Monday, April 17, 2023

Prom: Perfect and Personality!

Out of 32 years in this career, I have attended nearly 30 proms (just one of the perks!)…soooo many kid-making memories!

Must give a thumbs up to our Mr. Hodges…his ideas receive a superior rating. For sure. Glad to be on his team.
Our organizers, decorators, and chaperones created a night never to be forgotten! Seriously and thank you!
Prayers were answered, and the weather was amazing for…
  • walking Main Street
  • watching caricatures being drawn
  • smiling for and admiring so many pictures being taken (thanks to all who shared…and will share!). Note to self: take more photos!
  • admiring dressed-up kiddos (just wow!)
  • witnessing both sides win baggo (well, maybe!)
  • taking a 360 trip (fun!)
  • watching the line at the Ice Cream truck (yum!)
  • listening to one of the waiters share her happy Prom-watching memories
  • enjoying dinner with two who stand for what they believe
  • encouraging technology to be my friend…again! (Thanks to Deirdre, Chelsea, and Susan and their hot spots!)
  • cleaning up in record time…the second (or was it third?!) winds kicked in!
In all, a six-hour adventure we took!
Then…the serious side…waiting to hear they all made it home safely. These kids will never know…until they become teachers and parents…how many prayers are prayed for them.
And…should you be involved with the Child Advocacy Center…thank you…thank you…thank you for sharing your decorations with us!
And…should you be a part of the Volunteer Reserve Team that served our school family last night…thank you!

Friday, April 7, 2023

Another Chance...Another Week

 Life moves on after the ACT...and what an amazing feeling that is!

This week was the dreaded speech week...within the English 11 class, each also receives credit for oral communications.  I could argue for sides of allowing this dual credit...but that should be for another post!

My brags for the Worker Bee speech (present a Women's History Person, a president, and a person from own inner circle...telling about about their work ethics and two work stories on each):

  • Recently, two girls transitioned into my class.  They were both prepared.  They both stood and spoke and performed outstandingly!  So very proud of them!  For the flip of that is that I had nearly 30...yes, 30 otthers who were not prepared and did not speak.  I.  Do.  Not.  Understand!
  • James...he volunteered to go early, was actually ready, stood and spoke.  Love to see maturity happen right before my eyes.  
  • Two kids stood and spoke...and I stopped them...redirected them...had a learning moment...and they presented the next day...spot on...right where they needed to be.  Sometimes, a Take 2 is needed.
  • Other Highlights:
    • On Monday, during a Zoom during which I asked clarification on the Top 10, I learned that all my kids who placed during a state Ed Rising Conference now qualified to attend nationals in Orlando, Florida.  Yay!  But...now to gather them and work through each's requirements to register, as most of their competition entries had to be uploaded, also.  What a stressful day!  Now...of course...by the end of the day, I had learned some ways to have simplified the process, but by 4:00, eight were registered and ready!  About this I am most excited because several have never flown, been to Florida, stayed at Sea World.  With them, I will journey on a life-changing trip, for, yes, my way will be paid, too.  Nice!
    • The rest of the week was a whirlwind of activity pulling together the Eastergram fundraiser for Ed Rising...when was all said and done, we had sold about 600 Eastergrams.  Much we learned about the organization of this quick-turn-around endeavor and several changes will be made!  But...all-in-all...a success for us, which, actually, gives them a budget to fund a lending library for our community.  Yay!
    • Last night, I attend the school play.  I am ever amazed by the talent of kids that sits seemingly dormant until the right teacher, the right event, the right moment comes along and this talent springs to life.  
And...I was sick this week.  But...you do what you gotta do!

Now, today...Good Friday.  So good for so many reasons.  Right now, I seem to appreciate most that we have no school today...a day to recoop from two very busy week...and to ready for our church's Easter Extravaganza tomorrow...and Easter Sunday...and Prom next Friday...and Celebrate Literacy the week after...

I am blessed.  I do my best to get the most out of each day here in my little area of the world.  Most days, I feel like a success.  For that, I am very thankful!

Saturday, April 1, 2023

Once Chance...One Week

 What a week!

✔️met the deadline for Ed Rising State Conf…now have two who qualify for nationals!

✔️online bookclub with like-minded literacy people 📚 📖

✔️kids made $$$ (lots of money!) taking the ACT

✔️Bible study with the most amazing group of ladies…for whom I wrote a poem about Vashti. Yes, National Poetry Month has begun!

✔️heeded the storm warning yesterday and sheltered in place…kept right on teaching! No time to waste! 🙃🙂 Now…to pray for those impacted by the storm and to put action to our prayers…see pic!

✔️worked with the amazing Natalie Humphrey and our super kiddos to plan and pull off the 1st Annual Honeybee Pageant 🐝

✔️attended and very much enjoyed Generations Church annual women’s event…what a friend we really do have in Jesus

✔️helped plan and serve on our mission field on One Day Serve Local (you need to plan to make this happen for your church next year! Seriously.)

✔️Oh…and taught 20+ classes this week 🍎 🍏 🍎

✔️got mad a few times talking about how downright unfair the LEARNS law is to veteran teachers…oh, goodness, and I was doing such an amazing job remaining positive! Well, I am positive LEARNS makes me livid.

✔️accepted a very precious gift from a student who made my whole week…I am still wearing that gift! Yes, check out my pic!

✔️appreciated a new T-shirt from the most giving person outside Jesus I may have ever met…Much Can Happen in Three Days. Easter is coming…He is alive, people!

✔️spent hours with many kids today…all of whom were too busy to one-time attempt an April Fools! Myself included!

✔️just finished a much-needed 💤 nap!

✔️now ready to plan and prepare for next week!