FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL 2019

I DID IT! I SURVIVED THE FIRST WEEK BACK TO SCHOOL!

I told a couple of stories from this week on Instagram, but since they disappear after 24 hours (and I’m new to this whole IG thing and saving them to my highlights proves challenging at the moment) I thought I would retell them here!

I also did a Classroom Tour on Instagram and I actually DID save it to my highlights so you can check that out HERE. I didn’t link anything so I have a lofty goal of taking actual pictures (still shots), and doing a whole blog post SERIES – yes, I know, I’m fancy – on my classroom and the contents within.

But, you know, SCHOOL and LIFE and REALITY TV and MURPHIE and STEVE just might get in the way so please be patient with me and understand who you’re dealing with. (A slightly crazy distracted extroverted-introvert person)

YOU GUYS!

First, I am here to tell you that my class this year is so so so sweet! AS A WHOLE GROUP, they are just SO SO SO SWEET! I know I talked all the time about how challenging last year’s group was, but I hope I made it clear that it was more the group dynamic, and ME, than anything.

THIS group dynamic is just a whole different ball game. They are just naturally a calmer, quieter class who GET ALONG. I just keep thanking the Lord all day long!

Okay, let’s do this!

NUMBER ONE: FUNNY KID STORY

On day one, as we were walking (I use that term very loosely) to the playground for recess, one of my little guys said:

I wish you were my grandma.

I said:

Do I look like I could be a grandma?

And he said . . .

Wait for it . . .

Well, only your face and neck.

So that was fun.

And eye opening.

And I can’t really help ALL THE WRINKLES because even though my mom warned me NOT to use baby oil when I was a teenager trying to get a tan and said you’ll regret it later on in life – trust me, I ignored her.

AND I MAKE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS LIKE NOBODY’S BUSINESS. My face moves of its own accord, and I seriously just cannot help it. It just does. It just is. THIS IS ME. With my holy big eyeballs and what-not. I mean, what can I do?

Well I know one thing I could do – BOTOX. If you think Donor’s Choose would approve that, would you let me know? K Thanks!

NUMBER TWO: THIS IS ALARMING

I think my school district is trying to kill me. Which might also be why I need Botox.

We started on a MONDAY!

A MONDAY! We used to always start on Wednesdays. But not last year or this year, and I am here to tell you THAT THIS IS WRONG. IT IS WRONG WRONG WRONG. IT IS HALLOWEEN ON A MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, OR THURSDAY WRONG.

WHY?! What is the point of a five day week at the beginning of the year? WHO NEEDS FIVE WHOLE DAYS the first week of school?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (and again!) that our Kinder program is only HALF DAYS. WHICH MEANS . . . these little brand new first graders I have are going from a half day program to a FULL DAY WITH ME.

They don’t need to do it FIVE WHOLE DAYS IN A ROW.

THEY DO NOT. Let’s ease into this, please.

FOR THE LOVE OF PETE AND ALL HIS BROTHERS, let’s just EASE IN!

WHO IS MAKING THE CALENDAR? Because I know I didn’t vote on this. And I wouldn’t.

AND THEN.

Besides the FIVE WHOLE DAYS, we had a FULL DAY on WEDNESDAY, too. For the entire year, we always dismiss an hour early on Wednesdays. It’s called EARLY DISMISSAL and we have it every single week for the entire year. The kids go home and then we plan with our teams or the principal holds a meeting, but mostly, we plan with our teams!

But did we get early dismissal this week?

NO. We did NOT.

FIVE FULL DAYS THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL.

And two of those days were over 100 degrees which means that our kids only got recess ONE TIME. Because that’s just good for everyone. {Insert a smiling face that looks more like a forced grimace.}

I’m serious. My school district is trying to kill me.

Because THEN . . . I had Parent Information Night on Thursday.

I had to stay all the day long with kids INSIDE and NO RECESS, and then at 6:00, I had to be all refreshed, dressed, and ready to be introduced in front of all of the parents in the Multi Purpose Room along with all my teacher friends.

And, just so you know, we all take this night very seriously. We bring bags of deodorant, and make-up, and perfume, and curling irons, and toothbrushes, and ALL THE THINGS so that we can wipe off the sweat and germs from the day, and look presentable for these brand new parents of ours.

AND YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE THIS NEXT PART.

And you will know that when I say my district is trying to kill me, I am telling you the truth.

Because our first session was at 6:25pm and the air conditioning QUIT.

It QUIT. It was SHUT OFF. There was NO WAY to turn that thing back on.

We could not OVER-RIDE it.

It was at least 92 degrees inside, and I am not exaggerating. My team and I presented together in the library, and we thought it was just us because of all the bodies . . . everyone was fanning themselves and we just stood in front of all the parents SWEATING OFF ALL THE HARD WORK OF THE REFRESH THAT WE HAD DONE EARLIER.

When different parents came for the second session, we found out it was the WHOLE school without A/C and not just us in the library.

No one had A/C. Everyone was sweating.

Don’t get me started on hugging former parents, and shaking hands with new parents.

DISGUSTING. I felt bad for them in my condition of I am absolutely slick with sweat and smell to high heaven.

Then, in true teacher fashion, instead of getting into our air conditioned cars and driving home to take a cool shower, we stood around in the parking lot and talked about how hot and stinky we were, and how our district is trying to kill us.

Oh, we laughed. We laughed and laughed and laughed.

We’re good sports, ya know.

Then I made it through Friday.

And now here I am.

Sore.

You guys. I am SO SO SO SORE. I feel as if I went to Cross Fit, or Orange Theory Fitness, or even a Boot Camp session. I am dead.

Several parents told me that their kids were falling asleep in the car on the way home and that they just lived around the corner, and what were we doing all day?

Well . . .

What can I say? The district is trying to kill all of us.

By the way, after the fact, I found out that our district signed up for a program where Southern California Edison will cut off our A/C after hours in times of extreme usage. And since it was so hot on Thursday, there you go.

I’m starting to wonder if Edison is also in charge of our Calendar for the year . . . because it seems like they’re in cahoots with my district.

Hmmmmmmm . . .

PS If you don’t know me that well, I just want to point out that I do not think the district is actually trying to kill me, and this entire post is written with sarcasm (which I learned from my dad) and I had a great week, and I love my school and district, and I love teaching, and now I’m going to enjoy the cooler weather that this Saturday has presented to me, and I might turn my A/C on just because I can.

☺️☺️☺️