Mom's crazy first week of school

This was an interesting beginning of the school year.  I am helping with volleyball while they look for a third coach.  I won't coach because Kayda's team would have games at the same time as mine and I refuse to miss hers.

The night before school started (Tuesday) I was helping with volleyball.  While waiting for the parent meeting I got a phone call from my principal.  I was a "close contact".  Two of the coworkers I sat with at kick off tested positive for covid.  This turned into "put in for a sub for tomorrow, go do a rapid test, if it's negative come in as soon as possible".  Being super efficient and connected, I was able to get ahold of a rapid test that evening and it came out negative.  So I got to cancel my sub and actually teach the first day.  I feel bad for the teachers that have to miss the first 3-5 days of school.    There actually ended up being 6 teachers out I believe, just at the high school.  I don't know about the other schools.

That wasn't the end of my adventures though... During 6th period of the first day, I was teaching, went to pull down the projector screen and the entire thing came down on my head.  We're talking about 8ft of metal casing and the screen itself.  The entire bracket had come out of the wall.  So now my head and neck hurt.  Yay!  

One of the maintenance staff came in... His response was "I have nothing but bad words".   It's actually one of the heaviest screens they have because it's a wide screen.  The bracket had been put up using the plastic anchors they provide for curtain rods...  This is a good 30+ lbs, plus the force of pulling the screen down.  We checked out the other bracket and it was also half out.  It had been screwed directly into the drywall without even using anchors.  Talk about dangerous!  He came in and fixed it, it would take significant effort to get that thing off the wall again.  He promised that "someone would have to take it down on purpose" and "if it comes down again I'll quit".   Good guy.

  I saw stars, then it was just my neck hurting.  I thought I was fine and would just be sore. Over the next couple of days my head started feeling fuzzy and "full" for lack of a better term, I can't concentrate or think clearly, I am really tired and holy heck my emotions are all over the place.  I finally decided to go to urgent care Friday.  My appointment at my normal one was cancelled because they don't do work related injury. So I went to the one they recommended but because I didn't have record of BOTH of my negative tests from being covid exposed they wouldn't treat me.  I had a picture of one but the other was done at school and they didn't give us our results.  I went home very emotional and frustrated.

Come Saturday I made an appointment for a rapid test so I could go to the urgent care. Just for the urgent care to tell me not to come, to go to the ER instead since they didn't have the diagnostic equipment that night be needed. So I didn't even need the negative test.

So off to the ER I go... Which was almost empty in case you were wondering.  They had me into a room within twenty minutes of walking in.  The doctor came in immediately.  Did some tests, decided imaging wasn't even necessary.  Prescribed me some pain meds for my neck, then walked away.  He didn't listen to all the stuff I was experiencing with my head which was frustrating.   Gave me no suggestions on what I should/shouldn't be doing...I had to ask the nurse that brought me my paperwork if they thought I had a concussion or what was going on.  I have a "mild" concussion since there was no black outs, pupil discrepancies, or vomiting.  

They asked me if I wanted days off.  Wanted, no, being gone as a teacher is miserable.  Hopefully I don't end up needing them.   Now I'll have a couple weeks+ of needing to chill out as much as possible while my brain heals itself.  So irritating.

On top of that, with the governor's vaccination mandate, our calculus teacher and her firefighter husband have decided to leave the state.  This could very well mean they're making HUGE changes to the master schedule and all the students.  Finding a new calculus teacher at this point would be next to impossible.   They need to move things around to get our college certified teacher all the college in the classroom classes.  I'd be really surprised if they chose not to move things around.

On that note... We're seeing estimates as high as 1 in 8 nurses refusing to the vaccination and 1 in 4 emergency responders.  For a state so worried about being able to care for the sick people... They've certainly found a way to make it worse.  Hopefully that is rescinded before we lose a lot of qualified staff in areas that already have shortages.  That applies to education too but the emergency/medical is much more urgent.

