Teaching young children is not only a job, but it's a calling in life. Nothing is better than coming to a job where every child in your classroom loves you and wants you to be there! I've definitely found my calling and where I belong. I'm so blessed to have been with the sweetest second graders all semester. I'll cherish these moments and memories forever!

My Amazing Mentor Teacher and Me

     So, what's next you ask? First on my agenda is graduating on Saturday! After graduation, I plan on starting on my Master's Degree in School Counseling at the University of Central Arkansas. While I pursue my Master's Degree, I will be a substitute teacher for the Spring 2013 semester. I plan on trying to get a job in Fall 2013. As for me, this next semester will also be full of appearances and preparations to get ready for the 2013 Miss Arkansas pageant! I'm so excited to move on to this new chapter in my life and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me!

 

It's been way too long...

My Amazing Pageant Family!

Lauren and Me after she won Miss UCA 2013

     It has been way too long since I've had the opportunity to blog. Now that the semester is almost over, I feel like I'm able to start making more appearances as Miss Metro 2013! I've had one of the most amazing semester's of my life as a college student! I've also had the chance to go to many different preliminary pageants to watch all of my amazing friends compete to go to Miss Arkansas 2013. I've been able to go and watch Miss Spirit of Arkansas, Miss Conway, Miss Pulaski, and Miss UCA. It's been so much fun cheering on some of my best friends at these preliminary pageants as they embark on their journey with their new title.

Mrs. Laine Berry and Me

Mrs. Ophelia (Miss Greater Camden Director) and Me 

Lauren and me at Miss Spirt of Arkansas/ Miss
Conway

  



















     This past semester has also been a life changing experience for me because I have had to transition from being a college student to an elementary teacher. I have been student teaching every day at Central Elementary in a second grade classroom since the first day of school. I have made so many memories and learned so much that will help when I have my own classroom. I am getting ready to leave Central Elementary this coming Thursday as my semester of Internship II ends. It will be one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. After spending every day with the same children and watching them achieve their goals has been one of the most rewarding experiences. I hate that I have to say goodbye to such wonderful children, but I know that it's time to start a new chapter in my life. The next chapter is Graduation in two weeks and beginning Graduate School in the spring. I'm so excited to start pursuing my Master's Degree in School Counseling because it's something that I've always wanted to do! My life is changing fast, but I am enjoying every second of it and I can't wait to see what God has in store my future. All of my blogging is about to pick up and start moving in full speed, so I hope you continue to visit my page! I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Sarah Sutton

My Second Grade Classroom after the Monster Mash Parade on Halloween