The Foxes' Song

Every class at Churchill has a nickname.  For Andrew's early primary class, it's been the foxes.  Here's what Andrew had to say about this foxes and their fox song in October 2021:

How many ‘Fox’ classes have there been over the years?

I believe we are now in the sixth or seventh year of Foxiness.

Why do you give your class a name, like The Foxes?

Shauna Pollock, who used to teach at Churchill, gave her junior class a nickname. What she named her class escapes me now, but at the time it led the rest of us junior teachers to follow suit. My class was originally named 'The Thought Foxes', stolen from a poem I like called The Thought Fox, by Ted Hughes. I'm especially fond of the name 'The Thought Foxes' (even though it has fallen by the wayside). I miss it. It always made people do a double take ("Did you say "Thought Foxes"?). I thought it was neat because foxes are cunning and cool, as is thinking -- especially if you do it with some efficiency and creativity. It seemed a good fit for school.

Despite my best effort to use the full moniker, people inevitably referred to us by the simpler, corrupted 'The Foxes'. It still works well, as foxes hold a lot of appeal with young children; being a fox seems something they can get behind.

Why foxes? What is it about the fox that you love so much?

I'm less a fan of naming my class after mythical creatures ('Zombies' or 'unicorns')... I think I would get tired of these. Foxes are resourceful, they are survivors, they are quick, they are resilient, they are not domineering, they are beautiful. Caroline has called her class The Ravens this year. I really like that name too!

What inspired you to create a song with your current foxes?

Well, the chorus starts with the words "We are the Foxes..." and these are probably the first words I say to my kids when we sit down together on the first day of school. While the tune of the song is something I came up with on my own, the lyrics were a collaboration with the foxes. "Learning makes us drool" was not my idea, but it was the suggestion of a Fox who, when I asked "What rhymes with school?" answered, ``Learning makes us drool." Fair enough. I'm still not sure the lyrics are nailed down. I should do that soon.

The Foxes Song:

We are the FOXES, FOXES, FOXES

Of Churchill School

We are the FOXES, FOXES, FOXES

Learning makes us drool

We are the FOXES, FOXES, FOXES

Of Churchill School….

Being nice and eating mice are things we think are cool

VERSE 1

When in class we count, we spell we draw

If we’re confused we quietly raise a paw

Gentle, carefree, hardworking and funny

Inquisitive, curious, and often as sweet as honey...

CHORUS

We are the FOXES, FOXES, FOXES

Of Churchill School

We are the FOXES, FOXES, FOXES

Learning makes us drool

We are the FOXES, FOXES, FOXES

Of Churchill School….

Being nice and eating mice are things we think are cool 

VERSE 2

You will see us walking down the hall

You may hear us being kind to all

But when we’re outside we like to yell and play

And when anyone’s listening we always like to say…

CHORUS

We are the FOXES, FOXES, FOXES

Of Churchill School

We are the FOXES, FOXES, FOXES

Learning makes us drool

We are the FOXES, FOXES, FOXES

Of Churchill School….

Being nice and eating mice are things we think are cool.

Date posted: Updated 2023, original 2021

Tags: Arts and music, Cooperation and teamwork, creativity