priest holmes

The administrative practicum continues! This time I was approached by my principal after she attended the district principal's meeting. She had two new projects for me. Apparently, Priest Holmes was at her meeting. When she mentioned it, I was like... "Hey! Isn't he a Kansas City Chief!?" Shows how much I know. I guess he retired from football last year. As it turns out, he grew up in San Antonio and that's where he now lives doing, among other things, a foundation for kids. And now I'm in charge of pushing this foundation on our campus and creating some sort of nomination form for kiddos to get selected for a chance to attend a Spurs game. So there you have it.

My other project is something called Education on Demand which I'm still awaiting details on. From what I understand it will involve loading a bus full of kiddos and staff (and me!) and heading to the AT&T center for some education rally. I think it should be fun... now if I only knew more.

Speaking of the AT&T center, my friend Robin asked me to volunteer for a project she works on called "Math Counts" or something like that. Some weekend in October I'll be headed down to the AT&T center for a riveting day of math... and there you'll find me grading math tests. Good times.

Anyway, that's it for now. Hope everyone's having a great week!

cha cha

Well, life is busy and I like it. I'm into my next grad class full swing although due to Hurricane Ike our class has been extended two weeks which means that I don't REALLY have to get started until Oct. 5! But... I think it's best to get things out of the way, and so I've been working hard. School is busy busy busy. Sometimes I feel like I'm back in high school with all of the zillion activities I've got going on... Peer Mediation, Yearbook, C.O.O.L. night, PTP, and getting going on my 140 practicum hours I need of administrative work. Yikes! I like to have a full day though, so it's all good.

The other day I read an article on a cool new service called "Cha Cha". Basically, it works like this: You have a question. You text Cha Cha (242242) your question. You receive a text with the answer to your question... in 160 characters or less! How fun! Apparently, there are real people on the other side of your question that research the answer and then text you back. And according to the article, they receive all kinds of questions! So, the next time you're out with friends and you just can't remember the name of the actor in that one movie... text Cha Cha. They'll help you out!

dick n janes

Chloe was looking for a study break and alerted me to the fact that my blog has not been updated recently... so what was she to do with her study break? Well, here you go Chlo... my week in list format.

Monday: I decided to start wearing a watch to work. My days at school never really follow any real schedule and I have to know what things different grade levels are doing at all times of the day, so I think the watch will help. I also started receiving emails from Lamar about our final grades and how they were supposed to have posted but are now under review by the university. That doesn't make me feel too confident about the grade I may get for my tough class.
Tuesday: Went to the vet to get Isis her thyroid medicine. At her yearly vaccine appointment I found out she had gained 3 pounds in 4 months. Not ideal for a 50 pound doggie. After throwing down $90 on a blood test, it was revealed that Isis is, in fact, suffering from some thyroid problem which could explain her laziness of late. The thyroid meds I got her were more expensive than anticipated... $24 a month! But Isis is my best bud, and hopefully this will get her feeling better soon.
Wednesday: I will not be an administrative intern at my school. Basically, budget cuts across the district and my position being hard to fill are the reasons it will not work out. So now, I will find 140 hours of my own time to complete my administrative practicum. It's okay. I overall enjoy my job and today I helped create a behavior plan for a 3rd grader which was fun. Also, I met with our part-time VP Mr. Large to begin work on setting up the elections for the campus Site-Based Decision-Making committee. There's a lot of work to do, but I'll learn a lot, so it's all good. As I was leaving work, one of the kinder teachers asked me if I'd be interested in subbing for one of the girls on her softball team. I said sure. So, as of 7:50p.m. I suited up as a player on the Dick N Janes softball team. It's co-ed and some of the teams are pretty hard-core. I got out twice at bat and made a base hit after hitting to left field... that was fun. Balls did not come my way in the outfield, but I think if they did I'd have trouble. I signed up for vision insurance and when the new plan kicks in (January) I am getting my eyes checked pronto. I think I have some depth perception issues.
Thursday: Had a dentist appointment with a new dentist. She was kind of a wild lady, and I liked her! She didn't use that traditional pick thing... instead it was kind of like a mini jack-hammer taken to my teeth. The whole thing was done in about 10 minutes! Amazing! My teeth are healthy and that makes me happy. I didn't want to fork over any more cash on cavities or whatnot.
Friday: Busy day at work. I had to write, then label and run off 210 envelopes/letters for our campus C.O.O.L. Night. C.O.O.L. stands for Community Of Ongoing Learners. It's an awesome program our school has to bring together parents/students/communities in an effort to continue the education process. We have Parenting 9-1-1 courses, parent volunteer training, gang awareness classes, as well as instructional prep courses for kids and parents. Anyway, I am a coordinator for the program this year and had a lot of work to get done before our first Oct. 16th meeting!
Saturday: That's today! Well, I slept my heart out last night. I think I may have allergies. I like to say I'm allergic to Texas. :) Anyway, I've been pretty run-down and congested all week and last night I just needed to hit the sack early and get some rejuvinating sleep done. And I did. Today I woke up to a clean apartment, work for school done, and my next grad class not starting until Monday. Isis and I did our normal 3-mile walk and then I decided to just relax and read a book. I am reading "Three Cups of Tea" that my mom sent, and it's good. I only got through the 4th chapter before Chlo-Bug called and convincd me to blog... but now that I'm done, back to the book I go!
Have a great weekend!

