It’s here. Let’s do this.
Sunday
Finally finished (I think?) the signs for Nick and Ashley’s wedding over the long weekend.
Monday
Can I just say? Loved getting my feet wet with the Superintendent’s Conference Days as soon as the calendar ticked over to 9/1 and then having the long weekend to fully prepare for the first day of school. It wasn’t the most relaxing weekend, but I did catch a quick glimpse of my brother again as he, Katrina, and the Puxter made their way back toward Boston.
Tuesday
The first day back with the kids was actually quite lovely. Usually the first day is a whole lot of time-killing, and those are days you just have to grimace and bear through. And, well, okay this first day was also a whole lot of time-killing, BUT I had fun with my colleagues and my students while we wasted time on the turf playing a “Scavenger Hunt.”
Us teachers. We’ll call anything a scavenger hunt.
Students were instructed to find a person (classmate or teacher) who could answer yes to one of the fifteen questions on their paper. You could only write down a person’s name once, so you had to talk to multiple people. The questions were things like: Do you like broccoli? and Do you like to workout?
About fifteen kids ended up asking me if I read my horoscope every day.
Me: I do not.
Them: Oh. But they said you do.
Me: Who’s they?
Them: Mr. Tomaino.
Me: I see. Well, I don’t.
Them:
Me:
Them:
Me: <sigh> Fine. I mean, I got my runes read, so that’s fair.
Them: Now we just need to find someone who likes to work out. Who could we ask? Mr. Tomaino? Mr. Dunne? They’d be the only ones.
Me: Ahem!
Them: You like to work out?
Me: Yes, I work out almost every day.
Them: Oh… Well, we already wrote you down for the horoscope one, sooo…
Me: <heavy sigh>
A few moments later…
Them: Mr. Tomaino, do you like to workout?
Tomaino: Ummm…
Ben: He likes the results.
Tomaino: <laughs> Yeah, I like the results. So I guess you can put my name down.
Me: <EYEROLL>
Wednesday
I love my students and my classroom and how neat and organized the room I share with Joan now is… Can’t wait to decorate it…
Thursday
Last week’s directive: Make sure you cover your door windows in case of active shooter.
This week’s directive: Too much of your door window is covered. Law enforcement needs to be able to see in if there’s an active shooter.
Friday
Started the day off with a “hello” to my friendly, neighborhood, porch spider. Ended the day with drinks at The Hill with coworkers… Not a terrible Friday.
The Student Council fundraiser kick-off is usually done as a large assembly, but since we can’t assemble in large groups this year, we had a virtual event. Yours truly along with my co-advisory, Christina, were live-streamed to every classroom’s SMARTboard.
We had videos and slideshows and a Kahoot game ready… We had a plan!
The best laid plans of mice and men go awry.
Robert Burns (adapted version)
Fuck you for being right, Robert Burns.
Our principal had to address the students first, but we weren’t sure how long she would take, so we built in some time-filler if needed. We decided to get “special guests” (teachers from each team) to come on air in between Kahoot questions to talk about their favorite Student Council events and give fundraising tips to the kids.
Our first mistake was who we collected: a bunch of our male coworkers and Elissa. Elissa is the only one who did a good job. The rest of them threw me off my game, somewhat intentionally. I did my best to give it right back to them… but once I lose composure, this girl ain’t getting it back.
Some of my favorite moments:
Me: What was your favorite part about Water Safari?
Broedel: It was just a really great day.
Me: Is there something specific you loved about the day? A favorite ride? A favorite food?
Broedel: The food was great! I mean, it was okay… A little over-priced, if you ask me.
Me: What did you love about the Student of the Month Picnic?
Tomaino: It was awesome! We had an awesome time; the weather was awesome; it was awesome to—
Me: Wait. Mr. Tomaino, I have a question.
Tomaino: What?
Me: Was it… awesome?
Tomaino: <laughs nervously then catches a glimpse of himself in the monitor> What’s wrong with my mask?
Me: It’s been like that all day.
Tomaino: <turns to face me> Can you fix it for me?
Me: Sure? <pulls randomly on the string. Makes it worse>
Me: <lying> The reason I’m asking you about the Back to School Dance is because a lot of kids don’t know this, but you have some pretty sick dance moves.
Ben: <also lying> Yes, I do! I kill it on the dance floor!
Me: Why don’t you show everyone some of those moves right now.
Ben: We don’t have any music!
Me: I have my phone right here…
Ben: Oh, no, we gotta save the moves for the dance-off!
Me: Yes, the epic dance-off! Everyone needs to get their moves ready and challenge Mr. Daley!
Ben: <sweats>
Joan upon return to my classroom: “Were you all drunk?”
Saturday
We had a small service for Janice White on Saturday, and though it was sad, it was also sweet. I was expecting it to be a long weekend, but it was nice spending time with Josh and Jon and getting to take Steven to Nostros with a couple other blasts from the past.
Like I’ve said before, life is a mixed bag. You have to make the most out of the chances you have for good moments.