First day of school!

 We finally get to be back in the classroom full time!  Kayda's in grade 9, Dillon's grade 8 and Carson is in 5th grade. 

Kayda's first day:

There was nothing exciting about starting at the high school... Except volleyball.  She has friends in a couple of classes and is with her best friend for lunch.  She's going to get a lot of steps walking clear across campus a couple of times a day.

Dillon's first day:

His first day was okay. He wasn't impressed with a couple of his teachers. He's excited about having two PE classes, one with his best friend.  They've split lunch in half so you have 15 minutes to eat and then trade to "recess" since they have to limit the number of kids in the cafeteria.  

Carson's first day:

He likes his teacher and has one good friend in his class.  Unfortunately at recess they aren't allowed to play with other classes.  

We're actually all excited about his placement.  He has the teacher Dillon had for 4th grade and she is co-teaching with Kayda and Dillon's 5th grade teacher.

Mom's moving up!

Two years at the middle school.  Two very odd years.  "Unprecedented"...I hate that word so much at this point.  Anyway.  In March we were asked to sign our letters of intent to return.  In the survey you complete, they ask if you'd like to be considered for a transfer.  I knew a few things, the advanced math class at the middle school would be absorbed by the high school since there were only 4 students (they pretty much eliminated the advance math opportunity), and I REALLY wasn't interested in teaching anything below 8th grade.  I love math, I love algebra and up specifically.  There is not even a little bit of me that enjoys teaching the basics that 6th and 7th graders are still learning.  I also knew that I loved teaching high school kids, and thoroughly enjoyed the math team at the high school.  

I agonized over what to respond.  I like my boss (Dave), I like my team (minus one) and I didn't want to cause drama with anyone knowing I wanted to leave.  I eventually decided that if I didn't request the transfer and a job came open...I would be missing a rare opportunity and it would crush me.  So I spoke with Dave and told him what I was putting in and why.  He was super supportive.  

I tucked all of it into the back of my brain and continued on.  Then, late April, early May I get a call from Martina (a teacher at the high school) asking if I would be interested in moving to the high school.  I was really surprised.  As they were registering for next year they were seeing they had extra sections of math that they needed.  She was interested in going to part time for health reasons and was talking with the principal and math head about possibly making that happen.  Getting a district to approve part time now is really difficult since they have to pay full benefits for those people too.  

Martina, Kayla and Dave were kind of randomly bringing it up.  I still wasn't going to hold my breath.  Then I hear that they have 3 extra sections and if Martina went to part time there would be 2 more, which makes a full time position.  I finally started to get excited, it was near impossible not to.  I start hearing that they've been using my name as the teacher for the master schedule, among other things.  Next thing I know it's being announced that I'm moving over there!  When contracts came out I got to sign one with the high school listed as the location!

I'm super excited!  Sad to leave most of my coworkers but high school is my happy place to teach.  

I tried to grab some photos before school ended but only got a couple. 

Mike and Jenn.  Mike was my across the hall neighbor, he, Sam and I spent every passing period chatting as we greeted kids.  

Throw in Sheri (my neighbor) and Elliot that was just down the hall. 

My very empty, boring classroom.  As I heard more about moving schools I kept taking more things down.  It actually took the students longer than I thought to figure out it was different!

Emily!  This lady made me feel so good when I was subbing there.  She kept telling me that it felt like I belonged there when I came in.  It was almost an "Oh yeah, you need a key" because she seemed to think I should have one already.   Turns out she's moving to Texas, I'm jealous. 

This picture is of Sam and I from the yearbook.  It has a story I want to remember so I'm sharing it.  Sam was a newbie teacher in 2019 when I started working there.  Almost every time he came out into the hall he would have his yard stick and he'd just be hitting it against his hand or swinging it around.  Then comes our development days and we're in observing another teacher.  He went over to her cubbies, found a ruler and was doing the same thing!  He could not resist a ruler.  So one day, I discovered that I had 8 yard sticks in one of my cupboards.  I came walking out with them swinging them around to the best of my ability.  They happened to snap the picture.  It was always an inside joke after that.  He and Mike were great fun to chat with every hour.  I'll definitely miss that. 

