Saturday, August 8, 2009

Aligning the Stars

Last year, the beginning of the school year had me coming home bruised, exhausted, and crying. I was even bleeding from a bite one day. Suffice it to say the "Tsunami Twins" kicked our tails rocked our world.

But I'm not here to write that story yet. My therapist recommends waiting to tell that story That story can wait for another day.

Possibly, it is the survival of last year that has made this year's beginning feel so good. Let's recap last year's events just for the hell fun of it:

Due to redistricting, more than half my school was new to us at the beginning of last year. Oh. My. God.

Many of the parents liked to tell us all about how they did it at their last school. Yes. I see.

Then there were the aforementioned "Tsunami Twins" who were much like the feral children I've seen in documentaries. I'm not going there (but I am going to say thanks for special schools for the severely emotionally disturbed).

Oh, and our enrollment was down and they moved my two last hires to different schools causing us to restructure several classes. Why is it always the last hires?! Dang it! I hired them to help me with the pissy attitudes of some of the old timers.

Then to add insult to injury, there was the end of the year where they predicted we'd need less teachers and moved ANOTHER of my last hires to a different school. Despite my reprimand by the superintendent begging and pleading to not move another teacher, they insisted I was wrong about our predictions for next year's enrollment. Again, why does it always have to be the last hires?! All my awesome people are slipping away from me...

In the end, I WAS RIGHT! our population has grown even MORE than we predicted.

Our Kindergarten and 1st grade classes have EXPLODED! We've run out of little desks and books causing me to wonder, "What the heck was going on 5 or 6 years ago to have this mini-baby boom?" Regardless, the kids have been fantastic! We had two criers the first day, one the second, and none on the third day - a Personal Best for us! And the parents have been fantastic but as for the criers, I can't count that high! Even ALL well, almost all the teachers have been fantastic despite some of their super crowded rooms!

The beginning of the year, while busy, has more or less been a cake walk. A very busy cake walk. Like one with a super, fast tempo. Like maybe a cake walk to Super Freak. But I digress.

Now for the icing on the cake - the teacher they moved to a different school this past summer is coming home!

I don't even care if I don't get an apology. The fact that they would right this wrong makes it all worthwhile. For the record, it took two and a half days of begging, pleading and making comments to make them feel guilty. Once again, I am reminded of the power of guilt.

Even if it has been exhausting, it has been the BEST beginning of the school year. Ever!

43 comments:

d. moll, l.ac. said...

Gosh,reading this I feel funny not going back to school. Though teaching in a high school is a bit different.....and after summer all clothing seems to be optional. The school I worked for closed for financial reasons......Have great year!

cheatymoon said...

Oh Beth, I am so happy that your school year is getting off to a great start. It must be really energizing for you.
I'm reading about everyone else getting started w/ school and getting a teeny bit excited about going back.
Also, feral kids are my favorite.
:-)

Anonymous said...

I'm glad to hear good news, since it contrasts so well with my year. What most people would see as EXCITING THINGS (moving to FLorida, flying home just to get a drivers license) etc., I see as nothing but one catastrophe after another. YOU actually HAVE good news. CONGRATULATIONS.

Reinvent Dad said...

That's good news. You're off and running to a great start for the '09/'10 school year. I can't believe it's already upon us. My kids begin in two weeks.

CiCi said...

Getting the school year up and running in an efficient manner while helping the youngsters transition and keeping parents and other teachers and school administration at peace!! Looking forward to the Tale of the Tsunami Twins.....

Fragrant Liar said...

Oh man! You guys are already back in the trenches? Our kids don't start back for a couple weeks. Miss America is starting Kinder. But glad you're getting the teachers back and that your year's off to a great start.

The story of the Tsunami Twins sounds ominous...

Rosaria Williams said...

Beth, how can school open in this heat? I hope all your classrooms are air-conditioned, and all your teachers have heat resistance.
You're not year-round, are you?

Happy Starts.

Beth said...

d.moll,lac. - Fun blog name! Can I call you moll for short? High school is a different animal than elementary school.

movie/Erin - I've been absolutely pumped about the great start. I knew you would love my feral kids. I love them, too - but they just couldn't function in a regular school environment. At least not yet.

dana - Yay for good news! As for your catastrophes - they make good blog fodder.

Reinvent Dad - Only 177 more days of school left...

TechnoBabe - I do need to work on the Tale of the Tsunami Twins. I think you just named that post. :)

Fragrant - I can't wait to hear about Miss America in Kindergarten. The teachers are going to LOVE her!

lakeviewer - The school IS airconditioned. So well, in fact, that I keep jackets at school. We aren't year-round but summer did seem mighty short.

Brian Miller said...

glad to hear you are getting a good one back...stinks to put that much effort into building a team only to have it dismantled. the worst would be to have one transferred in that was not. K and 1st are exploding here as well. crazy!

d. moll, l.ac. said...

Yes, I give you permission to call me moll, sort of like I gave the 12th graders permission to call me Diana instead of Miss Moll. I hope the bunnies at your school are in spacious situations :~) !

Fidgeting Gidget said...

That's good news! Even though you had to beg to get your teacher back, I'm sure it will be worth it. And I'm glad to hear the beginning of the year is going so well, because I know how stressful and frustrating that can be.

But I can't help but want to know more about the Tsunami Twins....

Pseudo said...

