Another reason why I love my school

Coio was on the phone with her friend (R) - it was her first phone conversation, beyond a few prompted words to Abuelita Lelia, ever, and it was cute. She asked R , "The person in charge of your school - is she nice?" and then said "The person in charge of our school is Miss Diana, and she's really nice."

She went on to ask, "Do you remember when we used to go to school together? That lady who was in charge of that school? She was mean to me."

Who says three and four year olds don't remember? One of my main regrets from the time I worked at that place is that I allowed MY OWN CHILD to be mistreated - in my presence - because I was too cowed by the boss lady to speak up. I vowed that day I would never let it happen again, and I count my lucky stars that my eyes were opened before the boy was banished to the atrocity she calls "The Toddler Program."

Field Trip EXTRAVAGANZA!

We have a field trip planned for every day this week. Today we went to the bank. We took the kids over in two groups, and each group had about thirty minutes inside the bank. The bank manager talked to them about setting up an account, interest rates, and (their favorite part) how the security cameras work. Then they were taken behind the teller desk into the area where the drive-up tellers sit. They thought the vacuum system for transporting the canisters was cool, but they all gasped, "COOL!" when the teller opened the pneumatic drawer for the nearest lane. They're so nine-years-old.

Finally the bank manager took us into THE VAULT. My mind fills with images of stacks of money and gold bars behind a huge door (probably round) with a massive steering wheel-like locking mechanism. I'm sorely disappointed when we're taken behind a Plexiglas door into a tiny room filled with safe deposit boxes. THIS is the VAULT? We're told that the bank, while it has about 25 million in deposits only maintains a paltry $90,000 on hand at any given day, and it's secured in cashier drawers. That's it.

The kids loved it, though, and they all got suckers when we left. The most exciting part of the adventure, though, was pushing a student in his wheelchair over the icy sidewalks to and from the bank. Maybe next time we ought to bring our own ice pick.

Moving Angst

We had really hoped to move into the new building over the holiday break. It was *finally* happening, and we were going to be into our new beautiful home.

If only.

The city has denied us the occupancy permit for reasons that I missed, but the result is that we get to start school again on the 7th in the old upper-school building. The WHOLE school in the upper-school building. We're going to be running half-days for at least one week, and possibly two, with the lower elementary meeting in the morning from 8:30 to 12:30 and the upper elementary/junior high meeting from 12:00 to 4:00. The high school will meet next door in the city youth center.

It will be far less than ideal, and it is CERTAIN to freak Coio out. The consolation I get is that my class - while on the boarder between lower and upper elementary - will meet with the lower elementary, so I'll be on the premises at the same time as she will be.

Someday we will get to use the new building. Until then, we will make do.

Catching up

Things have been a bit crazy in the past few weeks. We started school, and I ended up quitting the kindergarten and the junior high Spanish teaching gigs. Mornings were too much for C-Rex, and teaching junior high is just beyond my capabilities - I'm a preschool teacher, and my methodology doesn't translate well to junior high.

So I'm only doing Spanish for the elementary classes now. It's not much, and we really need more money. I've got to find something else.

I've been thinking hard about going back to school next fall - nursing school. I've always been interested in medicine, and since medical school is more school (and money) than I'm interested in, nursing school seems like a good idea. I'm looking into getting my CNA so I can have the experience nursing schools want upon application.

My friend Suzanne is also trying to get me hired with her university as a virtual something or other, which would rock, since - hello? University? I could go back to school in their dime. It would be awesome, and I've got everything possible crossed.

We've been enjoying a few days off here, so I'll crawl back into my stupor and try to check back in sometime within the next month.