November 11-17

Hi There Everyone,
  Hope you are all doing well and things are going famously for you.  It has been a odd week and I have been out of sorts trying to put meaning to events in my CA world.  Monday was Veteran's day and I took it easy and got a lot done.  I went and worked out, got a new TV stand, got grocery shopping done and caught up on some emails but I am still now where I want and need to be.  But then, are we ever?  Life is so busy and there is always something to do so I have truly been trying to slow down and enjoy the little things around me when I can.  I have a sign that sits above my computer that says:

To Do List:

Watch a Sunrise

Snuggle on the Couch

Read a Good Book

Take a Long Nap

Watch the Sunset

I am trying to take deep breaths and do these things as well as others.  I get to see the sunrise almost everyday on my way to work over the CA mountains and it is beautiful.  I was seeing the sunset on my way home before the time changed, now it is dark when I leave most of the time and I miss the sunset.  :)  One of my goals is to go hiking and watch the sunset from one of the higher elevations that I sometimes go to.  My only concern with that is that I need to find someone to go with me because I worry about getting lost coming down or seeing some wild animals.  There are coyotes galore around here and while they are in SC, you usually did not see them but would only hear them.   I actually see them around here!

A science teacher shared this with me and I wanted to share this with my education friends.  When your students do something awesome you can give them a magnet that basically states, "I ROCK!"    This is a rock with a googly eye glued on and a magnet glued on the other side.  I thought it was great!! They can take it home and put it on the fridge.

On Wed, this little guy showed up on the school grounds and we finally were able to catch him and get him in my office.  Thank goodness the owners came to get him.  He was so cute and he almost had to go home with me.  I am not home enough for a puppy but this one was just plain adorable.  I miss my kitty - good thing she will be here soon.

On Thursday, we had the band competition at school.  First one in the history of the school because we just got a stadium.  It was fabulous and the kids were awesome!!!  So great to see so many schools on campus and things going well.

The full moon started the craziness of the week on Friday, we will see what happens with all of this on Monday and Tuesday of this week.  I am also meeting my Assist Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for breakfast tomorrow.  He says he does not know me well and would like to know more about me so we are meeting tomorrow morning.  Should be interesting and I am looking forward to it.

This weekend I worked at the Beautification Day for the school.  There were over 75 students that showed up to clean up the campus and work on areas that needed a little extra Tender Loving Care.  It was fabulous and I loved being there with the kids.  Picture is attached below of the students. 

Saturday after work, I went to Mog's birthday and had a blast with the Roe's and all of their family.  Later that night I went and ate dinner with another girlfriend in Temecula and thought to myself how lucky I am to have made friends with so many people so quickly.  Maybe it is my Southern accent, my personality or I just bug people, whichever it is I do truly value my friendships and love that I get to hang out with my different friends.

On Sunday nights I spend time with my Southern CA family.  I typically eat dinner with the Roe's each Sunday and it is time that I value tremendously.  Jessica and I have become fast friends and it is great to spend some girl time with someone outside of work - while she and Michael are both in education, we try to make sure that we talk about things other than education and play with the kids.  Next week we will be doing lasagna - vegetarian, of course.

Today, Sunday,  I did work on reading a novel that was not related to education while I laid on the couch and I napped on the couch for about 10 minutes - yeah, I know that is not a nap but since you guys know I don't nap during the day - that was pretty good for me.   In addition, yes you will be jealous when I say this, I have the windows and sliding door open and it is so comfortable.  Not cold or hot and my electric bill is very small because the weather here is so fabulous!!!

I will not be coming to SC for Thanksgiving.  I don't think I will make it till summer.  I am working on finishing the last two chapters of my PhD and I think I will try and wait to come back and defend.  This project has to be done by September 2014 and I feel like coming to SC and back will take away time I need to concentrate.  I do get a whole week for Thanksgiving next week so my last day at work for a week is Friday.  I am floored that students in CA get that much time when SC students only get Wed - Friday.  I am looking forward to a few days to clear my head, get in some workouts and catch up with some friends. 

Upcoming Project:  I guess I got to get these speakers put together at some point.  I can't use the DVD player with the TV and the Cable box without switching cables around.  So a friend suggested that I do a receiver which will allow me to hook up both and possibly my iPod.  It also has speakers.  Now, I am pretty good with technology - I can figure out software and such with computers.  However, when it comes to TV stuff like this I am lost!!  If anyone has any advice or is willing to talk me through it, or better yet, come and set it up - I will cook you dinner, cheesecake, banana bread, or whatever!!! I would owe you!!! 

Jessica and I might attempt it but it may be more than we can handle.  We both agree that we can read directions but sometimes electronics directions are crazy!!!!  Wish ME LUCK!!!!

Calm Week

November 2 - November 9

Well this week has been a tiring but calm week.  On Monday, it was just a long day because I was running a little late to work.  All was fine and I got there but there was traffic around the area that is usually not there.  I am convinced it was because f the time change.  You know when you fall back an hour it changes people's schedules until they get back on track.

