First week of June - Kinda Long but Lots of Pictures

Hello Everyone,
  Hope you are doing well and this blog finds you well.  Just wanted to tell everyone how much I miss them and that I truly appreciate your birthday wishes last week.  Thank you for taking time out of your day to post on Facebook, send me a text, or call me.   As many of you know, I am not a huge fan of my birthday.  There is always bad things that happen on my birthday in some shape or form.  My parents tended to forget that my birthday was coming up.  I never had parties with school friends because we were always out of school by Memorial Day or everyone was leaving for vacations during that time.  If people tried to celebrate it early, it seemed it always overlapped with some other event.  Then as I got older, they just became another day.

Thursday, May 28, 2015
This was a busy day for me with lots of meetings about Master Schedule with department head and make up testing.  I appreciate everyone that did great things for me at school.  My mom sent me flowers for my birthday.  Ali stopped and picked me up Starbucks that had "Birthday Gurl" written on the side.  As I was carrying it around, which I did not think about, I went into two rooms and students sang Happy Birthday to me.  It was very cute.  USL put a huge sign in my office and when I went to thank them, they sang as well.  That night we had Senior Awards Night but I had fun stating that the entire senior class decided to celebrate my birthday and give allow us to give them awards.  LOL!!!

Flowers from my Mom

Gifts from Friends

The Happy Birthday paper is from Cherilynne and she got me a Sprouts Gift Card!

The White Starbucks container in the back is from my principal, Lynne Sheffield!

The Doc Disney shirt is from Ali!

You cannot see it but there is a necklace and bracelet there and they are yellow and are from Keri!

Sign from USL - Look they put Dr.  It took up the entire Master Schedule Board. LOL!!!

Dinner at Panera before Senior Awards
This is one of the guidance counselors with her grandson who happened to drop in at Panera also.

Admin Team at Senior Awards

I got home around 10:15 pm after cleaning everything up with Ali and the PTSA group who helped to decorate!   I replied to Facebook friends who sent me birthday wishes.  If I did not respond to you with a comment or question, I am sorry, I must have missed the post.  I tried to touch base with everyone who make a comment on Facebook.  Thank you for making my day special.

Friday, May 29, 2015
Well I took Friday off!!! I know, I know.....Guess what I did?????  I went to an Athletic Training Conference in Palm Springs.

She really is not mean, although this picture shows her somewhat evil looking - she was talking to me.  She likes to sit up and cry so I will pet her.  

While she is 9 months old, she is still small enough to hide in some odd places. 

Week of June 1st
This week was somewhat of a whirlwind.  I am not really sure where it went or which way is up.  I went to the board meeting on Monday and out to eat with another assistant principal.  That might have been the earliest I got home during the week and that was at 9:45 pm.  LOL!!!  However, it is always good to sit and talk with DeEtte since she has been in the district so long.  It gives me her perspective of changes over the years.  

Tuesday was just busy getting things done at school, checking on individuals and wrapping up the end of school.  While everyone gets excited for the end of school, it is a tough time for me for several reasons.
1.  We are closing up the end of the year.
2.  However, we are starting the next year already.
3.  Summer school is happening at North so there is a little "planning" that must take place as well.
4.  The end of the year is such a whirlwind that it is hard to stop and think about anything.  However, one the end of the year hits, I go though a little withdrawal and depression because of the change in schedule that lasts a few weeks as I adjust to the change in schedule.
5.  There is a lot to do to be prepared for the next school year.

Wednesday was a busy day at school with seniors starting to learn if they were actually going to pass or fail classes and if the classes they were going to fail were ones they needed to graduate.  This can be a stressful time for everyone because the guidance counselors are working hard to help the students, contact parents and stay in touch with teachers. The students are on edge because they are not sure what is going to happen and if they would have worked a little harder several times they would not be in this shape.  The parents are on edge because they are expecting their student to walk and well.....they might not.    I personally find it appalling the kids have waited so late to worry about passing and the Potential Failure lists are so long.  We need to start having conferences after Spring Break about kids who will not be passing or are in danger of failing.  Then the kid that has 80 absences - HOW IN THE WORLD ARE THEY PASSING??????    If they have missed that much class and can still pass then what are we using class time for????  Not that the curriculum should be hidden but if the student is not there for the learning opportunities and can still pass then the class might as well be handed to them and let them fast track through the curriculum and move onto something they are interested in......  Just my two cents and I know not everyone will agree....

The guidance counselors had a meeting which was good and bad.  Let me tell you, they were is rare form throwing "digs" at each other during our meeting.  While I was happy for the upbeat tempo and I know they are excited about the end of school, it is these "digs" that cause issues later.  At one point I left the table to go to the restroom because the meeting was not going to end soon and crazy me left my phone on the table only to have pointed out the next day that I should probably check my pictures.  I do to find this on my phone!!!!  They are sooo funny!!!  Good thing we are friends as well as co-workers!

