Today was a pretty good day. For all my worrying about the plans for my 2nd period class, they seem to have gone well. Of course, one student seems to have ruined it for the rest (the same students who is not even zoned for this school and whom I have complained about on several occasions so far - March 17, 2008 and April 11, 2008). The teacher who was covering my class needed to submit a discipline referral form on her. Oh well, you misbehave and act up, you get in trouble. End of story.
The day was dominated by practicing and rehearsing for the Senior Assembly. I think it will go over well. The senior speeches are good and inspirational, the senior slide show will be a good one - despite it having a few teachers in it, and I, an advisor for all 4 years, and a colleague, an advisor for 2.5 years do not appear once. After school they practiced in the gym with the microphone and speakers in order to get used to the acoustics. What is more, I get to be working on the assembly and picnic all day! I don't have to be in class at all. Well, I did tell the teacher who is covering my class 1st period not to get here until 8:00 because I will not be needed until then.
This morning one of my freshman students came to class and there was quite a bit of hubbub surrounding her. I didn't want to be nosy so I didn't pry. But it soon became apparent once the announcement happened. The smallest girl in the class scored the winning goal in double overtime last night to propel Leesville into the State Women's Soccer championship tomorrow night! Very exciting. She is a freshman and stands about 4'11".
Bronson Boots Pride (Newsobserver.com)
Leesville Showing its Soccer Pride (NewsObserver.com)
Showing posts with label assembly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label assembly. Show all posts
Friday, May 23, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
May 21, 2008 - Stress
This is supposed to be a good week as a Senior Class advisor: Senior Assembly rehersal Thursday (miss 2nd period), Senior Assembly and Senior Picnic Friday (miss ALL day), Memorial Day weekend. Why is there more stress for me this week than almost any other? My 2nd period, that is why. After a couple of instances, especially last Friday's Awards Day Assembly, they have proven to me that they have the potential to be a behavior problem. What is more, I have to create lesson plans for this class, for two days, in such a way that they are busy for the duration.
On top of that, I still have to finalize the Senior gift of a dozen full size (>20') flagpoles to line the fence of the football stadium and have also discovered that the task has just become more difficult. Because the price is more than $2500 I have to have at least three estimates for it to be considered a legitimate bid for the job. I also have to find out about the flags themselves: what size? what design? what colors? Once I have all the orders ready, Dr. Gainey said he would take over from there since there is all kinds of paper work involved in such a large purchase.
In addition, Evan's birthday party is in a week. We still have to make and mail the invitations, I have to get the yard in order, including clearing debris from the trees, removing leaves, adding mulch, mowing the yard, moving a playset over from the neighbor's yard. I also think I have found termites in the yard so I need to get an exterminator out to take a look. I must also resign myself to the fact that the deck is not going to be complete - still no lighting, no electrical, no rails on the stairs (to go along with no permit, and no inspection), but I still need to get it washed and treated. The toilet in the hallway bathroom has been leaking for two years now. Although it is now leaking into the toilet causing it to fill periodically, I mean it is leaking from the tank bolts and onto the floor. It isn't a fast leak, but it is enough to cause rust on the back of the bowl and it is beginning to annoy me. A month or so ago I began the process of painting the kitchen ceiling. I got as far as preparing the ceiling inside the skylight and replacing the molding there, but that is it. The thresholds in the office still need to be completed and I would also like to paint and hang all the doors in the office as well, which includes buying a new door for a portal that did not have one before.
All of this with the end of the school year playing in the background - now that is the most stressful music of them all!
On top of that, I still have to finalize the Senior gift of a dozen full size (>20') flagpoles to line the fence of the football stadium and have also discovered that the task has just become more difficult. Because the price is more than $2500 I have to have at least three estimates for it to be considered a legitimate bid for the job. I also have to find out about the flags themselves: what size? what design? what colors? Once I have all the orders ready, Dr. Gainey said he would take over from there since there is all kinds of paper work involved in such a large purchase.
