Wow! I can't believe how fast the year is going already. It's already Feb. 8!! Wow! Here at San Juan, we just had parent/teacher conferences yesterday -- only 4 more weeks left in the 3rd quarter. The days seem to fly by. Maybe that's just because I've been so busy. I've spent the last two weekends working on flats for the upcoming play of Little Shop of Horrors. We have "flats" here, but I don't think I have more than 2 which are the same size, shape or aren't falling apart. So, I've got money in the budget, why not build 10 good, sturdy flats that I know are built right. We (me, Zach, Becca Jean, Kortney and Morgan H.) built 10 in just a few hours. Then, last weekend, we covered them with canvas and started priming them.
The play is going much better than I had hoped. Through "networking," I found a school with Audrey II plants that I could rent for only $300 (other schools/universities wanted minimum $1200, not to mention shipping). We got the plants Sunday night. I was worried because my friend (and school board member) said she could pick them up since she was going to Cedar City for a baby's blessing. But then she told me her son, who had the pickup, wouldn't be able to get it. I wasn't sure how we would get them -- Cedar is a good 7 hrs drive away from here and the largest Audrey II is 7 foot by 5 foot. But, prayers do come true and we have them. They are awesome! The kids had tons of fun "playing" with them on Monday. Michael Hawkins spent a half hour "running around" with stage 3 on, trying to "bite them". Aye aye. :)
We are about 2 1/2 weeks from opening night. While the play is still "rough", I'm pleased with our progress. I "skipped" conferences yesterday (there was a note on the door stating I was in the auditorium and only about 10 parents came to talk with me during the 8 hours) and we ran through the whole play once and then through the songs 3-4 times each. The good thing/bad thing is that we are using the "karaoke" music for the play. That's good because the kids practice with is what they'll get -- no adjusting to a live orchestra. However, there are some songs that go realllly fast. The cast is still jazzed and I think it will go well. We have one student (you have to have one), who thinks he knows everything. He didn't get the part he wanted, so he's trying to tell the person who did how to do the part. Not sure if the kid realizes what he's doing. I have a pretty low threshold for idiots, so I've told my student director that when he gets to be too much for her, we'll cut him. Well, we talked with him last week and he freaked out, as if we were evil. I told him we'd give him one last chace (he was doing an assortment of things -- being late, lying, bossing people around, etc.). Becca still wants to cut him, but he hasn't really committed any new offenses and I don't want to get a new person in with only 2 weeks to go. On a publicity note, I have the tickets and posters at the media center being printed; programs are almost done; but I still need to get sponsorship letters out to the businesses.
Oh, did I mention that we had tryouts for the regional drama festival in March, so students are working on that as well. Regions are March 25 and 26. Spring Break is March 11 (my birthday) to March 20. The State drama festival will be in April. After that, I'm going to do a "Experiments in Ink" script writing night/One-Act festival in early May. Whew! It's good that I like to be busy.
Zach's doing well. He's going to start "Mat Rat" community wrestling in a few weeks. His grades are ok (even though they could be much better). He's at his first "church dance" tonight -- it's open to 12 and up rather than 14 and up. We'll see how that goes. We also joined the new fitness center run by the city. It's only $20 a month for the two of us (added to our utility bill). Much better than the $80-90 I paid in The Dalles (and this is the same size if not bigger). So Zach's been working out, too.
On a professional note, finally got my ESOL endorsement approved (that's 3 endorsements on my license now). Reading class #3 is almost over (only 2 more to go). Had my 2nd observation last week (by the principal) and I think it went well. I've had some good reports from other teachers and support staff. This Friday, I get to spend the day reading district writing samples. Not sure if that will be fun or not.
On a personal note, Zach and I are heading up to Orem this weekend. I have the free tickets to the Hale Center Theatre and the first play ends this weekend. It's called The Foreigner and sounds pretty funny. It'll be nice to get away for a night, eventhough I hate driving 4 hours each way.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Is it Spring Break yet?
Ugh. Have tried to stay positve on this blog, but not feeling too postive right now. Not stressed about the play (yet) as everyone but one person is giving their all, and working cooperative with me and Becca Jean, my student director (self-proclaimed student dictator).
Zach, the little stinker, got himself suspended for the afternoon yesterday -- his mouth got him in trouble, yet once again. It seems he had to go to "ZAP" which is a program at lunch for kids who are missing work. According to Zach, he got in trouble for "asking" a kid next to him what the assignment was. Knowing Zach as I do, I'm sure there was more to it than that. Anyway, the teacher sent him to lunch detention. At detention, he was asked by the vice principal to take out a piece of paper and do some "character building". He told Mr. Bailey, "no." He was asked a second time and Zach still said "no." Mr. Bailey told me he asked Zach, "So you're telling me that you refuse to do what I ask?" Allegedly, Zach said, "I shouldn't be here; it's stupid, so no, I'm not going to do it." Well, Zach got the afternoon off and I'm sure that Mr. Bailey now has his eye on Zach. Aye aye. How much longer til Zach is done with middle school?
