Atlas Twp.-When Cathie Horan’s third grade class at Oaktree Elementary School returned to school Tuesday after the three-day weekend, they were shocked to learn pirates had taken over the classroom.
There, at the front of the brightly light classroom , was a flag bearing the skull and cross bones made infamous by the eye patch-wearing, parrot-toting, swashbuckling sailers of the seven seas.
More surprising still, Horan seemed to have joined their crew.
Dressed in a pirate hat and sporting an eye patch, Horan eagerly awaited her students reaction to the scene.
To picture their response, one need only to think back to one’s own days in grade school and imagine what their 8-year-old self would think of such a scene.
‘It was great. It was better than great. It was awesome,? said principal Mike Ellis.
‘I know they’re enjoying it,? Horan said. ‘The more excited they get the more excited I get.?
Students in the class are learning everything from pirate vocabulary ?’matey? means ‘friend?, Horan explained? to pirate facts and their code of conduct.
‘It’s more about the history of it,? Horan said.
And when asked what they had learned about pirates, the kids had no difficulty coming up with answers.
‘They always say arrgh,? Jessica Miller, 8, said.
‘They’re stinky and smelly,? said Matthew Statson, 9.
‘Their (skull and cross-bones) flag is called the ‘Jolly Roger?,? Rachel Whitlock, 8, added.
Horan said she came up with the idea to have some pirate-themed classes after spending some time in Key West and speaking with a teacher who had used a pirate theme throughout the semester and gotten a positive response.
‘The kids have really enjoyed it,? Horan said. ‘They get excited to come to school.?
‘I like how we learn about what they do and what they wear,? Rachel said.
‘I like how you can learn about pirates, ’cause pirates, you don’t see very often,? said Gage Webster, 8.
Horan said the pirate theme will tie into the students reading Treasure Island, which they will begin soon.
‘I love to see unique and new things at Oaktree,? said Ellis. ‘We’re very blessed with a staff that tries unique and new things.?