We post our daily announcements on a dry erase board behind my desk because 9 times out of 10 the office staff is either on the phone or dealing with some other morning emergency when the announcements are made and when asked about them later in the day, as we sometimes are, we found that we weren't able to answer because we didn't hear them. So this has worked out quite nicely even though it means updating on a daily basis.
When there's nothing of importance going on during a particular day - no trips, assemblies, special events - I visit a website that lists wacky holidays and, if it's appropriate enough for our school age level, I'll write that on the board. It sometimes provides for a little chuckle when the announcer reads it for the first time.
For instance there were a couple of holidays announced this week. National Battery Day (Without which we wouldn't have hand-held video games, cell phones, and flashlights to name a few) - get a charge out of that one!!!
Then there was Chocolate Mint Day. No specific reason for it, but it does provoke conversation and made all the more sweeter when you receive a chocolate mint. Yes it was a slow week as far as activities go.
But the biggest kick I got out of it this week was when we posted Random Acts of Kindness Day. We thought it might encourage some to be a little kinder during the day.
I had a teacher let me know that I could honor her with a Random Act of Kindness. She said "if you're looking to do something nice for someone you can start with me".
Ummmm, that kind of defeats the meaning of RANDOM - don't you think!
Friday, February 12 - Snow Day Rituals
Earlier this week the weather prognosticators were forecasting a nor'easter for our area. Of course there was much talk about it in the office. Would we really get the snow? When would it start? How much do you think we'll get? Do you think they'll close school? Do you think we'll have more than one day off? Yes, it was buzzing with thoughts of a possible snow day (or two).
The conversation took a turn when someone brought up snow day rituals. For anyone who lives in a warmer climate year round you might not be familiar with these, but here are several that were discussed. (You're supposed to do these things to get a snow day, but they'll only work (ha!) if there's actually snow forecasted.)
You can........
- Wear your pajamas inside out.
- Wear your pajamas backwards.
- Wear your pajamas inside out and backwards.
- Put a plastic spoon under your pillow.
- Put a metal spoon under your pillow.
- Put a metal spoon upside-down under your pillow.
- Flush ice cubes down the toilet.
- Leave a bucket of ice cubes on the front porch.
Any or all of the above may or may not bring about a snow day. You know they're only superstitions.
Now, I don't know how many students or staff actually did any of these things but we wound up with not one, but two snow days starting Wednesday. Tack that onto a planned four day weekend and we've had quite a little mid-winter vacation.
Of course, these days will be added onto the end of the school year for the teachers and the students, but I don't care, because as a twelve-month employee I will have to be there in June anyway.
My daughter who teaches in Delaware - a state further south than where I live I might add - will have had a 10-day break because they were already out of school on snow days when the second storm hit. And after being cooped up indoors for so long, this is what will happen..........
The conversation took a turn when someone brought up snow day rituals. For anyone who lives in a warmer climate year round you might not be familiar with these, but here are several that were discussed. (You're supposed to do these things to get a snow day, but they'll only work (ha!) if there's actually snow forecasted.)
You can........
- Wear your pajamas inside out.
- Wear your pajamas backwards.
- Wear your pajamas inside out and backwards.
- Put a plastic spoon under your pillow.
- Put a metal spoon under your pillow.
- Put a metal spoon upside-down under your pillow.
- Flush ice cubes down the toilet.
- Leave a bucket of ice cubes on the front porch.
Any or all of the above may or may not bring about a snow day. You know they're only superstitions.
Now, I don't know how many students or staff actually did any of these things but we wound up with not one, but two snow days starting Wednesday. Tack that onto a planned four day weekend and we've had quite a little mid-winter vacation.
Of course, these days will be added onto the end of the school year for the teachers and the students, but I don't care, because as a twelve-month employee I will have to be there in June anyway.
My daughter who teaches in Delaware - a state further south than where I live I might add - will have had a 10-day break because they were already out of school on snow days when the second storm hit. And after being cooped up indoors for so long, this is what will happen..........
You put on your wings and your tutu and you shovel snow. I think this should be a snow day requirement for anyone who wears their pajamas inside-out backwards upsidedown, whatever. Flush some ice cubes down the toilet, get out your Halloween costume and be prepared. You could end up on the internet!
Friday, February 5th - I'm a Little Worried
Things to worry about this week:
The fact that there are two 8-foot tables in the hallway covered with items from the Lost and Found that don't seem to belong to anybody. (We're talking probably a good portion of the Children's Department at WalMart.)
The fifth grade girl who still skips down the hallway. (They're going to eat her alive in 6th grade!)
The fourth grade boy who, despite several visits with the principal, still tries to "kiss the girls". (His shenanigans are "escalating" to inappropriate behavior with a pencil.)
The first outbreak of head lice for this school year. (And the fact that the child sat on the upholstered chair across the counter from me.)
The head of maintenance who won't respond on the walkie-talkie when the security company calls to say that we have an alarm going off. (Oh really? Is that what that is???)
The forecast of snow during the morning commute. (How many more teachers can do a 360 on their way to work. We had three last week. Will we break the record without breaking any bones?)
Getting that 5 a.m. call that we're having a delayed opening and wondering if I have the most current copy of the phone chain by my beside when the person I have to call doesn't answer and I have call the next person on the list. (Try explaining that at 5 in the morning!)
Finding out that there was a problem with report cards in November while I was out on medical leave and no one bothered to report it until this week when they're due. (And oh, did I mention the tech person is OUT OF THE COUNTRY!)
Kidding with my boss, as he's headed out the door to a budget meeting, that they'll probably want to eliminate the school clerk positions and he says dead seriously that that came up at the last meeting and they decided not too! (Geez, I was just kidding, but now you've got me a little worried!)
The fact that there are two 8-foot tables in the hallway covered with items from the Lost and Found that don't seem to belong to anybody. (We're talking probably a good portion of the Children's Department at WalMart.)
The fifth grade girl who still skips down the hallway. (They're going to eat her alive in 6th grade!)
The fourth grade boy who, despite several visits with the principal, still tries to "kiss the girls". (His shenanigans are "escalating" to inappropriate behavior with a pencil.)
The first outbreak of head lice for this school year. (And the fact that the child sat on the upholstered chair across the counter from me.)
The head of maintenance who won't respond on the walkie-talkie when the security company calls to say that we have an alarm going off. (Oh really? Is that what that is???)
The forecast of snow during the morning commute. (How many more teachers can do a 360 on their way to work. We had three last week. Will we break the record without breaking any bones?)
Getting that 5 a.m. call that we're having a delayed opening and wondering if I have the most current copy of the phone chain by my beside when the person I have to call doesn't answer and I have call the next person on the list. (Try explaining that at 5 in the morning!)
Finding out that there was a problem with report cards in November while I was out on medical leave and no one bothered to report it until this week when they're due. (And oh, did I mention the tech person is OUT OF THE COUNTRY!)
Kidding with my boss, as he's headed out the door to a budget meeting, that they'll probably want to eliminate the school clerk positions and he says dead seriously that that came up at the last meeting and they decided not too! (Geez, I was just kidding, but now you've got me a little worried!)
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