Working Hard with Roger Mason, Jr.

APRIL MADNESS HITS E.L. HAYNES!

2010-04-16T09:44:00.000-07:00

Hey Mr. Mason,

In eight days, we have to take our state test called the DC-CAS. So far this school year, we have been practicing showing GRIT and perseverance. How have you used perseverance, GRIT and determination either on or off the court? Our 7th grade theme is called “Hoopin’ It Up.” The teachers have been wearing basketball jerseys to help us get ready for the DC-CAS. We even have a motivational test rap. The lyrics have been changed from “On to the Next One” by Jay-Z to “On to the Next Test.” We also have motivational posters up on the walls! What do you think we should do to be able to slam dunk the CAS?

Patricia, Emani, Maura, Jackelyn, Jane, Elisel, Tinaeya, Hawa and Kenora

catching up

2010-01-29T08:44:00.000-08:00

Hi Everybody,

I'm catching up with you guys. I've been busy with games here lately. It's been good, we lost a couple and won a few. Wow, this math quiz got me. Here are my answers:

1. x= -41 2. x=-3 3. x=18 4. x= -6 5. I don't know! Well you might want to check my work! it's been a while. Sorry, I didn't know the last answer. Thanks for reminding me that I too have to keep up . You guys are sharp.

Well we are starting our Road trip, it's call the Rodeo Road trip( the Rodeo is in San Antonio and we are on the road for 25 days! almost all of February. While on the trip, I spent a lot of time with my teammates and coaches. As far as the downtime we read, work on the computer, sleep of course and often have afternoon meals together.
If you were stuck with 13 friends on the road how would you spend that time?

Well give a shout out while I am on the road.

Study Hard!
Roger

A Quiz for Roger!

2010-01-07T07:37:00.000-08:00

A Note from Ms. Harris' 7th Grade Advisory

2009-12-16T08:05:00.000-08:00

Hi Mr. Mason!

We are 10 young ladies from Ms. Harris' advisory! We are all from different parts of DC (and some other places too!) Everyone in our advisory does not celebrate the same holidays, but we really love some of the same things (and some different) about the holidays. We all enjoy EATING at the holidays and being with our families! Maura and Jackelyn really enjoy cooking main dishes. Samantha really enjoys cooking desserts. (However, Kenora wants you to know she likes eating dessert!) Hawa just moved here from overseas and celebrated Thanksgiving for the first time this year and loved it! Tinaeya and Samantha travel a lot of holidays to go see friends and other family. Sandavia and Elisel (she plays rock!) are always making jokes and like to perform for their families by being silly during the holidays! Joceline misses the warm weather where she use to live, but is excited about seeing more snow in DC!

We all think getting a present is fun too! What was your favorite present to receive when you were in middle school?

Joceline, Kenora, Sandavia, Tinaeya, Hawa, Bria, Maura, Elisel, Jamea and Samantha

New Puppy for Roger

2009-12-07T06:43:00.000-08:00

Hi Everybody,

This is Roger's mom Mrs. Mason, checking in with you. I thought I would share a picture of Roger's new puppy named "Ocho". Can anyone guess what Ocho means and why he named him that?

Hint: Roger's number

Have a great day in school!

Ms. Mobley's 7th Grade Advisory

2009-12-07T06:25:00.000-08:00

Hello to all of the students from Ms. Mobley's 7th Grade advisory.
For the Students, in particular Duanje and Jane. what kind of equations are you guys solving? Math was my favorite class when I was in the 7th grade.
To Patricia and Giselle, I'm glad that I could adopt your class and I hope you all continue to work hard in your classes. We should have a fun year!
To Marisol and Katy, when I was a kid I loved the winter break. I would spend time with my family, do some reading on my own. Play in the snow and do things like sledding. But something that you all may not know, is that over the winter break I would participate in Christmas plays. I loved to sing and I loved music, and I would always be involved in the school play.
Well, I have to head to bed for a nap. We have a game tonight against the Utah Jazz. I hope to hear from you all soon.
Take care,
Roger

Ms. Mobley's 7th Grade Advisory (The Mobsters) said...

2009-11-19T07:59:00.000-08:00

Roger,

Greetings from Ms. Mobley's 7th grade advisory! The 7th grade is broken into 5 advisories, 2 girl advisories and 3 boy advisories. We are one of the girl advisories.

This is Duanje and Jane. We want to talk to you about what we are learning in school. In science class we are learning about topographic maps, how they are used, and how to make them. In math class we are getting ready for our test on solving equations that we'll take as soon as we finish blogging. In reading class we are learning about summarizing a story with "Who, What, When, Where and Why". In writing class we are writing our own memoirs. Thanks for listening!!! XOXO Jane and Duanje

This is Patricia & Giselle:We just wanted to say that we are thankful because you adopted us, and our families, and every thing that we have.

This is Marisol and Katy .We just wanted to ask what did you do over the winter break when you were young. We also wanted to ask what are you going to do over the holidays this year. We are really looking forward to the holidays!

