Sign of the Times

Bear Hug

A good thing to grade papers on a Sunday afternoon.

A bad thing to grade papers while watching the Green Bay Packers beat up on the Chicago Bears.

My cherubs probably received much better scores on their recent AP essay rewrites. I had a difficult time concentrating, knowing that nasty Brian Urlacher wanted to take Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers' head off.

For those of you who hail from those parts and have been longtime Scribe fans, you'll know that Chicago is most definitely not my kind of town. Apparently, though, it's friendly to Ella Numera Dos. She's pictured above getting some sugar from a festive Bears fan during last year's playoffs.

At least she didn't have to grade any papers while she was watching that game.

Dress for Success

Mama Kat's Prompt #4: A time you felt wronged by a teacher.

Does the high school principal ~ who also happens to be my boss ~ count? Herewith, please find a schoolwide e-mail that popped up in all our in boxes Wednesday afternoon, the day after Back-to-School Night.*

Good afternoon—

I wanted to thank you all for a wonderful evening last night. As I stood by the Main Office at the end of the night, many parents stopped to thank me for providing them a great opportunity to learn more about the school in general, establish connections to you all while learning everything about your classes, and just feel like they are full partners in their student’s education. I did not receive one negative comment last night or today about our BTSN activities. That says a lot about your organization and presentations, positive outlooks toward learning and education, caring attitudes about their children, knowledge about your content, your overall professionalism, and the list goes on.

Many of you dressed up and looked really good and professional. I would consider doing that more often and not just special evenings. Of course, Fridays are our spirit days, but the other days—feel free to dress up. It changes the mood of the school and your individual classrooms!

Last night was just another example of why this is a great school to learn and work at! Thank you for all you did to make it a successfully positive evening for our parents and your peers!

Have a great afternoon.

Principal Man

*Some names changed to protect the innocent. Or the stupid. You choose. Photo courtesy of Bello Photography

Hip Hops

Out of the Frying Pan...

School started last week. And just as we got into a rhythm, of sorts, the district shut us down because the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee had inundated our area with 15+ inches of rain.

Although it took me more than two hours to get home (usually a 25-minute trek) last Thursday afternoon, I had much to be thankful for. The basement remained dry. No one I know was hurt. We got a day off from school, although I'm sure we'll have to pay for that largesse when the snows of winter arrive.

We started back up again Monday. I was having a difficult time remembering names, since we'd only been in session for three days. My Lang cherubs are already behind. I had to attend a pointless faculty meeting after school today. There are so many papers to grade already ~ yes, I know, I should be easier on the kiddos, but it's not in my DNA.

Driving home Monday afternoon, however, I saw a sight that put all of this in perspective. At least my car has never caught on fire.

Oh, Say Can You See?

Ten years ago this morning, I was getting ready for my AP Lang cherubs. We were about to discuss "On Keeping a Notebook," an essay by Joan Didion. If you haven't read this classic, you should.

This morning, I'm sitting in my basement, trying to reflect on the last 10 years, and what they've meant to me.

Hassles have developed, for sure. TSA officials commandeer my toothpaste if it's in a container larger than the prescribed three ounces. I'm forever worried about walking across nasty airport floors in my bare feet. When I'm in DC and see a man of the military persuasion equipped with suitable body armor and firepower, I still flinch sometimes.

But my journalistas are ever-cognizant of the patriotic photo op. And they ask sensitive questions during class about the conflicts we continue to wage ~ both the traditional battles involving troops and munitions, and the war of words back home.

Many of my cherubs have parents deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Several of my former students have been called to serve in that part of the world ~ some more than once.

Ten years have passed since the Twin Towers fell. One of my neighbors ~ a young man not yet 30 years old ~ perished when the second tower fell, and is honored with a memorial near the center of my DC 'Burb.

A decade has elapsed since the conflagration at the Pentagon caused by Flight 77, which landed a direct hit on the west side of our monument to military might. One of the Dads from my high school was on board.

It seems like more than a lifetime since the passengers of Flight 93 took control from the hijackers. That jet had turned around and was headed toward DC, too.

I'm not afraid. I visit DC and New York without the trepidation I once felt when parts of those beautiful cities were still smoking ruins. But I am more aware of my surroundings, the world around me.

My pride ~ in family, in country ~ has grown, too, since September 11, 2001. I snapped this shot at my beloved OBX, as the sun tried to break through the low clouds hanging above the fierce Atlantic.

The sun, the clouds, the flag. They are part of me. They are part of us. We're together on this journey. We will never forget.

Dancing with the Stars

Mama Kat's Prompt #5: Your summer recap in a poem & pictures.

They showed up this summer
on a wing and a prayer
thought they'd turn in their tape
didn't know they'd be there

on the stage out in Cali
in front of the throngs,
my cherubs made AGT
for so very long.

YouTube's such an outlet
for those who have got
the least smidgeon of talent
of that there's no doubt.

But our dance team just wowed them
with their ghoulish routines
and they came back four times
must have been in their genes

or their makeup, their hair,
their struts and their stuff
the "dark side" of Hip-Hop
was always enough.

My cherubs, they showed 'em,
Piers, Howie and Sharon
that they have the right stuff
and can even scare 'em.

And even though they won't
continue their quest,
we'll all be right proud
when they come home to nest.

So, let's hear it for high school
and talent and awe
that the West Springfield Dance Team
inspired in us all!

Back-to-School Shopping

I've been in school for a week, but Tuesday is the day that the rubber meets the road. After planning, Xeroxing, meeting, inservicing and, in general, getting ready for my cherubs for six days (yes, I went in on Saturday. Go figure), I'll be taking attendance and trying to shove some knowledge in the craniums of actual high school students come Tuesday morning.

My five classes will be crammed with 151 students this school year. For a quick reference, I'm optimally supposed to have 25 per class, max, but because I teach electives, the guidance counselors feel compelled to stuff Room 215 full to almost overflowing.

Surprisingly, I'm a teeny bit excited about the new school year, and I couldn't really tell you why. I do know that I took extra-special care in setting up my room last week (we typically have to box everything for the summer, then haul it all out again in the fall). Let's just say that Mickey D's is well-represented.

Saturday, I did something that is not at all common in my universe. I went back-to-school shopping. And I'm proud to say I found not just one new outfit, but three. Plus, I bought makeup, an occurence all-too-often unheard of when it comes to Mrs. Scribe.

As I mentioned, I'mlooking forward to the new school year. I estimate, however, that the makeup will last only as long as it takes me to jab myself in the eye with the mascara wand at 5 a.m. one random Thursday.

The jacket above is part of a two-piece seersucker ensemble I scored at TJ Maxx (a quick FYI to you fashionistas out there ~ I don't get paid enough to shop at high-end stores). Loved the retro feel of the suit, which is cream with brown stripes. Was a little iffy on the 3/4-length sleeves and leopard-print cuffs, but I've begun to embrace them.

The most difficult part about back-to-school, of course, is not the teaching. It's the getting up each morning and making the slog into work. I could use your positive vibes on that score, please.