In addition, Evan's birthday party is in a week. We still have to make and mail the invitations, I have to get the yard in order, including clearing debris from the trees, removing leaves, adding mulch, mowing the yard, moving a playset over from the neighbor's yard. I also think I have found termites in the yard so I need to get an exterminator out to take a look. I must also resign myself to the fact that the deck is not going to be complete - still no lighting, no electrical, no rails on the stairs (to go along with no permit, and no inspection), but I still need to get it washed and treated. The toilet in the hallway bathroom has been leaking for two years now. Although it is now leaking into the toilet causing it to fill periodically, I mean it is leaking from the tank bolts and onto the floor. It isn't a fast leak, but it is enough to cause rust on the back of the bowl and it is beginning to annoy me. A month or so ago I began the process of painting the kitchen ceiling. I got as far as preparing the ceiling inside the skylight and replacing the molding there, but that is it. The thresholds in the office still need to be completed and I would also like to paint and hang all the doors in the office as well, which includes buying a new door for a portal that did not have one before.
All of this with the end of the school year playing in the background - now that is the most stressful music of them all!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
May 18, 2008 - The Fight Begins
In truth, teachers are looking forward to the end of the school year just as much as the students. The main difference is that the teachers are still determined to get the job done while many students have, as we say, "checked out." By "checking out" we mean that mentally, the students are somewhere else. And for those students, the fight begins. It is a difficult fight to keep them focused, or at the very least, keep from being a distraction to the other students who are still trying. The class that gives m the greatest angst normally, is making life even more difficult. The bad news for them is as an experienced, "veteran" teacher, I now have many tricks up my sleeve. Not tricks as in I am going to trick them, but more accurately, weapons in my arsenal, or tools in my shed. They may require a little more work on my part, but I can handle it if it will make my work in he classroom less frustrating. My plan this week is to give them a quiz at the end of the period based on what we did during the period. Is this "tricky?" Now, but perhaps motivation to pay attention and do well on such a quiz in order to boost their grade. We'll see how that goes.
I survived the year anniversary of my "incident" in the class and the resulting reprimand in the Principal's office. What is even more encouraging is that I do not foresee another need for such an incident. I will sit down and do nothing before I allow my passion get the best of me and say something "inappropriate" (and I still do not agree that what I said was inappropriate when students tell me, every time I mention what I said, that other teachers say far worse and nothing ever happens to them!). More good news is that this week will be short one for me. That is, my second period (my biggest headache) will see me two less days: Thursday is the rehearsal for the Senior Assembly, and Friday is the Senior Assembly. Friday is an even bigger bonus since I will not be attending any of my classes in order to be involved in the Senior Assembly that takes place during second period and the Senior Picnic that takes place during third period. I am very excited about that. And once the picnic is over, all that I have to worry about as an advisor for the Senior Class is the Senior Gift (of flagpoles and flags for the stadium) and graduation. I will certainly be glad when this week is over - that is once Thursday is over!
I survived the year anniversary of my "incident" in the class and the resulting reprimand in the Principal's office. What is even more encouraging is that I do not foresee another need for such an incident. I will sit down and do nothing before I allow my passion get the best of me and say something "inappropriate" (and I still do not agree that what I said was inappropriate when students tell me, every time I mention what I said, that other teachers say far worse and nothing ever happens to them!). More good news is that this week will be short one for me. That is, my second period (my biggest headache) will see me two less days: Thursday is the rehearsal for the Senior Assembly, and Friday is the Senior Assembly. Friday is an even bigger bonus since I will not be attending any of my classes in order to be involved in the Senior Assembly that takes place during second period and the Senior Picnic that takes place during third period. I am very excited about that. And once the picnic is over, all that I have to worry about as an advisor for the Senior Class is the Senior Gift (of flagpoles and flags for the stadium) and graduation. I will certainly be glad when this week is over - that is once Thursday is over!
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