Closing the door...

Ahhhh....

Ahhhh......


Today was the last day of school.  Today was my last day of school at WMS.  It is bittersweet.  I love my kiddos and most of the people I work with, and I will miss them so, so much.  But it has been an exhausting year. I'm ready to move on.  I'm ready to move into my new apartment (which I just secured).  I'm ready to start getting my new classroom ready.  I'm ready to pick out new music.  I'm ready for Grad School (sort of).  I'm ready to work at a school where my subject is considered important enough that they ensure all students study it every year for the same amount of time as the other subjects.  I'm ready for a bit more peace and security.

But most of all...right now...I'm ready for summer.

Kids Say The Funniest Things....

My question on a worksheet:   Who wrote Watermelon Man?

Student Answer:  Herpie Handcock


(cannot tell you how much I needed that laugh today!)

Ready...Set...Go!

New job...check.  Grad school...check.  Apartment...ch...wait...working on that.  Tri for the Cure....HOLY CRAP!!! That's right around the corner!!!  Like...in a month and a half!!  Remember way back in, oh...say, February, when I registered and was all super psyched to get going and be super duper fast by the time the race came around?  Remember that?  Yeah...I haven't really begun training yet.  Well, until Sunday.  Sunday was Day 1...I like this training guide because you get to rest on Day 2 :)  So today I ran again....and no headache.  Woot! 
So if I follow this training, I should be able to do this 5K at the end of July...wish me luck!

It's so nice to have my life back after the complete stressful chaos of the past few months :)

ps - funny story:  the kiddos are nutso - completely checked and ready for summer vaca.  Today I had 3 horrible classes and then chorus.  So I'm struggling with chorus and had just had enough.  Finally, I just put my chorus music away - while every one is just chatting away ignoring me completely - and I just start playing the piano.  Random classical music.  Gradually they started asking what I was doing but I ignored them and continued with my mediation.  And they began to listen.  I did this for the last 5 minutes of class.  It was bliss.....I'll have to remember this :)

You'd Better Sit Down....

So blogs can be used for a variety of reasons - usually to keep in touch, to use as a sort of journal, or to express one's views on issues.  As a teacher, I have to be very careful what I post, because no matter how secure I keep this blog, this is the internet and things can get out, become misinterpreted, offend people, seem unprofessional, and I can loose my job.  So I've kept quiet for the past 3 months while some things went on at school. (Even though I REALLY could've used a place to vent)  A very long story short:  it was budget season.  My position wasn't on the line...then it was, but before it was, our district found money from the state...but we were told that jobs that were on the line this year will definitely be on the line next year...which means my position is on the line next year.  While I personally would be safe because there was a music teacher hired after me, I wouldn't know what I would be teaching.  So...during all of this uncertainty, I applied for a middle school music position at Cape Elizabeth.  Over 50 people applied...5 were interviewed.  I interviewed on a Friday, and at 9:00am the following Monday they called and offered me the job.  YIPPEE!!! 
This is a fantastic opportunity for me, as I will be teaching general music to grades 5 - 8 (instead of just grade 6) and there is more time in the schedule for chorus.  The down side is that the 5th & 6th grade chorus meets before school, but there is a stipend.  The music budget is much bigger, which is nice, as well.  I really, REALLY like that music is taken by all grade levels - it shows a real understanding and appreciation for the benefits and importance of music in a child's complete education.  There is also a chance that this could become a HS position in a few years, because the HS choral program is very weak, and they want to build that as well.  So....YEAH!!!

So, now I'm starting Grad School in the fall....starting a new job in the fall...and, oh yeah, I'm the chair person for District I for Maine Music Educator's Association. What else can we throw in there???

Now I'm just looking for an apartment.  Dad's last day is June 15, so he'll move down permanantly after that.  There's no real rush, other than I'd like to not live with my parents, and my parents would love to have their house to themselves...

So it has become clear, I am officially entering yet ANOTHER new phase of my life.  Bring it :)