Confiscation...

So today, my day off, I have had the opportunity to diminish a lengthy list of things to do...including laundry! But what I anticipated to be a $4 load of laundry became $54!

Yesterday, I confiscated a student's cell phone because he was receiving text messages. Since he was not texting when I caught him, I offered to give it back. However we both forgot to return it...so after school I thought, I need to turn this into the office. But with conferences on my mind and needing to change my clothes after dancing, I forgot. So today, when I pulled my laundry out of the dryer I found a very clean cell phone, that was not my own...

The way I see it:

Clean Laundry: $4

Replacing a cell phone: $50

The ability to realize you made a mistake and not be upset: PRICELESS!

Moral of the story: Confiscate technology, but turn it into the office!

Soulja Boy...Teacher Rendition

Well being one of the new teachers has its benefits....no one really knows you! So you can do crazy things that are either outside of your comfort zone or just be who you have become and be somewhat outgoing! With that said, I volunteered to be in the pep assembly with four other teachers...

PHS is not known for its spirit, however I think things may be changing this year. There is a new stu-co teacher who has great visions and really made the assembly great this year. Of course the students deserve the credit for organizing, planning, and designing the assembly, however they were influenced with some new ideas....so this year it was encouraged that the teachers did a skit or something...

I don't know about you, but I have been out of the loop. Have you ever heard of the artist Soulja Boy and his song Crank That? Well once I volunteered, I realized this is a new craze in high schools at least. This song has its own dance...so for the assembly there was a staged dance off between the teachers and the football players to this song. We, the teachers, had the privilege of starting the dance off. The football players put us to shame, but I think the students really enjoyed it!

I hope you do too...check out the video below! I am in the back row, it may be a bit hard to see me, but you get the point!

If you want to see how it's really done...

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1034149&fr=yfp-t-101

I hope you had a good laugh out of my craziness...

Phew...

Hello Family...it's been quite a full week and there is still more to come. This week was filled but it went quickly! As I mentioned before this was Parent Teacher Conferences and Homecoming week. So there was/is lots to do. On Monday, the freshman exec members, the other sponsor, and I assembled the pieces for our homecoming float. The theme is...Glamorous, A Red Carpet Affair. Tuesday night I went to Mass and to the Boulevard with the KCMO Young Adult Group. This event happens once a month and is enjoyable as we take in the city skyline at night, listen to live music outside, and enjoy conversation. Wednesday and Thursday consisted of getting to school at 6:30am and leaving at 8:30pm after Parent Teacher Conferences. Those went really well in my opinion. The parents seemed supportive of what I have been doing, and for those students who were not doing well, the parents put the responsibility on their child, not me. So needless to say, I felt supported by the parents. Last night, after the second round of conferences, about 60 teachers went out for a few drinks...it was a nice way to end the school week, though after teaching all day, being in a loud cafeteria for 3 hours, and then to go to a loud bar, I was tired and overstimulated and ready for bed.

Today is Friday, and I have the day OFF! Whoohoo! It is nice to have a week day to accomplish all the errands that never get done...so today will also be full, but in an enjoyable, productive day.

Tonight I will be heading back to Parkville for the Homecoming Football Game. Tomorrow morning I will be in Parkville bright and early to assemble our float for the homecoming parade, participate in the parade, and then attend a homecoming luncheon. Saturday evening I have a meeting with the Collaborators, and then later that evening I will be chaparoning the Homecoming Dance. Why I volunteered I don't know, but it should be entertaining, an eyeopening experience, and a good opportunity to see my students outside of the classroom.

Sunday will consist of attending Mass, celebrating my friend's birthday, and school work!

Well that's all I got for now...be looking forward to updates from Homecoming weekend!

Love, Lauren

An 8th of the Way...

Hello Family and Friends,

As you can guess by the lack of postings, things have been extremely busy. This past week, we just finished the first half of the quarter, or if you will, the first 8th of the school year! Time is flying. I am really enjoying my place at Park Hill South. I have a great community of colleagues and support.

Typically, my schedule consists of getting to school by 6:45 and leaving close to 5:00, however with the exception of weekends, I do not bring work home.

I have plenty of funny stories to share about the students, but I will save those for another entry.

Other than school, I have been trying to find balance again in my life. I have been trying to run a few days of week, attend Mass almost daily, and try to make time for prayer. In terms of social events, the Kansas City Young Adult Group is thriving and they have at least one event every other week, so that has been enjoyable. Along with all of this activity, I have dinner gatherings with my friends and try to find down time...yeah right!

This next week will be the busiest yet. It will consist of homecoming events and parent teacher conferences. So this week will not only include preparing lessons for the week, but preparing information for the parents, creating a float for the homecoming parade, (oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, I am now one of the sponsors of the Freshman Class Executive Council), preparing a little shindig for the school pep assembly (please check out my blog next week...I promise you won't want to miss it), attending a young adult event, attending parent-teacher conferences, going to the homecoming football game and parade, chaperoning the homecoming dance, and attending a Collaborator meeting.

Well if I survive this next week, which I will, I will have plenty more to write!

Until then, I hope you all have a great week! Soak in this beautiful fall weather! I miss you all that I do not get to see!

Love, Lauren

Teacher Applicant

Disclaimer: Though what is written below is very true...I would not trade my job! But if you want an honest picture of what is expected of public school teachers these days...here's a glimpse...

After being interviewed by the school administration, the eager teacher prospect said, "Let me see if I've got this right. You want to to go into that room with all those kids, and fill their every waking moment with a love for learning, and I'm supposed to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, modify their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and even censor their t-shirt messages and dress habits. You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, check their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, and raise their self esteem. You want me to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship, fair play, how to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook, and how to apply for a job. I am to check their heads for lice, maintain a safe environment, recognize signs of anti-social behavior, make sure all students pass the state exams, even those who don't come to school regularly or complete any of their assignments. Plus, I am to make sure that all of the students with handicaps get an equal education regardless of the extent of their mental or physical handicap. I am to communicate regularly with the parents by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.

All of this I am to do with just a piece of chalk, a computer, a few books, a bulletin board, a big smile and on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps!

You want me to do all this and then you tell me...
I CAN'T PRAY?

(How much do I make? I make a difference!)