I found out they're moving another teacher to give me a classroom in the same area as the other math teachers.  I knew the building was full so I thought I'd end up in a portable.  It's cool that I'll get to be with them all at the high school. 

Hybrid learning

The kids FINALLY got to go back to school.  Granted it was in a "hybrid" environment and required masks, but at least they got to go.  

I went back into the building at the beginning of February. That was a challenge because my kids had to get themselves into their meets and get all their work done without me supervising.  Carson was the one that struggled the most with that.  There was only so much Kayda and Dillon could do since the meet times often overlapped (in the middle of each other at middle school vs elementary).

Carson went back March 8th.  He goes Monday-Thursday mornings. He really enjoys half days with the smaller class size.

I was able to split Kayda and Dillon so someone would always be home. Kayda went in Monday/Wednesday full day, Dillon was Tuesday/Thursday.  They both had meets online on Fridays.  It was a pretty extreme transition from the online only format but they adapted well.  They were all excited to be back!

On the teacher side, online and hybrid learning are insane and inadequate.  The students didn't learn what they needed to online and then we had them 40% of what they usually have.  The time for helping them disappeared and you HAD to move more quickly than you'd like.  The performance and attitudes of the kids went WAY up once they were back at school though.  The number of students that had new accommodations for debilitating anxiety and depression was staggering.  Watching the students struggle to engage with me and even with their peers was heartbreaking.  The parents were frustrated and I felt completely helpless to do what needed to be done to help.  Any intervention time disappeared with hybrid classes.  Considering I never agreed with masks or shutting down schools it was especially difficult to talk with the parents of struggling students.  Quarantine broke the kids and placed a LOT of strain on families causing issues that hadn't existed before.  I actually spent quite a bit of time almost counseling parents.  As a teacher, we're actually left in the dark with students' situations.  We aren't told which kids are dealing with abusive households, which kids are struggling emotionally and mentally at a scale that doesn't have formal intervention, or have extenuating circumstances that impact their learning.  I am so grateful that we'll be going back full time next year.

First day of school online

Today was the first official day of school.  It's entirely online, myself included.  We've got 4 people on virtual meets.  Carson has a bunch of meets spread out over the course of the day.  Kayda and Dillon have periods 1-3 M/W and 4-6 T/Th with a short six period day on Friday.  

Note from July:

The kids were bored, it was hard to keep track of what they were supposed to do and they got sick of being home and away from their friends.  It took a little while to get into a routine and Carson had to learn not to come in during my meets.  Otherwise it went fairly smoothly.  Most students don't have their cameras on which is boring and awkward.  Then put in the fact that they won't talk and will rarely do anything in chat.  Just talking to a bunch of letters on a screen.

School activities

This year Kayda took photography and had a really good time.  They actually use an app on their phone for some of the editing.  She had to submit a photo to the art show.  This is the picture she took.  We are enamored with the fields around us (and of course the view of the mountain).  She took off into the pasture and took this picture.  I wish the grass was longer.  Maybe it will grow in tall and beautiful in the spring.  

Dillon ended up in choir.  The students either sign up for band for the full year as their elective or they choose the "rotation" which is a random selection that changes each quarter.  He didn't enjoy choir but ended up singing the same solo as Kayda did last year.  

Carson had his 3rd grade concert.  The concerts he has been able to do have been much more elaborate than the ones Kayda and Dillon ever had the opportunity to do.  They dance, wear costumes, play instruments... Kayda and Dillon got to stand in place and do arm movements, and play instruments.  Of course, Kayda and Dillon also ended up singing a lot of songs in other languages.  Carson's group never really did that.  