enchanted rock

After a rough first week at school and a weekend filled with homework (thank God there's only a week left for these two classes... then I'm halfway done with my program!!) I decided to have a day dedicated to (at least one) thing(s) I love. Isis and I got in the car bright and early and headed out on an hour and a half long drive to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. On the list of things I need to do before leaving Texas, Enchanted Rock was near the top. I've heard so many great things about it! So, on our way we went... until something nearly catastrophic happened! Out in the middle of nowhere (aka the Texas Hill Country) the air conditioning in my car stopped working. I was cruising along at about 75mph so I turned off the A/C and cooled off with the windows down. Then I looked at my dashboard and did a (Scrubs) J.D. head-cock and wondered what could be wrong. Something didn't look right. Then I noticed it. I was overheating. I immediately put my hazards on and started crawling down the interstate at 45mph. A quick call to my dear old dad and I knew I needed help soon. Lucky for me, my exit to Enchanted Rock was right up ahead!
Now, I'm typically lucky with stranger-kindness and today was no exception. Some lady approached me at the gas station and told me her boyfriend was a mechanic and maybe he could help. Turns out he was doing some work on a transmission and I'd have to wait for 4 hours... it also turns out that that very same boyfriend also had a wife that showed up about an hour later... also willing to sign him up for the job. Not to fear! Another lady (not involved in the previous, strange, relationship) appeared and told me to wait; she'd go home and get her husband. And that's exactly what she did! Her hubby Shawn really helped me out. We filled up my radiator tub-thing and chewed the fat while he messed with the A/C and stepped on the gas. Turns out my car was just thirsty... and really... could you blame it in the hot, Texas heat? So I went on my way confident that neither I, nor my vehicle, would blow up... at least today.
This encounter brings me to a surprising revelation I will share with you. While I am not a fan of Texas, I am a fan of the hill country. First, it's beautiful. Second, the people are helpful and friendly. Third (and this is my favorite reason of all), when you are driving down the road and the person in front of you is going too slow, THEY WILL MOVE INTO THE SHOULDER FOR YOU TO PASS! It's very fun and exciting and a country practice I took part in today both as a passer and a pasee.
But I digress. Enchanted Rock was enchanting. I met some nice people on the Summit Trail and Isis drank more water than I did. The view from the top was very pretty and also very windy. She and I sat at the top for a while enjoying the scenery and a call to mom. Then it was time to head down. And I'm glad we did when we did because, unfortunately, I am a little sunkissed from the day's events. So, Enchanted Rock really is just a giant rock (I think) and some of you may know my fear of slipping and falling when I go down hills. I tried to overcome this fear on a snowshoeing trip with the boys once upon a time, and glissading is a useful technique (and fun!) when you're in the snow! As it turns out, sliding down over normal earth is not too overwhelming either... and I again practiced that skill this past summer. Making it down a sheer rock face through gliding or glissading or whatever you want to call it is impossible... but once I got a rhythm going I was able to make it down the hill just fine. Phew! The next time I head to Enchanted Rock I think I will make a plan to stay the day, or weekend, in Fredericksburg. Don't get me wrong... it was a great hike with great views, but a little too short of an adventure for the drive. And there you have it!

