YEAYYYYYYY!! Vacation begins today.

Summer Vacation Begins for me today!

I just finished a half-day at school, gathering up the last of the things that needed to come home, sending student work folders off to their middle schools, and checking off all the things that needed checking by various departments to make sure that all books and materials are in the room and accounted for, or in their proper places in other rooms.

I said a few goodbyes (I'm going to miss them all), completed my yearly Individualized Growth Plan with my principal (All teachers have to start the IGP in the first month of school, noting individual areas they desire to improve upon or develop further, and complete it in the spring. It's one measure of growth accountability. You say what you want to do, then you do it, then you show evidence that you did it.), sent off a couple of important emails to middle school teachers, then packed up the car, drove to town for lunch with a colleague, and stopped at the bank.

I came home, unloaded the car. Thought I'd share my jubilation for the moment before going to wash my car.

Now I'm gearing up for the trip to DISNEY WORLD!! Clothes to wash, house to clean, bags to pack... you know.

YEAYYYYYYY!

Circle of Life

The circle of life is everywhere, surrounding us as we each move through our own cycles of living. It is no further away than where my frontyard ends and my neighbor's yard begins.

My neighbor's grandchildren often visit them. They are 9 year old twins. I knew their mother when she was a child of nine, when she lived next door.

The girls are adorable, and opposites in personality. A is quieter, S is more outspoken. They both have distinct opinions, both are curious, polite, articulate with exceptional clarity, and have interests in many areas. They love their grandparents, their parents, each other, their baby sister, and are at peace with the world. I only see them when they visit their grandparents on weekends.

On Sundays, I look across my neighbor's yard to see if the girls are outside so I can invite them to come with me. I saw them in the yard Friday afternoon, when I met their 4 month old baby sister for the first time. I invited the twins to come to church with me Sunday.

I can tell they've been to church before. They know how to behave, how to pray, how to follow the program, and how to read music from the hymnal. They are such a joy to have in Sunday School, their comments and questions a welcome opportunity for me to share what I have learned, and to further reveal what is on their hearts.

During worship service today, the more outspoken one, S, had asked me if we still did the thing where we call out names of people to pray for. I told her we did. She said she wanted to lift up her aunt's name, and I told her she could do that. Then she sat back and waited for the right moment.

When the time came to make announcements, I looked at her and whispered if she still wanted to say something. She nodded, so I reminded her to raise her hand, which she did. Her sister, the quiet one, sat quietly, and watched.

When our Lay Leader called on her, she indicated that she wanted to come to the microphone, and he told her to come on up. She ran up to the front of the church, stood behind the podium, and realized she could not see over it. But that did not deter her from speaking.

With only the top of her head showing over the podium, she spoke into the microphone without an ounce of fear or nervousness and said, "Oh, I can't see anyone over this thing. But that's okay. (she giggled) I don't come to your church very often because I don't live around here, but I can tell that you do good things in this church. This is a good church. I like coming here, and it's fun."

You can imagine the soft sounds and murmurs that filled the room, of "awww!" and "Ohhh!" Like the sounds you hear when something very cute and very sweet was just seen or heard. Or something very profound spoken from the mouth of a child. Like when a child boldly walks up to the microphone to speak what they feel, and you know you feel the same thing but wouldn't dare walk up to a microphone to say it!

I must say that as the meaning of what she had done sank in to my heart, tears came to my eyes. I thanked God for the message sent to me, and no doubt to many others, that we do do a lot of good things, and sometimes we forget that because we are just so caught up in the doing of them. We grow tired, and disappointed, we become overwhelmed with the work that needs to be done because we see so much more that needs to be done, and we think "No one is doing that... who is going to take care of that?"

But someone notices, someone hears, someone sees. And she is a little child. Not just that little child I speak of here. There are lots of little children who are watching and listening.

Let's not forget that all that we do for them does not go unnoticed. You don't have to hear the accolades and applause from a crowded room, or receive an honorary medal to know that you are doing a new and a good thing. You just need to hear it in the small, soft, musical voice of the child who watches and follows.

If that doesn't make you want to minister to children, I don't know what will.

For those of you who teach children, in Sunday School, whether they are pre-schoolers, elementary aged, or middle and high schoolers, and for those who lead other youth ministries as scout leaders or other youth groups, and teachers of the public school system... if many, many days and weeks and months go by without someone telling you you've done a good job, or thank you for leading the youth of America, let me say it.

THANK YOU for leading a child, through knowledge and through faith. Thank you for letting them ask their questions, and for not criticizing their thoughts and opinions when they express them.

Thank you for not belittling them, or humiliating them, for guarding the sensitive things they tell you, for giving them suggestions on how to deal with problems, for supporting them when they describe their fears, and for encouraging them when they falter.

