Finally wrapping up a career

Back in September I wrote about wrapping up my teaching career, at least when I thought my career was finished.  However, I had a little more to go.    

I started this school year with my principal knowing that I was not going to be there long.  How long was still up for discussion, but she was hoping until winter break.  Well that was just a bit too long.  Once the house sold and things started moving, it was clear that one of us needed to stop working.  My principal was not looking forward to my leave of absence letter, but the day had come.  Friday, October 18 was to be my last day.  That left me only about three weeks left of work.

Before I left I made sure that I spent some extra time with my students.  I really like this group of 5th graders.  They are really down to Earth kids and are at the age where you can have a decent conversation with them.  I thought the best way was to have lunch with them.  Before I could finish my sentence to ask if they wanted to have lunch with me one day, they all screamed YES!

We had a lovely lunch together.  One of my students gave me a very thoughtful gift.....

She hoped I would find a way to spend them in England.  That's not a problem, sweetheart.  In the last few days I reminisced about the things I will miss about my job; these are just two of the kiddos I'll miss.  My classroom was in a different spot this year, but since I had just a few students it was just cozy enough.  

On my last day, I hoped to sneak out the door with just a few good-byes.  Saying good-bye is tricky.  I will probably not see most of these people ever again.  What do you say?  Well, have a nice life?  It's just an awkward situation.  Well that was not to be.  

My wonderful assistant for the last twelve years worked to get some staff together to bring in treats for my last day.  I was completely shocked to see the outpouring of support before the school day started.  It was a nice way to wrap up my career.    

More Difficult Conversations

Originally written 6/2/13

I had to tell my principal & assistant principal that it was likely I would not be back in the fall. These two wonderful ladies and I have formed a bond.  They are there to help when I need it, and they see the fun, hilarity, and humility that comes with working in an elementary school.  

Stink eye, courtesy of Mrs. Obama

I’ve broached the topic of moving to London with them earlier in the school year, and it went something like what I expected the conversation with our parents to go.  They were not happy about the idea, but understood that the opportunity to live abroad does not come around every day.  The London discussion had been quiet for a few months until late last week.

It wasn’t pretty.

We are all working through it together, and I am trying my hardest to make a smooth exit.  Now when I see my principal & assistant principal either give me a sad face or the stink eye.

*The news shared in this blog posts was originally written many months ago.  We were not ready to share the news with the world at that time, so I added the original date the post was written at the top.

Wrapping Up a Career

Originally written 6/1/13

I’ve been a teacher for the last thirteen years.  It’s what I was born to do.  I’ll admit that in the past five-ish years the profession has become more stressful.  My pension is at risk as I live in a state with the worst funded pension program.  The government is dictating new rules that are not actually best for children.  Politicians are not trained educators, and therefore makes them experts in making decisions about our schools, right?  On a local level, my district is making cuts in order to save money.  I can’t say that I agree with all of those choices either, but I’m at least doing a job I love.  

I never thought I’d leave my job in my current district.  I was offered this job before I graduated from college, and it was exactly what I wanted.  I moved to my current school five years ago, and I felt this was where I wanted to stay for a good long time.  Two years ago our building got a new principal and assistant principal.  I had an instant connection with these two women.  We share many similar theories about teaching and children. Another plus, we have a great time when we are together, no matter how stressful.

I’ve grown a lot as a person and a mother because of this job.  This year, in particular, has been a growing opportunity as I am sending a group of students to the middle school for the first time. I’ve slowly moved up through the grades over the last twelve years, and this is my first year working with 5th graders.  The bonus was that I had many of these students since they were in second grade.  I know these students so well that we are a happy little school family.  I know how to perk them up when they are feeling sad, or give them the tough love they might need. Our move to London has me leave the profession and a building I love.  I am not upset, but I had the same emotions as Oldest Kiddo when she realized she would not be back in the fall.  I am not sure of how or if my visa will allow me to work, but I do plan to volunteer in the kids’ schools as much as they will take me.

I spent the last two days purging my file cabinets of twelve years of teaching.  I found folders of papers from my student teaching days.  They were folders I had not opened since my student teaching days, but I kept them just in case.  Some of my colleagues benefitted from my purging as I passed along several materials to them.  They thought I was being generous as they had no clue a move was in the works. Four drawers jammed of manilla folders condensed down to one drawer.  I sure hope all of that recycled paper will make a significant positive impact for the hole in the ozone.   

One thing I found while purging was my happy folder.  It’s filled with things that I wanted to keep because they always made me smile.  I found notes from colleagues and principals with kudos for a job well done.  There were work samples from students who wrote sentimental or hilarious things; often the hilarity was not intentional.  The smile folder is one of the few things I’ll bring home with me as it’s a great representation of a well-loved career.

*The news shared in this blog posts was originally written many months ago.  We were not ready to share the news with the world at that time, so I added the original date the post was written at the top.