This week was pretty uneventful as far as discipline. You know I looked at the moon tonight and I am hoping for the full moon during Thanksgiving but I think it will happen the week before Thanksgiving which will cause a lot of craziness right before our week long break.  Yes, my South Carolina friends, a full week off for Thanksgiving.  It is really due to furloughs when budgets were tough but they have never put the days back in and taken away some of the full week.  So let's hope that we have a long half moon and gibbous so that I can make it to Thanksgiving without students going nutty.

On Thursday, I got to meet the new principal.  Her name is Lynn Sheffield and I am scared to death that I will be calling her Coach Sheffield, Rob or just Sheffield after my dearest Physics friend and teacher who I worked next to for 10 years.   I miss the LDHS science department so while it is exciting to have a new person to meet and get to know, it is a little sad because whenever I say her name I will be thinking of the science dept!  Love you guys if you are reading this.

On Thursday, I went and paid for the Escape - I am sad and embarrassed to say what I paid to have it repaired but when I tell you that I have been told that I will have this car for another 10 years as long as I continue to take care of it the way I have, then you know that I am happy!!  I love the yellow Escape. So I am driving the VW back and forth to work to save money on gas and can drive the Escape around Murrieta!  Best of both worlds, which I needed because I went to go and get a kitty litter box and it barely fit in the Jetta.  LOL!!!  I had to put it in the back seat.  Of course it is a covered kitty litter pan and I got the large one for my Baby Squeak who will be here soon!

Now, North, my high school, ended up losing our game on Friday night.  So we are out of the playoffs now. I thought, I should have a few weeks off before Basketball starts on Fridays and made a comment to that nature and was told that we will be playing basketball games on Thursdays this year. WOW!  That is a change.  I am not use to having Friday's off but rather having basketball on Friday nights.  This is going to be odd!!!

On Saturday, I went hiking again and then got went to go and see if Scott or Chris McLain could help me get my car back to the apartment. This is a local family owned business.  They are from the east coast, New Jersey and have a shop out here. Another teacher from school uses this business and recommended them to me.  Scott has been emailing me pictures of the car as he has worked on it.  Kinda fun to see it practically stripped of everything as they worked on fixing it.  Chris drove it back to the apartment and then I took him back to the shop and drove the Escape home.  I also took the yellow car and got it cleaned!!!  It looks and smells so good!  Very excited to have my yellow baby back.  The rest of the evening I spent getting some items done for work.  It is amazing how long it takes me to write up my teacher observations using new standards.  I have to remember that it is a learning curve and I have to just practice.

Today, Sunday,  I got up early and went and worked out at Gold's Gym.  I got to watch Anger Management while I walked for the morning.  I came home and did my upper body workout, made breakfast, took a shower and got started on work again finishing up the last of the observations.  Now I have been go, go, go for the majority of the time that I have been here and today was nice to just kinda hang around.  I wanted to go hiking again or thought about going to the beach but decide that I should use this time to get things caught up so that I can play this upcoming week.  Especially since I have a dinner with Texas Instruments on Wednesday and then a band competition on Thursday.  I am looking forward to my first free Friday since I got to CA.  I wonder if something will come up - it usually does whenever I get excited about having free time!!

Halloween Week

Monday was tough!!!  We got a text message on Sunday afternoon that one of the 9th grade freshman football coaches passed way this weekend unexpectedly.  We met as an Admin team on Monday to decide how to handle the situation and most of Monday morning was spent with the 9th grades as they mourned the passing of their coach.  It brought back all those memories from John Hendricks death at LDHS.  While the event is tragic and no one wants to see anyone pass, I can tell you that the athletics 9th grade football program is the only group really affected by this death.  The coach was an individual that did not teach on the campus, he came on after school only to coach and he was relatively new.  This does not lessen the blow because a lot of the teachers here still new him since he was a student at North during his high school years as well.   After lunch things started to go back to normal as the football players began to go back to their normal class day to be with their friends and teachers.  We provided counselors and support for anyone who needed it and Trevor sent a very nice email to the faculty and staff explaining the situation. 

Monday night football practice was voluntary and the coaches were having the students just do some fun drills.  Well, they probably should have gone home because we ended up with a fractured clavicle from one of the players.  Let me tell you this kid is tough!!!  He did not shed a tear or have any complaints.  Can you tell I was impressed?  Very proud of him and he came to school on Tuesday!!  He is a trooper!!!! 

Tuesday was the day that we said good-bye to Trevor, our principal.  We had lunch with the admin team and gave Trevor his gift.  Tuesday night we said good-bye to the Superintendent Rick Miller at a farewell gathering also.  It is sad to see them go but again, as I stated in the last blog, I am happy for them as they pursue other endeavors.  However, it is bittersweet.  While I am so excited for them, I am completely sad that I will not get to work with them.  These two men had some great ideas and I was looking forward to learning from them.  As you and I both know, it take about 3-6 months to get comfortable in a job and start making changes so we have new people coming into positions now that will need some time to learn. 

My friend and fellow Asst Principal - Rich Davis. 

He says he does not like technology but if you look closely

he is on the regular phone, on his cell phone and has his computer on. 