Then there's my lovely daughter. I left her in Oregon to go to school. She told me she had "help" to go to the first year of school. Well, that was not correct. At Christmas, I told her that she had a month to pick one of three choices: move here to Blanding with me and Zach; enroll in Job Corp (they have a graphic design program that would be great for her); or stay in The Dalles and go solo (no more cell phone or monthly stipend from me). She called me a week or so ago to tell me that she had a job interview with a new grocery store opening in The Dalles. I decided to postpone her decision with the hope that she could land a job, thus allowing her to stay in Oregon with her friends and boyfriend. Well, still no word on the job (supposedly if she doesn't get picked the first round, she might get picked the second round). I told her I'd give her two more weeks. She started to cop attitude with me. I guess she's in a program at McCog (some government agency), learning how to write resumes because she's getting food stamps. I asked if they would help her get a job -- no. Well, then, why not go to Job Corp who will help her get a job. She doesn't get that if I cut her cell phone, there's no way she can get one on her own. I pay $15 a month extra for her to have one -- with free long distance and unlimited texting. If she goes with a prepaid, there's no way she can continue her habit of 8000 texts a month. Aye aye. She's 19 1/2, she needs to grow up and pick a path, any path at this moment.
On a positve note, though, I was talking with the principal of Navajo Mountain (where I used to work) and the district reading specialist. They were telling me about a kid who graduated a couple of years ago that was a voracious reader and read everything they gave him. In fact, I guess he won some reading contest. Well, it just so happens that I got him "started" on reading. He hated reading as a freshman. I learned what he liked and found a book I was sure he'd love. I was right. After that, I kept hooking him up with books I thought he might enjoy. Anyway, I facebooked him and told him jokingly that I deserved some of the credit for his love of books. He wrote me back, seriously I might add, and said that I deserved ALL the credit. All I can say is that his comment totally made my day. I went into teaching to make a difference in at least one person's life. Well, I guess I can retire now -- lol.
Maybe it's just the February blues. That stupid groundhog had better be right -- spring had best be around the corner. I need a vacation. Ok, that's enough. Will try to be more positive next week.
Zach, the little stinker, got himself suspended for the afternoon yesterday -- his mouth got him in trouble, yet once again. It seems he had to go to "ZAP" which is a program at lunch for kids who are missing work. According to Zach, he got in trouble for "asking" a kid next to him what the assignment was. Knowing Zach as I do, I'm sure there was more to it than that. Anyway, the teacher sent him to lunch detention. At detention, he was asked by the vice principal to take out a piece of paper and do some "character building". He told Mr. Bailey, "no." He was asked a second time and Zach still said "no." Mr. Bailey told me he asked Zach, "So you're telling me that you refuse to do what I ask?" Allegedly, Zach said, "I shouldn't be here; it's stupid, so no, I'm not going to do it." Well, Zach got the afternoon off and I'm sure that Mr. Bailey now has his eye on Zach. Aye aye. How much longer til Zach is done with middle school?
Then there's my lovely daughter. I left her in Oregon to go to school. She told me she had "help" to go to the first year of school. Well, that was not correct. At Christmas, I told her that she had a month to pick one of three choices: move here to Blanding with me and Zach; enroll in Job Corp (they have a graphic design program that would be great for her); or stay in The Dalles and go solo (no more cell phone or monthly stipend from me). She called me a week or so ago to tell me that she had a job interview with a new grocery store opening in The Dalles. I decided to postpone her decision with the hope that she could land a job, thus allowing her to stay in Oregon with her friends and boyfriend. Well, still no word on the job (supposedly if she doesn't get picked the first round, she might get picked the second round). I told her I'd give her two more weeks. She started to cop attitude with me. I guess she's in a program at McCog (some government agency), learning how to write resumes because she's getting food stamps. I asked if they would help her get a job -- no. Well, then, why not go to Job Corp who will help her get a job. She doesn't get that if I cut her cell phone, there's no way she can get one on her own. I pay $15 a month extra for her to have one -- with free long distance and unlimited texting. If she goes with a prepaid, there's no way she can continue her habit of 8000 texts a month. Aye aye. She's 19 1/2, she needs to grow up and pick a path, any path at this moment.
On a positve note, though, I was talking with the principal of Navajo Mountain (where I used to work) and the district reading specialist. They were telling me about a kid who graduated a couple of years ago that was a voracious reader and read everything they gave him. In fact, I guess he won some reading contest. Well, it just so happens that I got him "started" on reading. He hated reading as a freshman. I learned what he liked and found a book I was sure he'd love. I was right. After that, I kept hooking him up with books I thought he might enjoy. Anyway, I facebooked him and told him jokingly that I deserved some of the credit for his love of books. He wrote me back, seriously I might add, and said that I deserved ALL the credit. All I can say is that his comment totally made my day. I went into teaching to make a difference in at least one person's life. Well, I guess I can retire now -- lol.
Maybe it's just the February blues. That stupid groundhog had better be right -- spring had best be around the corner. I need a vacation. Ok, that's enough. Will try to be more positive next week.
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