Crazy Girls of Counseling
(L to R:  Erin, Keri, Ali, Miranda (back))

Thursday was baccalaureate for us.  This is something we do not do in the east.  It is an opportunity for the senior class to get together dressed in their robes and listen to speeches that did not make it to the final ceremony due to time.  It is a time for kids to showcase their last talents and celebrate accomplishments that are unique as well as show off their stolls and medallions.  This is a great picture time also with a more relaxed feeling.  It really is a great evening.  Students are running all over the place finding friends and teachers to take those last pictures with to sustain memories.  Now, if you remember, kids love pictures and will take pictures with anyone, including assistant principals. Most of you know how much I hate my picture being taken but I play along because it is their night and come on, let's face it, my picture will be deleted out of the large number they take, so no big deal. You also know that as a Sweet Southern Girl (not Belle) everyone we do not know the name of is"Sweetie, Darling, Honey, or Sugar."  Well, one young lady came up and wanted a picture and I took it with her but she is always Sweetie or Darling because I am embarrassed to tell you that I know she told me her name and for the life of me I could not remember it!!!!  This young lady is one that I talk to all the time at events and we always have great conversations.  She brought me my birthday poster seen above and when she works with USL I am always with her group or helping her in some capacity or her me.  Well on Friday morning she showed up in the office with a present for me.  That young'un had taken the pictures and got them developed and she brought me a picture of us in a frame.  OMG!!!!!  It was so sweet of her and I asked her when she even had time to do this.  She said her and her mom went to Walgreens to print them out right after the event because she wanted me to have the picture.  I started to tear up - it was so sweet!!!!  However, I had to go and ask Becky Porter who the young lady is because I did not know her real name and no one who was around me when I showed them the picture could remember her name.  I told Becky the story and she laughed and told me who it was.  Now, you are going to laugh and roll your eyes when I put the name here.  Her name is LiAna (LeeAnna).  No wonder we had a connection!!!!  How could I not have remembered that???????  Well she did not have academic troubles, discipline issues or need assistance.  The picture is sitting on my desk as a reminder to me of the impact we might have on a student without realizing how our interactions may or may not affect them.  While we get busy saving students who are "falling down" and celebrating students who are "shining stars," it is the students who are in the middle that need the extra push also and want the relationship.  This was a great reminder for us as the year closes to make sure that we talk with all students around us at all times!!!  I also had a student bring me flowers to say thank you for helping her through the last two years to make it to school.

On Friday the day went by quickly as we finished up the last normal day of the 2014-2015 school year.  It is exciting and sad at the same time.  Rich's last year is this year and all week I have been doing "This is the last regular Thursday lunch duty you will have."  However, it make me sad as well.  So...tonight Rich threw himself a party at the school.  His entire family came in to celebrate his retirement including grandchildren and they all had jersey's on with their numbers to identify who was first, second, third and so on.  It was so great to see everyone and to celebrate Rich!!!

Michelle and Rich both retiring!  

Bad Selfies

On Saturday, I had to take Squeak to the vet.  She had a red, swollen chin.

Squeak and Husky after making the bed!

Now, this scares me to death because she is 13 years old.  I am waiting for the day to learn she has cancer or is sick and will not survive.  I was worried it was today!!  She had a scab on her chin about a month ago and I did not think much of it, that her and Husky were fighting and she got scratched.  The past few weeks she has not wanted me to pet her chin, she puts her paw over my hand when I do to stop me from rubbing her there and begins licking me.  Well Saturday morning she was next to me and I realized how red it was and it scared me.  I did not realize how bad it had gotten.  I was a mess as I called and got her a vet appointment and took her in.  I got her loaded up in the carrier, which she hates and into the car.

On the way to the vet!

My appointment was at 8:30 am but again I was a call in and I did not see the doctor until 9:30.  In the meantime, Squeak hung out well in the office.  She cuddled up next to me as we waited for the doctor to come in.

At the vet.

The vet says she has kitty acne. Huh!!! She is old, how does she have kitty acne????  He says it is an autoimmune disease - what?????  Hobbs and now Squeak????  So they gave her a steroid shot and pill for 6 days and an antibiotic shot and suspension that I have to give her for 10 days.  She does not mind taking the pill, I give it to her when I give her treats (LOL!!!).  However, she hates the liquid medicine but it smells like a vanilla shake.  She will eat pickles but not take meds.....Hmmmmm....weird kitty.    She seems to be feeling better.  She is letting me pet her chin now more today and I am hoping she will be fine.  They did take some blood from her and they are going to call me on Monday with the results.

On Sunday, April, who is leaving to move back east in a few weeks, and I went to Joshua Tree National Park.  What an experience this was.  It is something that you just do not expect to see.  All the rock formations, the trees, animal life and camping.  Lots of camp spaces!!!!  We had fun discovering Skull Rock, Keys View, and touching the different vegetation.  Here are some pics from the day.

A Joshua Tree

The spines of the tree - they look like they would be soft but they are hard and sharp.

Large Rock Formations

Lichen Studies are done in the park and LOOK - some lichen is yellow!

You can see San Jacinto, Palm Springs and the Fault Line area.

Crazy Rock Formations

Panoramic View

Another View!

Squirrel

SQUIRREL!!!!

Leann and a Joshua Tree that April Picked Out!
One of the last ones before we got out of the park.
I thought about you Benetta and the missed cactus. 

  

Skull Rock

 We left at 10:00 for Joshua Tree and made it back by 5:30 pm.  We had a great time and it was seriously an adventure since we really did not know where we were going or what we were doing. April is an awesome travel partner and I am super sad she is moving back east!!!!  Especially after all the hard work she put into the grant we wrote together!!!!