THREE THINGS

I don’t even know where to begin!

Hello!

How are you?

Once again, it’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve blogged, and I know that’s not at all normal, and it actually makes me sad because I enjoy writing, but what do I have to say?

Hmmm.

Okay, I can think of three things!

ONE

Let me tell you that I survived Distance Learning. The year is over. It’s bizarre, it doesn’t feel right, I did not like it at all.

I did, however, get to go to school one day for one of the drive through drop off/collect days! I didn’t think we were going to be allowed, but then we were so I jumped on it.

It was not at all what I expected because a) it rained b) I was freezing and c) there was not one bit of traffic or cars lined up and down the street.

It was super organized by last name and time blocks, and which drive- thru circle to use (bus or car), etc.

There were seven of us helping, including my principal and assistant principal, and we HAD THE BEST DAY!

It was scheduled for 9:00 to 2:00pm with a lunch break so my principal had pizza delivered for us, plus a parent dropping off library books brought donuts for us . . . it was really just so much fun! I miss my people!!!

The very very very best part was getting to see a few of my current kids and former kids. Lots and lots and lots of chatting between us, the parents, and the kids. I think we all really needed it!

TWO

I went to Texas!!!!!!

That’s right! I sat on a plane with a mask on for almost three hours to get to my family so that I could see my niece graduate from high school IN AN ACTUAL CEREMONY, ON A STAGE, IN A STADIUM. It was outside and social distancing was implemented with assigned seats, and on and on.

BUT I KNOW!

My niece, Madison, missed out on so much, as did all of the other seniors, but she actually got to graduate, and it wasn’t a drive-thru graduation, either.

The seniors in my school district here in California had drive-thru graduations which is just not the same, but that’s all I’ll say about that.

Here is my sweet, beautiful, adorable niece modeling the prom dress she never got to wear.

Because Distance Learning ended earlier than planned (on the original school calendar), I was able to extend my trip. Kerry and I were able to celebrate our birthday together for the first time in YEARS! We ate ice cream for lunch and then went out to eat for dinner. AT A RESTAURANT!

It felt liberating!

THREE

Now . . . I’m holding my breath, praying, and watching school board meetings as if they’re a new reality TV show that I can’t get enough of.

Our last school board meeting lasted FIVE HOURS.

FIVE HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my word, I cannot even explain or tell you what was discussed for four hours and fifty-five minutes. It just went on and on.

Emails from parents were read. An email from our union president was read. Then the board members took turns (in FIVE rounds!!) expressing their desires for what school should look like in August, and then . . . in the last five minutes, it was determined that our year round schools (which start school on July 6) will do so REMOTELY.

Did you get that? It took five hours for them to tell us that our year round schools will begin the year REMOTELY.

Now.

I don’t teach at one of our year round schools. I teach at one of our schools with a traditional calendar. Our start date is August 11. Nothing has been determined for us.

However, we are having ANOTHER school board meeting this Tuesday.

Let me tell you.

I don’t know if I’ll watch the beginning. I might be slow to school board watching, but I think I learned how these things work.

I have a very sad, very real feeling that we will begin our year remotely, too. I don’t know why. It just feels like the writing is on the wall.

But nothing has been determined . . . so I’ll wait.

I’ll wait while getting my Google Classroom decorated and ready, I’ll wait while I start to create some digital resources that I know I’ll want for the beginning of the year, I’ll wait as I continue to pray for God to prepare me emotionally, mentally, and physically for August 11. However it may look.

UGH.

BIG SIGH!

So there you go.

Three Things!

I hope you’re doing well!