Summer, Summer, Summer

In the words of our friends from High School Musical...

Summertime!

It felt like June 9 would never get here, but all is now well with the world.  When I took M's last day of school photo, I had to turn on the outside light and dodge raindrops as a huge storm moved in right around school drop off time.

M and her teacher

My classroom all cleaned up and rearranged for next year.  One of my assistants is a former architect and she heard me talking about wanting to rearrange the room configuration but could not picture my room any other way.  The next day she brought in her tape measure and drew a schematic of my room.  Her ideas were brilliant!

Not that there's a major difference to the naked eye, but here's what last year looked like...

Regardless, I don't have to think about it for quite some time.

Ahhhhhhh

Can you feel it?

There are only about 10 school days left in the year.  That is good news and bad news.  In those ten days I will conduct no fewer than 13 parent meetings.  It's going to be busy, but the reward is well worth it. 

Ahhhhhh!

With every good comes a bad, right?

Well this week is the pinnacle of the bad.  Matt has been traveling pretty much non-stop since the middle of February.  LA, NY, Düsseldorf, Minnesota, and other little places in between.  In the time that he was gone a wall was constructed and half of the floors were refinished.

As a teacher there are four days out of the year that I have to work in the evening: Fall Curriculum Night, November Parent-Teacher Conferences, March Parent-Teacher Conferences, and Spring Open House.  Since we do not live super close to our families it's best that Matt is in town on these days.  We know well in advance of these dates so no problems, in my memory, exist.

Then there's this week.  There was a possibility of a quick one day to Brooklyn, but it could also happen anytime in the next three weeks.  This week just so happens to be March Parent-Teacher Conferences and Thursday is the day when I have to work until the evening.  M has a few days off and is going to spend a few days with Nana & Papa.  That will leave G and Matt to have some male bonding time on Thursday. 

Well all of a sudden there was a potential trip back to Minnesota this week.

"No problem, you just have to be home on Thursday."

I walked in from work  on Tuesday and Matt said that a trip to Minnesota is scheduled for Thursday.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you correctly.  I think you just said you're going to Minnesota on Thursday."

I heard correct folks.

"Well, you'd better find a sitter for G since I have to work late."

Our usual swimming babysitter has class on Thursdays so she is out.  Matt called our daycare provider to see if she could keep him late.  No dice, it's St. Patrick's Day for goodness sakes.

Today Nana and Papa came over to watch M at swimming and then take her home for the few days.  As Matt and I tried to have a civil conversation about who was going to watch G while he went to Minnesota, Nana and Papa saved the day to say they'd take him home til Friday.

Nana & Papa to the rescue!

While they took her to swimming, I used the electronic babysitter (aka a movie) to pack both kids during Matt's conference call with China.

As of now both kids are with Nana & Papa, and Matt has some splainin' to do.

I think this is a Calgon moment.

Drowning

Just when did I think that case managing students in three grade levels was a good idea.  Now, to toot my own horn (insert horn sound here), I can handle a lot of students and know what's happening at all times.  Not this year.  Two intermediate grades and one primary grade is not working.  They all need such varied support and I am only one person.  The other question is, why do all of the kids need support from 9:15-10:15 in the morning?  How about spreading the love across the day?  Just a thought.


I am trying to talk with my principal to see if he has any suggestions, such as hiring another teacher (insert hysterical laugh here).  It seems that the district motto is do more with less so I can't see that happening, unless I have a nervous breakdown.  I suspect that will happen by this time next week.


Stay tuned.

No buisness

There are many things that I should be doing this week, there are many things that I have no business doing, and several things I wish I was doing this week.


What I should be doing
School schedules - Come on the kids have been in class for a week and a half.  I just can't bring myself to work on them once I get home.

Working out - I was on a great schedule before vacation, but I can only seem to make it to the gym once a week

Cleaning the house - oh my goodness is my house a disaster.  Thankfully Matt and I have been able to at least keep up with the dinner dishes.  I can't stand waking up to the smell of last night's dinner festering in the sink.

What I have no business doing
Catching up on my guilty pleasure, Big Brother.  While the drama is so stupid I can't stop watching human beings being impressionable upon each other.  Plus Julie Chen's outfits are usually something to laugh at.


Facebook - the time abyss that is Facebook - 'nuff said.


What I want to be doing
Sleeping in - Oh 5:45 is such an evil time of the morning.  I was especially upset on Wednesday morning when I thought it was Saturday.  Evil.


Buying school clothes and shoes - going on vacation so late in August prevented the usual back to school shopping.  I was really unhappy with my warm weather work clothes at the end of last year, and I am more unhappy with them at the beginning of the year. 


Playing with my kids - homework, dinner, dishes, baths, bed - there is no time for playing in there.  I suppose weekends will become sacred at the homestead.