Marc Headlee

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MR. HEADLEE

Who has a birthday October the Ten?
I’ll tell you his name — he’s the greatest of men.
He runs a strict classroom, as all the boys know
It’s organized, orderly — and boys, do they grow!
Mr. Mark Headlee has all the right stuff —
He’ll pay boys a salary if they’re orderly enough
He’s three men in one — look what he’ll do:
He’s a teacher, a principle, an O.M. coach too
With Odyssey of the Mind, he feels at home —
The initials, O.M., spell the syllable OM
Mr. Headlee’s an actor who’s been on the stage —
Teaching speaking to kids, whatever their age
His voice has authority — it fills the whole room
And with his wise guidance, his students all bloom
If you want some great qualities, he has a medley
I’m speaking, of course, of . . . Mr. Mark Headlee!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Headlee!
November 7, 2009

MR. HEADLEE

Here at the end of the year we arrive
How did our dear Mr. Headlee survive?
How many boys did he have? 25?
How did our dear Mr. Headlee survive?

Each day at his classroom we all would arrive
25 boys, all jumping and jive
All seated and quiet by 9:25
How did our dear Mr. Headlee survive?

We buzzed and we bumbled like bees in a hive
He set the goals high, he made us all strive
He made us work hard, and watched us all thrive
But how did our dear Mr. Headlee survive?

How many hours with us every day? More than five?
25 boys on the long cattle drive
25 boys! And still he’s alive!
How did our dear Mr. Headlee survive?

Mr. Headlee is strict, and he can be stern
And whenever he speaks, all our heads turn
He gave us the work, and he watched us all learn
He watched as the flame of pure knowledge would burn

He sold us his classroom, tables and all,
The shelves and the sink, the board on the wall
He sold us the bathroom, he sold us the hall
He sold us more things than you’ll find in a mall
The class was our business — we all had a ball
We hardly could tell we were learning at all

The treasure hunt started the year with a blast
He wrote a newsletter when each week was past
He kept the show moving, focused, and fast
He’s the director, and we are his cast

He made us ambassadors, gave us a mission
His ambassador program gave us ambition
We could earn stars if we met the condition
Then go to the bathroom without asking permission

He took us on field trips, driving for hours
He took us all out to watch meteor showers
He took us all camping — four days with this troop
He always, somehow, kept the lid on the group

And in his spare time, he coached for O.M.
How he encouraged and inspired all them
Maharishi School’s banner was proudly unfurled
His teams were state champs and went on to world

He handled our ups and downs, all of our tricks
He enlightened us, guiding us all through Grade 6

25 boys, all jumping and jive
How did our dear Mr. Headlee survive?
25 boys — we gave him the test
And we found that dear Mr. Headlee’s THE BEST!