Bringing in the New Year Thoughts...

Well, it's that time again! Time for the school year to begin and routine to resume. I have seen differing opinions about it from parents and students. Some think this a depressing time of year. I, however, have always been excited about this time of year. Don't get me wrong...I did not enjoy the end of summer. But, I did LOVE the excitement of a new school year with new supplies with a new teacher and then a new room and new fresh desks. Well, you get the idea! As teachers, some of us work so hard over the summer coming up with new plans, new decor, new ways of teaching, and we spend our time thinking of fun activities or lessons that we just know our students will love. There is no way you can appreciate this until you are past those years. But, everyone should go back and thank your teacher once you are grown. I need to do this myself!

I just love this time of year! Fresh faces filled with nerves and excitement. Wondering what the year will hold.

Being in my hometown during this time has been especially fun as I watch traditions going on around me that I grew up with. For example, Senior Night.

Every year for as long as I know of, the senior class has a "Senior Night" the night before school. It is an all night event. No one sleeps. No one goes home. There are events planned from supper until school the next morning. My senior year, we had supper at the Rodriguez house followed by a dance and swim party at the Daniels home til wee hours in the morning. We met at this bridge around 3-4 that next morning to paint it. Yes, it's painted every year...and painted over sometime after. But, it's tradition. I love it! After painting the bridge, we all met for breakfast at the Roberts' house. We met at the big flatbed truck around 7 to RIDE IN! That is correct! All 100 or so seniors pile into a big flatbed truck and ride around town into school escorted by police and followed by a caravan of cars. Parents, friends, underclassmen, and teachers all gather to watch as the seniors ride in. Ahhhh...the memories! So, this bridge brought back memories.

I also spent some time helping a first year teacher get ready for her first day at the old junior high. It has now been changed to the new middle school, and added a couple of grades there. It was fun being in that old building again seeing some of the teachers that were there when I was there.

So, as all this is going on around me here. My mind travels back to my first "home" as a teacher. My Van Winkle family. The teachers will start work tomorrow. Earlier I told you about me sending my students school supplies and books in the mail. I can't help it! I love it! Well, I also stuck an addressed and stamped envelope in there too. In case they wanted to write back.

I have absolutely LOVED hearing back from some of these kids. And I hope there are more to come! It is so fun to see what they have been doing all summer. It is also funny to hear what they think about me. For example, Arrion's letter said, "My heandwriting is getting good. I think it is getting good because you make us write all the time when we are in trouble." Ha! Oh dear! I hope she remembers more about me than when she got in trouble! And, I also need to tell her fifth grade teacher to work on her spelling of handwriting!

I got some very decorated letters too. Mama warned me about this one. She said, "Oh, you got a big letter today! This one is done up real big. It is painted bright colors all over and then sealed with a feather!" Ha! I loved the creativity Nadia put into her letter! She even sent me a handful of feathers.

One of my part time jobs right now is helping in the preschool department of our home church. It is so fun to watch these little ones come in...some for the first time...to new classrooms. It is also wonderful to see school start the way all my younger grades began. With the Pledge of Allegiance, PRAYER, and BIBLE STORIES. Those were the days! I don't think it was technically allowed during those years, but my teachers did it. It was just what we did. I don't remember the year, but I do know that sometime during my elementary years, the school prayers over the intercom and bible stories in the classroom stopped.

As a teacher, I could not have survived my experiences without prayer! How can any teacher? How can anyone? It reminds me of this email forward I get periodically. I have blogged about this before here. So true...

You want me to go into that room with all those kids,
correct their disruptive behavior,
observe them for signs of abuse,
monitor their dress habits,
censor their T-shirt messages,
and instill in them a love for learning.

You want me to check their backpacks for weapons,
wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases,
and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride!
You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play,
and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job.

You want me to check their heads for lice,
recognize signs of antisocial behavior,
and make sure that they all pass the state exams.

You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps,
and communicate regularly with their parents in English and Spanish by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.
You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps!?

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

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Although I realize this may be a depressing time for some of you, remember that this day will never come again. It was made especially for you by our Creator! Do not waste it! Say a prayer. Keep Him in your schools. Don't waste this day. Enjoy it! Live it for Him!

Have a wonderful school year!