The longest staff meeting of the year is history.

[LWolf]

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

We started, the entire district, at the local high school. Instead of putting us in the auditorium, which at least has reasonably comfortable seats, we went to the gym and sat on bleachers. It was HOT, cramped, and claustrophobic.

The year started with a 2.5 hour pep rally. Seriously. Nothing of substance happened. Some of the student presentations were touching, and watching my principal, along with others from across the district, learn a cheer with the cheer squad was entertaining. But 2.5 hours.....

Then off to school, where we had our first site staff meeting. It lasted for 4 hours. :wow:

I couldn't possibly tell you what vital things we covered. I'm not going to remember it, and will be looking for "New SST procedures for dummies" and other similar items on the staff share drive. The most memorable moment of the day was just that; a moment for this statement, made by our cheer-leading principal:

"I know we're facing tough times, tough changes, and all of the daily pressures that go along with keeping our school and our classrooms running. Take a moment, though, to set all of that aside and remember who we are, and what we do.

We care about every single child on this campus; every single family we serve. We protect them, we nurture them, we open doors for them, and we help them walk through.

Every single one of them. I know I can count on this staff to remember our priorities."

I believe that's true for schools across the nation. Here's to the coming year!

:toast:

[MichiganVote]

1. Hey at least you got an 'atta boy' or 'we'll get through it ' speech. Our supt.

gave a maudlin rambling speech that virtually threatened everybody's job. Yeah, you guessed it, contract year.

Who hires these people?

[Kerrytravelers]

2. Have a great school year. My longest-day-every is tomorrow.

Attendance begins September 8th. I'm already knee-deep in paperwork, though. Every year, what the UC and Cal State University programs are expecting and/or requiring, along with the NCLB HQT nonsense, changes. I'm with an Independent Study Program and have students from K-12. Yep. We're a K-12 school. I can never keep straight what kid is in what class and what course this kid or that kid is taking! *sigh* And it's all about to begin again. Yipee.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. We started last week and I am already burnt out

I am traveling to two schools. One my wonderful school home where I have been very happy for many years. And the other a hell hole. I have several 8th graders I spend much of my day with. One will be 16 in December and is livid that he failed and wasn't allowed to go to high school. So he refuses to do anything he doesn't want to do. Another one just yesterday decided to start a petition to have me fired because I am too strict. (I asked if I could be the first to sign it.)

The pressure from the admins is intense since we have a new supt who is kicking butt and taking names. He spent last week firing folks, dozens every day.

We lost another couple hundred kids to charters that perform worse than the worst schools in our district. Yet they aren't under the microscope like the schools in the district.

It's pretty hard to be positive. But I put on a smile and show up every day giving it my best.

This is my 30th year. My dad lasted for 40 years but I honestly don't understand how.

Here's to the year getting better! :toast:

[Catshrink]

4. That sure puts my day in perspective.

Thanks for the dose of reality. I have a job that doesn't seem to be in jeopardy. Today I met head on the difference between what "they" say we're supposed to do and how it really is. Last week they gave us the song and dance about dress code and what to do when we saw a violation. I did exactly what they said -- and the office sent the kid back to class with a note basically saying "whatever." So I sent an email up the food chain saying "why bother? If you aren't going to back us up, forget it." That didn't go down so well.

Whatever....I'm done with dress code. If they girls want to flash their boobies let 'em. If the boys want to wear their pants around their ankles, let 'em. I've got better things to worry about and if the admins demonstrate by their actions that they don't care, I'm not gonna waste energy on it. I'm done. The union rep wants to bring it up at our next building meeting -- I told her "why bother? we've been there, done that, they can stick the dress code where the sun don't shine for all I care."

Thanks for letting me vent... I'm gonna focus on my work, the kids, etc. and not let this bull crap get me down. I realize this is so minor compared to what others are facing. Furlough's in NJ? Who would want to be a teacher these days, anyway.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Well as an elementary teacher, I support a dress code

But I realize it is a different issue in other areas.

We have gangs and we have a strict uniform policy that is important due to gang pressure. One of my kids was absent the 2nd day of school because he had been beat up by a gang the day before. I worried about him all summer.

So yes, I do support dress codes. They are important in some schools.

I am also a stickler about attendance. If they are at school they are safe and nourished.

[Catshrink]

7. I do too....

It's the admins who talk the talk but won't walk the walk.

[donco6]

10. Almost all of our schools have uniforms now.

After the first few did it, the rest of the schools started demanding it. I talked with a teacher at the high school last week who said the start of this year was so incredibly different now that they have uniforms. And no pushback from the parents, either. Off to a good start, I think. This time last year, we'd already had THREE expulsions.

[LWolf]

8. My thoughts will be with you this year, Proud.

It's so hard to stay positive in that kind of environment.

:hug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. I don't go down easily

My second school is a mess but I am determined to make the best of it. I had an 8th grade girl in my face today but I came right back at her and told her to go ahead get her mom on the phone and I would be glad to talk to her. I said she had no idea who she was talking to and she needed to sit down, pay attention and do her work. She glared at me (with daggers) for an hour but I stood my ground. The principal was in the room (it's one of those groups that is causing so many problems she is following them from class to class) and she gave me a smile and a thumbs up. One of my sped kids who was in that class told me later "Teachers are not supposed to pull an attitude like that with kids but that girl deserved it." So I at least earned his respect.

So I am determined to stay positive that I will be the teacher and they will be the kids. Bottom line. ;)

[DCKit]

6. I'm so grateful... and so sorry. n/t

[femmocrat]

11. That is really bad.

Ours was split up by level and subject areas. The "real" teachers had to go to some kind of training.

The rest of us (art, music, etc.) spent two days developing "safety plans" for our buildings. It was so lame. There was a huge booklet of busy work, like finding the distance to the nearest firehall and the names of the utility companies. :boring:

Unbelieveable waste of time, especially when we could have used the time to actually get ready for school!!!

Wishing everyone a great year in spite of the many overwhelming challenges we face! :pals: :hug: :fistbump:

[Left coast liberal]

12. Pretty good pep talk. Thank you so much for everything you do for our kids...

...and have a great year!

:-)

[LWolf]

13. Thanks!

I ended up doing 10 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, 12 hours on Thursday and Friday, and another 8 hours on Saturday making sure I was ready for week 1.

Today I'm not doing anything at all; resting, reading, and a little time at the 'puter. :D