Yay Beth! So glad you got a great start. My week went very well too, so far the teens have been a lot more wonderful about returning to school in July than I have.

Michel said...

WAIT! What's going on?! When did we start going back to school in early august? I thought you guys got until labor day off?!?

When did this happen.

Thank god I didn't continue on my degree in education - i was pretty much doing it for the summer vacays! WTF!? You've been robbed!!!

Michel said...

oh yeah, ps...it does sound like it started off well and I hope the rest of the year goes even better!!!

Kristina P. said...

I seriously don't know how you do it. You are amazing!

Anonymous said...

Yay!!!!! Whew! And I thought those twins were entering third grade at MY building.... Girls??? Hmmm.. Maybe cousins?

Chris said...

Wow, it's exactly the same here . . . I had to lay off 11 teachers last year, which of course and the last 11 hires. I've been at my school five years now, and I've just lost in one fell swoom all but ONE of the teachers I've hired. So it's back to square one.

I gotta hear about the Tsunami Twins.

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com said...

Glad you're off to a good start after your headaches from last spring! Enjoy your year!

bernthis said...

I'm so happy for you. My kid is going to be in first grade and thanks to the incredible accounting system in CA. her class is going to be even bigger this year

Deanna Bland Hiott PhD, MSN, RN said...

I am wishing you the best year ever!!! :)

Mike said...

It is always a good thing when something starts better than it ever did before! I think? I usually like it when things start shitty because you know that they might get better! Just my warped thinking. :)

Mike said...

Just don't do any catering for those ungrateful bastards this year! LOL!

Carma Sez said...

This is great news. Hopefully a good omen for the year ahead. Don't let the old timers get you down!

Hit 40 said...

The beginning of the year is always so much fun!! Just exhausting. The new fangled computer programs have made life a little better now that I do not have to type all 150 names into a grade sheet program.

...now you need to prepare for open house!! Once open house is done. I feel like I can settle in and relax a little.

Beth said...

Brian - So what was going on 5 and 6 years ago? Were the soldiers coming home then?

moll- The bunnies have bunny condos. Plus they run around in their classrooms when the little people are behaving.

Fidgeting Gidget - I'll get to work on the Tsunami Tales.

Pseudo - Ditto! It was hard to give up the relaxed time.

Michel - People in Georgia are backwards. School starts super early. But we do get out in May.

Kristina - I'd be amazing if I had a Snuggie!

Jules - Oh, no! I didn't think about the Tsunami relatives.

Chris - Yikes! It is so hard to build loyalty when you don't get to keep "your" people.

CatLadyLarew - I am planning on having a grand old time this year!

Jessica - The class sizes have increased in Georgia, too. It just stinks!

Southern Drawl - Thanks!

otin - I've been knocking on wood (tables and walls) a lot lately. And I think I'm going to serve up PB&J for the Christmas party! :)

carma - Strangely, most of the faculty has been on a positive bend. Yay!

Hit 40 - I love when there is a program that ACTUALLY helps. And I never feel like I get to relax a little. Well, maybe in June.

Nancy said...

Beth -- congrats on a busy but positive start of the year. Glad you got one of your good one backs, and yep, guilt and begging...powerful combination!

Mike said...

When are we going fishing, I think that maybe you would be good luck!!!

d. moll, l.ac. said...

Ok, condos are pretty good! I've heard bad stories about bunnies in classroom, but felt sure you wouldn't let anything bad happen to bunnies in your school :~)

Deb said...

and let's hope it gets even better from here!!!

your recap was awesome... very comprehensive.

Wonderful World of Weiners said...

A cake walk to Super Freak sounds like a great drinking game!! Just sayin'!

Hallie :)

Unknown said...

I just don't know how you guys do it with all of the budget cuts and everything else you have to deal with.


You can take comfort in the factthat MAYBE the next time they will listen to you.

I am glad the year has gotten off to a good start!

Missy said...

OMG! We started school Thursday and I am already three weeks behind on paper work! They cut our district by two counselors and now I have three schools to service! I am already praying for snow! LOL

Smart Mouth Broad said...

Woohoo! Great start to a new year. Give 'em the old squeaky wheel gets the grease routine. It works.

mo.stoneskin said...

Glad this year has started better. Curious to hear about these twins now!

Jan said...

Oh, Beth - I am so glad for you!

Will you ever tell us about the Tsunami Twins? Just curious.

JennyMac said...

So glad your school year has started off strong! And if you EVER do a cake walk with SuperFreak playing, please advise, and I will be there immediately. LOL.

Deb said...

Ah, just sit back and enjoy this new beginning. And may the calm continue throughout the year. And I can't wait to hear about the twins. And those old-timers - mix it up - make them teach a different grade level next year. That always gets things going! Happy beginnings!

Dawn Parsons Smith said...

Hooray for a great start! Your students are incredibly lucky to have you!

Mike said...

I see that you get up early, also!

Unknown said...

Congrats on having a great start Beth! It's especially wonderful since you didn't EXPECT it to be, if I hear you right.

Can't wait to hear the story of the Tsunami Twins.

Anonymous said...

THERE WILL BE A LINK ON MY BLOG TOMORROW TO THIS BLOG. COME READ IT!

Optimistic Pessimist said...

am trying to imagine a cake walk to super freak...sounds oddly wonderful!

Crazy Charm said...

I can't believe that you're already back to school! I love the beginning of the school year! Good luck!