Thank you, all guardians of children, for seeking in your own heart what is right and true, so that you lead no one astray. Thank you for giving your time, your talents, and your energies for the classes you teach, the VBS programs you plan, the games, the crafts, the snacks, the plays, the songs, and the stories you will teach them... to all of you, a big THANK YOU!

It will come back to you, in a way you won't even expect, but in a way you will certainly recognize. When you work with children, you are in the Circle of Life.

School days nearly over

You've been wondering when school lets out, haven't you? Here in NC, in my school district, yesterday was the students' last day... they came for half the day.

Tomorrow will be my last teacher workday. Am I excited? Oh, yeah!

Bittersweet, though, as Fitzzer noted in an email to me today. Happy for some time off, some time to recharge the old teacher's batteries, but sad because I'm not returning to the same school in the fall. I am going to miss the teachers with whom I have worked so closely with these past seven years.

Seven years of planning, worrying, laughing, crying, managing classrooms, attending workshops, and generally attempting to solve problems that arise each year within the classroom, within the grade level, within the school. Oh, yes, and teaching. That's life, after all. Always the school vision to keep in mind, and teachers to collaborate with, personalities that meld and others that clash. But always the understanding that we will work together for the students, to carry out that vision.

I know I will make new friends in the new school. I have no doubt about that.

Today the teachers presented me with a wide-matted photo of me with four of my fourth grade students, taken last week. Caroline, another teacher, had popped into my afternoon writing class, the same day we had had the writing test. I was reading out loud a book to the kids at the time, to take a break from the writing since they had already taken the test. It was a fun book, How To Talk To Your Dog, can't remember the author at the moment.

She walked in with a digital camera, told me she was going to take a picture, and of course we all said okay. The kids leaned in just a little closer than they had been sitting a moment before, and Caroline snapped the photo. Took two in fact.

Today, I remembered that day, and thought I should talk to her and try to get the digital copy onto my computer. I knew it had to be a great photo. All of us had smiled, and the kids are so photogenic.

But I never had time to talk to her about it, and forgot about it.

About 3:00, just moments after we completed an IEP meeting, in walks a teacher with a big smile on her face, and she holds out to me the framed picture I just describe at the start of this entry. There had been a meeting to recognize those teachers who would be leaving. I could not attend due to the IEP meeting that had already been scheduled long before the recognition meeting. Teachers had signed the mat around the photo with well wishes and best of lucks and other nice thoughts to keep me from forgetting them. I would never forget them!

But the photo...! I wish I could put it here for you to see. I cannot without violating the privacy of the students. Just know that I treasure the photo, and it brought tears to my eyes. Such a wonderful parting gift.

When you spend so much time with a kid, you cannot look at their picture and not miss them when you have moved on and away from them. I miss them already. I hear their voices saying my name.

I know in the fall, I won't be there to greet them and see in their happy eyes how glad they are to see me. Oh, that does a teacher's heart so much good!! I know the children feel the same way when they look into my eyes and see that I am happy that they are walking toward me, and into my life.

I take solace in knowing that there are kids at the other school who will probably need me even more than the ones I am leaving behind. I can't wait to meet them.

Even so, I am sad. I know I will get over it, but for now that's where I am, and that's where I will let my heart stay for a little while.

Spring Fling a Success!

How does one measure success? Regarding fundraisers, you would think it would be measured by how much money was raised for whatever cause was behind the fundraiser.

The weather cooperated with us, it being a perfectly beautiful day to hold a Spring Fling.

I don't know how much was raised at this time, but I can say that our Spring Fling, in which I was not involved in the planning stages, but had my hand in painting a game booth, was a veritable success.

I base this on the number of new faces I saw on our church lawn. People I knew in the community, possibly from other churches, and many parents or grandparents of students at my school, came to participate in the games and eat the good ol' southern barbecue style chicken.

As I floated about the games area, admiring the handiwork of the volunteers who planned and set everything up, I took lots of pictures. I included a few here in this entry. You get the idea. Small country church has a first time fundraiser event in the spring, and a pretty decent turn-out I might add.

I think the adults were having as much fun as the kids. Even the Youth were there in numbers, manning the booths, applying "tatoos", coaxing the children to test their throwing skills, or putting skills. There was a bean bag tic-tac-toe game, a basketball net set up for those inclined to shoot a free throw, a ring toss, horse-shoes, a duck pond, the baseball throw, a football throw, fishing booth, air bouncer, and a ventriloquist with his puppet, James.