This is Kiara and Emani. We just wanted to say your positive attitude will help the Spurs progress through the season. It is helpful to keep it up.

We hope you enjoy reading out post and look forward to your next posting. Until then, Happy Holidays!

Roger checking in

2009-11-17T12:22:00.000-08:00

Hi Everybody,
Sorry it has taken me a little while to check in with you. I hope everyone is doing well. I was thinking about the subjects you are studying and was asked what my favorite class was when I was in school.
My favorite subject in class was math. I've always enjoyed reading, and I have always read the newspaper everyday. Now, I read books that can help me become a better business man. I just read The Outliers, by Malcom Gladwell. Well, the season just started, and we are off to a decent start. It honestly hasn't gone the way we all wanted so far, but I am staying positive and I know things will improve. I can remember when I was in school around this time of the year, and I couldn'twait for Thanksgiving break and Christmas. I know you guys are looking forward to it to.

What are your favorite things about Thanksgiving and the Winter Holidays?
Email back soon guys.
Your friend,
Roger

Movie Night with Mase!

2009-09-23T15:39:00.000-07:00

On August 27, Roger and Marsha treated 50 E.L. Haynes students to an amazing movie night! The event was hosted by the Motion Picture Association of America in their 75-seat screening theater (who provided a fantastic dinner) and kids enjoyed "The Chubb Chubbs" (winner of the 2003 Oscar for Best Animated Short) and "Open Season 2," courtesy of SONY. Students entered the MPAA building on a red carpet, where they were met with "paparazzi" and had their photos taken with Roger, who was an incredibly gracious host, greeting each student with a handshake and introducing himself personally.

After dinner and the movie, the students were given special backpacks with school supplies and CDs. It was an amazing night for all of us!

Here are some fun photos from the event:

Students meet Roger after walking the red carpet.

Roger chats with some E.L. Haynes students

Marsha Mason Wonsley, E.L. Haynes Trustee Winston Lord, E.L. Haynes Founder and Head of School Jennie Niles and Christina Mulvihill from SONY pose with the fabulous backpacks!

THANK YOU, ROGER, MARSHA AND ALL THE EVENT SPONSORS!

An Amazing Opportunity!

2009-09-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

Roger Mason, Jr. and his mom kicked off our partnership with an amazing opportunity -- they invited 50 E.L. Haynes students to attend a special movie night with him at the Motion Picture Association of America's private screening theater!

E.L. Haynes opened the opportunity up to all of our 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th grade students, who competed for the chance to attend by writing essays on a special theme: Why is Hard Work Important?

Our students wrote some really special essays! Here are some excerpts for your enjoyment.

"My mom is an example of a hard working person. She has been persevering to get her own business. While developing her business, she continued being a full time mom and wife. She has done that by always putting family first. My mom is also a part time college student, pursuing another dual degree in English and Psychology. The reason why she start this business is helping other people have good lives in these hard economic times. She started this business not just for money but so she can give back to others." - Lamar

"I think working hard is important for many reasons. The first reason is that you can go to college. You can then get a degree and get a good job. One person that I know that works hard is my dad. He gets up very early because he owns two restaurants. My dad works hard because he wants a good family and he wants to give us food and clothes. I think that what Mr. Mason is doing is very nice and I want to say thank you so much." - Jacqueline

"Someone I know who worked hard is me. What I've done to work hard is over the summer I was on the computer/YouTube looking for all the soccer moves I can put in my head. That would take about one hour. Then I would go outside for about three hours practicing those moves. And one day I thought I was ready, and headed off to try out for travel soccer and all that hard work paid off and I made the team. Just like Roger Mason became an NBA star. " - Jimmy

"Me, Roger Mason, maybe you are the great example of hard work. If you work hard then you can improve the thing you want to improve on. Like me I want to improve my English and Roger Mason want to improve his basketball so we all try hard and work hard to make our goal. This is the reason why hard work is very important." - KaiLin

"[One] very successful person is my great grandmother (Gwendolyn Mastin). She was born in 1925 on a farm in Mississippi. Since her mom died when she was two and her grandparents died, she lived with her aunt. It was very hard in her time to achieve an education because she was black, but she graduated from high school. After that my great grandma had three jobs until her 60's and didn't retire until 10 years later. That proves my great grandmother had spunk and worked very hard." - Zahra

How it all began...

2009-09-23T14:40:00.000-07:00

Roger Mason, Jr. and his amazing mom Marsha wanted to make an investment. They both believe strongly that hard work and a great education are keys that can unlock the door to success. And they both saw that in Roger's hometown of Washington, DC, kids often didn't have access to those keys.

So with the help of a friend, Roger and his mom sought out a school with which to partner. And, lucky for us, E.L. Haynes was their pick!

For the next year (and hopefully beyond!), Roger will "adopt" E.L. Haynes' 50 7th graders. He and the school and students will keep in touch with each other through this blog, Twitter and Facebook while he's on the road, hitting the big shots for the San Antonio Spurs. And E.L. Haynes will be his biggest cheerleader!