First Day of School

This year is unique.  I'm going back to work.  I'm working at the middle school teaching 8th grade math and the advanced class.  It took a while for me to decide to go for it, but after covering a maternity leave for 3 months I realized that I missed having my own classes.  Anyway, working meant that, for the first time ever, I was going to miss dropping a kiddo off at school on their first day.  Fortunately for me, Carson was willing to get up and ready early so I could take a picture with him and give him hugs and good vibes for the day.  

 Starting 3rd grade this year!

 Starting 7th grade!

 Starting 6th grade!

 My kids are so stinking cute!

Daddy did a good job documenting the drop off.  I'm still a little heartbroken that I had to miss it.

Awards

Our kids are awesome.  That is an undisputed fact.  The school thinks so too.  Dillon and Carson both got awards in April.  They both got the "Compass" award which is essentially recognizing them for being a good role model and being on task.  I had to crop pictures since  I don't like their full names out.  Dillon obviously didn't want a picture!

Then in June it was that time again.  Kayda got invited to join National Junior Honor Society.  She is incredibly excited because of the activities they get to do next year.  She also received the academic achievement award for her 4.0 gpa. 

Then it was back to the boys.  Dillon got the Silver Presidential Award for scoring threes and above on all his state tests.

Carson was chosen for the climber award because he improved dramatically with his reading.  He'd been working hard on it all year until it clicked.  He set a goal, and met it.

Kayda has too many teachers to get pictures with all of them now, but here are Dillon and Carson with theirs.  They both had amazing teachers!

 Mrs. O

Mrs. C.  It was funny, when I covered a three month maternity leave I had her son while she had mine!

It was a great school year!

Carson and Dillon's field day

At the end of every school day there is a field day.  It's a whole day of fun activities outside.  I was able to go volunteer and ran a station.  Dillon's class had a great time.  They had to run in, grab blocks then build a fort.  After a certain time the other team (the girls) would throw balls at it to try to knock it down.  They were very competitive.  It was interesting to watch the different approaches.  The girls were very cohesive and purposeful.  The boys took a little longer to get it together. 

I didn't get to Carson's class before I had to leave.  So I went to hang out with him for a station.  They were dancing the "cha cha slide".  He really didn't want me to take a picture so he'd walk away from me.  I'd run closer, he'd sneak away.  Until finally I put my phone away.  I go to dance with him and he walked away...AGAIN!  I thought it was just the pictures.  I was wrong. 

Dillon's deck day

 The fifth grade teachers like to have a "deck day" to celebrate the kids moving on to the middle school.  Dillon enjoyed having the time to just relax with his friends.  They each got a shirt this year to have friends sign, as well as their yearbooks.

I got to volunteer for it again this year.  He was sweet and actually acknowledged me.  He isn't a fan of public displays of affection anymore though.  I'm not allowed to initiate any hugs in public!

Dillon's Fifth Grade Camp

This year, Daddy got to go with Dillon to Fifth Grade Camp.  He got it easy because they did not have to do much but keep an eye on the kids.  In 2 days, they get to do a lot of fun activities.  They did knot tying, painting, a ropes course, dissecting owl pellets, and free time to play anything such as dodge ball in a pit, human foosball, basketball, football, and more.    

His favorite activity was when he was roped up.  He would run at the same time as his group who was pulling the rope in the opposite direction.  This would pull him up in the air about 20 feet.  

Unfortunately, camp was only one night.  When Dillon got home he went up to his room and refused to talk about it because he didn't want to leave.  He was having so much fun that he was unhappy to be home.

Carson's Pacific Science Center Field Trip

Daddy was able to go on Carson's field trip to the Pacific Science Center.  They all go to watch an IMAX movie on the white bear.  

His favorite part was a station where you build a "helicopter" then put it over a fan to see how high you can make it go. 

Unfortunately, it's a long drive so they don't get a lot of time there.