There was a woman, Patti the Clown, who could tie balloons into just about any shape or form, creating swords, aliens, princess crowns, monkeys on palm trees, a dog on a leash, just to name a few. The kids loved her. Holding this altogether was the DJ blasting out the great hits of the 50's, 60's, and 70's... of beach music, Tina Turner, and the ever popular "YMCA"... well, kids of all ages still love that one. I certainly enjoyed today's music to whatI heard yesterday... but I have to remember that yesterday was for the 5th graders and what they liked. It was their dance, not mine!

I carried in my pocket a twenty dollar bill, thinking I would need it to buy tickets to play the games. I found out that there were no tickets. The games were free... even the air bouncer was free. The only place accepting donations was inside the fellowship hall where the barbecue meal was being served. I found a jar to drop the twenty in, knowing the money would go to worthy cause.

The beneficiary of today's successful money raiser? the Armenian Orphanage. I could write a lengthy description of what has taken place in that area of the world, and how the United Methodist Church, in addition to providing necessary funds and materials to reconstruct and refurbish old orphanages, is helping families gain control of their lives, and helping them to keep their children in their homes rather than sending them off to the orphanage. I could, but you would gain more insight if you read about it yourself.

Click here to learn how UMCOR is helping the Armenian people.

Fundraisers like this help raise awareness of the needs of people far from the comfort of our own homes and the safety of our own communities. Our church is always involved in helping local charitable organizations (Just tonight, for example, the Spring Fling organizer told me that all the leftover barbecue chicken and sides was delivered to Caring Kitchens in Burlington. She delivered it herself.) and local families in need. But we must be ever mindful of those in other parts of the world who are hungry, lost, in pain, and suffering like we cannot even imagine.

Jesus would want us to do that.

Yes, I would say it was successful. Dot thanked me profusely for painting the fishing booth. She said it was exactly what she had in mind... she had hoped I would paint a pond scene, though we had not even talked about it prior to my decision to paint it.

Many people helped out with this event, but I want to thank Dot for all her enthusiastic work in this event. Mostly I want to thank her for her deep dedication to being an active part of the Body of Christ. Truly, Dot's hands are the hands of God!!

Spring Fling invitation

Spring Fling! The words conjure up fundraiser fare: booths of games, prizes for everyone, barbecue cooked on-site, people gathered to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine of fellowship on the church lawn. Today at 4:30-7:00pm that's where I'll be. If you are a friend or neighbor who lives within driving distance, I hope to see you there at Cedar Cliff United Methodist Church. See you there!

Thoughts at the 5th Grade Dance

This week the big school event was the 5th grade dance, which was held directly after school was dismissed.

Our principal, yesterday morning during the awards program, had given the fifth grade students valuable words to take with them as they moved onto middle school. Showing a clip from The Wizard of Oz, she spoke about the qualities they would need to live their lives: perseverance, courage, compassion, wisdom, and the love of family and friends. Yes, with these in their hearts, they will go and do something good in this world.

Before they leave elementary school, however, they had to have their 5th grade dance. 

Parents of the graduating class went all out for their fifth graders. Following the theme of "Hollywood," for which each and every student was honored with a star on the wall with their name on it, parents decorated the school gym with gold and white balloons, darkened the high glass windows with black paper, brought in a live DJ (a friend of the family, I think), and hired a local catering duo to provide tasty hot food. I was very impressed.

While the students changed their clothes, I drove home to let my dogs out. Some had brought something special and dress-up for the afternoon dance, but most wore what they had been wearing all day. By the time I returned to the dance event, they had already eaten and were in the gym on the dance floor.

Oh my! What I saw! Girls and boys dancing like I have not seen dancing. Nothing recognizable. I don't know what to call what two of the girls were doing. Very energetic, highly demanding postures, innocently suggestive. I may have seen that style a few years ago... Britney Spears I think. But what I've seen of her is not innocently anything. Maybe it's what they see when they watch music videos. I'm in the dark, you see, because I haven't watched a music video in possibly ten years. I should watch them just so I'll know where their influences come from.

I may be out of touch, but I'm uncomfortable with little girls dancing like that!

Although the girls were dancing like they had a figure to flaunt, the boys were very cool in their stepping, hopping, turning, flipping, and facial expressions. I’d say you would have to be an athlete to make some of the moves they made. The DJ guided them into dancing the usual line dances at one point, and even played one seventies tune.

After awhile, I left the gym seeking a cooler temperature and air flow. In the cafeteria I  had a bite of the tasty catered food while I spoke with the two ladies whose talents created the meal. There were sweet and sour meatballs, lightly fried chicken nuggets, vegetables and dip, fruit and dip, cake, and iced tea. It was much better than the usual fare of hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and sodas.