Wednesday was uneventful, which was nice.  No major crazy items as we get ready for Halloween.  I did have my Admin Induction Meeting where we learned about the process for supervision and evaluation in CA.  Now, SC has one up on CA here.  Every district does it a little different here in CA.  Whereas the SC model is SAFE-T.  On top of that RUSD, my district is using Professional Teaching Standards that are about 4 years older than the state has adopted and other districts are using.  The best I can determine is because there has not been a change due to the union and consistency at the DO to make the changes.  There is not that much difference between the older and newer ones other than some vocabulary and clearer intentions in some cases.  I have 16 evals to do this year and I have already started to make sure that I get the first observation done before Christmas.  Only 6 more to go now.  Yeah Leann!!!!!

Halloween was a treat.  At John W. North some of the kids and teachers get DECKED out.  To the point it is a little odd and scary but SUPER FUN!!!  Carolina 1 was dressed as a Southern Beauty Queen but let me tell you she did not look like our Ali Rogers!!!!

Gabby, Joann and Crystal 



Keri and Michael John Roe

 It was hilarious and great to have fun.  The United Student League (USL) which is Student Government sponsored a costume contest and it was fun to see the kids get so excited about the event.  I hope to dress up more next year.  I really just went with my Tigger ears.  I was unsure of how much adults dressed up so I played it safe.    I had a great time at school with the kids.  It was fun to see them.  That evening I supervised the play, "Any Number Can Die," which was put on by the Theater department.  It was FANTASTIC!!!!  The acting was fabulous and I had the best time.  It did not even feel like a full two hours that I was in the play.  I did miss Facetime with the Bryant's due to the play and I hate that.  That might be about the only thing I have been truly upset about (other than the Escape, but that would have happened in SC also).  I missed doing Halloween in Laurens and giving out candy while Walt, Brad and Sonya went trick or treating.    Most of the people in CA go to churches, the mall or festivals rather than house to house.  They just don't know what they are missing.  LOL!!!

Play: Any Number Can Die

 

Friday, we had a pep rally and it was an EVENT TO REMEMBER!!!  Without going into a lot of details online, which would embarrass the school and some individuals, let's just say that I was horrified at some of the things that happened from a student misbehavior aspect and it was my first real introduction into school-wide discipline!!!!  What happened was seen by students and teachers who were also upset so making sure that we provided the appropriate consequences was important for the school to see.   We will have to see what comes out of it next week.

This weekend I am laying low.  I cleaned the apartment, did laundry, had the couches cleaned, and got my new car checked out for its 30 day inspection at 8:00 am.  Now, I love the VW dealership.  I emailed my "car guy" Scott and asked him if they could put on my new license plates and check out the rattle I keep hearing.  Scott said yes without hesitation.  So, there is a rattle in the door that I hear every now and then but not with any consistency.  I have looked at speed, where it happens, lanes and everything else but cannot figure out what causes it to start, stop or how to stop it myself.  I really thought Scott would tell me I was nuts but he says that it happens sometimes.  They want to be sure it is right so I can bring it back when I have time to leave it since today was a push for me.  It makes me feel good that he does not think I am crazy and he said that his Passat did the same thing and they just needed to tighten some of the screws.  Whew!!  I was going to be upset that I bought a car and less than a month later it had a rattle.  I love that Scott does not make me feel nutty!!!  After that, I had to be at the mall at 10:00 am for a hair appointment and to get my watch fixed.  Then I had to be at the apartment at 12:00 pm for them to come and clean the couch.  However, they did not come till 4:45 pm so I was a little irritated that I did not get to workout today, get the car detailed, my shoes picked up or a few other items because I waited around for 5 hours for this company.  However, the guy was really nice and he did a great job.  He let me know what to look for, how to clean and walked me through the process.  I did get a lot done this afternoon that needed to get done.  I have now compared the JW North policies on the website with the Code of Conduct provided to the students and let me say, "Oh my, we have some work to do!"  There is enough of a change that parents and students could have an argument in some instances.  We need to get that fixed ASAP!!!  So overall, a productive day that ended grocery shopping at Target with a saleslady who was FINALLY able to help me open my RedCard account so that I can save money and donate to the school a percentage of my purchases.  I am getting tired and am looking forward to falling back so that I can get up tomorrow morning and workout!!!! 

Today I ate breakfast at the cutest place called Richie's Diner.  It is adorable and perfect.  They have a variety of items on their menu but since I was there for breakfast I was good.  They have all kinds of French fries and shakes.  This is definitely a place that I need to stay away from during lunch or dinner, since both of those things are a weakness for me.  The kicker was the fresh baked goods that were here.  They are made daily and brought in.  The other thing that is amazing is the number of Jelly Belly items.  Now for those of you that know me well, you know that I have a few vices - okay many.  At Easter, jelly beans are one of them.  They had so many different kinds it was crazy!!!!  I was good and left all of them there!!  However, as we (Jessica and I) were leaving, guess what should appear but a Jelly Belly RV and VW beetle!!! 

The Jelly Belly company was doing a promotion to advertise for Richie's today.  Needless to say, I was impressed!!!  I have never seen the Jelly Belly RV or Bug anywhere else!!!!