After I'd eaten, though, I regretted it. Something akin to indigestion continued until just about an hour ago. I'm sure it wasn't the food, but rather the problem I've been having with my stomach this week.

About 6:15 pm, the dancing stopped, the DJ took down his equipment. A large wide-screen TV was wheeled out onto the stage. A student-made slide-show was about to begin.

Before the slideshow began, however, all the students were herded out of the gym, and lined up alphabetically while parents and others set up chairs for viewing the slideshow.

The students were then introduced one by one as they re-entered the gym. One parent announced their birth names, their interests, and the middle school they would be attending (depending on where they live, they might go to SMS or HMS). When the student was introduced, he/she walked down the stairs onto the red "carpet" lighted runway. Parents could stand at the end of the "runway" to photograph their "star" as she made her walk in the spotlight of fifth grade fame.

I thought this was a special way of recognizing every student... not just the A-honor rolls, or the PE awards, the Music awards, or the Science Awards. To be in this spotlight, you just had to be a graduating 5th grader, and they were all that. Every student was honored for their unique, personal qualities. Very nicely done, parents!

The slideshow began after all the students were seated. Several students were introduced who had been working on it this week, putting together photos students had brought in. It was very cute. Cool, upbeat music had been added.

First, a baby photo of each student was shown, followed by a second or third photo of the student older. It didn't take long for the kids to recognize the pattern: baby picture, older picture, 5th grade picture. Within a minute, they were calling out in unison the names of their classmates as their picture appeared on the screen.

There was laughter, giggles, and gasps of surprise. I found it amusing that they were calling out a student's name when the baby picture was shown. There was clearly a great bond among these students, most of whom have been together since kindergarten.

What is particularly sad for them, though, is they know that they are being split up during their middle school years. Some will be attending HMS for three years, and some will be attending SMS for three years. The reality is that many of them will not see their best friends again until the 9th grade (unless of course there are home visits among them).

As I watched my students dancing and strutting their little stuffs, acting shy around each other except during the dance-off, I was happy for them. I was happy that they had completed their journey through elementary school. They will no doubt experience great anxiety about starting middle school, but they will persevere, and they will make it. They have what it takes to work with and around what life has dished out to them, and to succeed, whether because of it or in spite of it.

I knew the parents were happy, on the one hand, that this chapter of their child's life was over, and a new one was about to begin. However, as they stood watching their little ones, girls who no longer looked little in their heeled shoes, styled hair, and dance dresses and boys in their ties and dress pants, I'm sure they were thinking of the passing of time, and how the teen years were just around the corner.

I'd be worried if I didn't remember the wisdom that had been offered to them yesterday morning during the awards program!

Winding Down

The nausea won't go away. It doesn't feel like a stomach virus anymore... everything I eat brings on waves of mild nausea. I've been meaning to go see the doctor. Tomorrow I'm going in for some routine follow-up blood work. Perhaps the doctor can fit me in then.

There is an awards program at school in the morning... I should be able to get back in time for it if I'm only getting the blood work done. Right now, I'm more interested in feeling better than watching kids get their awards. Normally, I'm all into the awards program, which we have every 9 weeks or so, but I haven't felt 100% since Saturday when the stomach thing hit me suddenly.

Could be a response to the end of the year? I'm winding down fast. But I feel like I'm getting everything done that needs to get done. And the kids are hanging in there, which is hard because testing is over and some have the attitude that there's no point to school if there are no more tests.

I got an idea from a Project Wild workshop for teachers two weeks ago. I enjoyed searching for bugs around the campus, and thought the students would too.

One reading activity I will fit in involves a brief study of common insects. We'll browse through some insect books I checked out of the library, and talk about what kinds of insects they expect to find around our school and why they are valuable to the environment.

Then I'm givng each of them a bug collector. That's a plastic container with a special viewing lid, vented, with tweezers and magnifying "glass". I bought them for a $1 each at the dollar store.

The students know how much I love to study bugs, and they like my bug collector containers that I keep in the classroom to temporarily house insects we find in the building throughout the year (we always release them after we look them up in the insect book).

After we go outside and collect a bug or two for them to study, we'll identify them, ask questions, talk about where we found them, what they saw as they looked. They'll write a description of the bug, where they found it, and what it was doing when they found it.

We'll let the bugs go, and the kids will keep the bug collectors. I want them to take them home and find bugs in their own yards to study. In this way I hope to encourage a healthy respect for insects, and instill a new response when they see one, to replace their usual response (that is, to step on them without asking any questions).

This will be an interesting activity that would incorporate reading, science, and writing. Something I don't do often enough since I am an EC teacher and my focus is generally reading, writing, and math. But that is going to change.

After all, this is a year of transformation for me!