amigos in mediation

Today was an exciting day for me. Last year, I worked closely with my AP in beginning the discussion of having a peer mediation program on our campus. Although Mr. U isn't at our campus anymore, the program is something I feel strongly about so today I approached my principal and informed her that I would be moving forward with it. Amigos in Mediation, developed by the Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center, is a comprehensive program that enables STUDENTS to resolve their own problems... under the guidance of their teachers... but through their own process. How cool!! I have a terrific group of educators from my campus that are excited to be involved with the project and today we met to hash out some of the basics. I really am so blessed to work with amazing people that do what's best for kids... even if it means giving up a Saturday for training or their conference period to monitor mediation sessions. Clap clap! So I spoke with my contact at Bexar County and it looks like we're set to go. The next steps will be to nominate and select our students, make a presentation at the Parent Organization meeting and get going with the conflict resolution. While I don't think that my elementary school will see significant mediations requested... I am super excited about the ramifications for the program in the future. We'll be one of 2 (of 14) elementary schools in the district with the program... but 2 of the middle schools and both of the high schools currently have AIM in place. Our students will be one step ahead with their knowledge of conflict resolution! I am thrilled to be developing these skills in the kiddos early... I'm sure it will come in handy as they grow and develop and face all of the challenges that secondary schools bring.

perspective

Today during the most boring and pointless of all professional developments I have ever attended, my colleagues and I discussed Texas musts. The conversation began when I admitted I had never indulged in a frito pie. Like never hearing of Pat Green, this too was absurd to my Texas-bred buddies. What else has Erin never experienced in Texas? What else MUST she do before she leaves the Lone Star State? Among the list came going to the coast. This is a time-honored tradition and one I have never participated in. Although I've never been invited to a weekend at one of the many coastal-city-hotspots, my friends knew there was something else keeping me from the sea. After all, I do lots of things by myself... so why not the beach? Well, I AM prone to sunburn. But the sun isn't the real problem - I do, after all, know how to apply sunscreen. I DO have a fear of underwater ocean animals. But that's probably more of an excuse than anything serious. The real reason, I confided in them, is that I don't quite feel comfortable tooling around in a swimsuit... whether or not I know anyone at the beach. I have some body esteem issues. And that's that. I really did anticipate some nodding heads of understanding and/or some similar stories pertaining to bathing-suit self esteem. Instead, my friend Sheri nearly knocked me upside the head in the kind way that she has and exclaimed, "Erin! You completed a marathon and you have a body esteem problem?! Get real!" And that is when some things kind of clicked in my head. Maybe I don't look exactly the way I want to. Perhaps I don't have the figure I'd ultimately like to have. When it all comes down to it... while it still matters to me... it doesn't REALLY matter. After all, my body - no matter the size or shape - did something that other bodies (even some more svelte and chiseled frames) never have. And that is catapult itself 26.2 miles. A quote I became especially fond of on the race course stated "I run because the mind is stronger than the body." I always thought that applied to me given the body that I have. And while my mind did help get me across the finish line, it was ultimately my body that moved me from the start to the finish. So thanks Sheri for saying what you did. I'm not completely cured by any means, but it is funny how a quick comment can begin to change your perspective.

putt putt and sunflowers

I am one of the luckiest girls in the world. I have a great school family... but better than that I have an awesomely wonderful family. I'll begin with the former. School is back in swing... literally and figuratively! On the teachers' first day back to work, we arrived to load a school bus which took us to a putt putt golf center! The heat and humidity (and sprinkles which turned into a downpour) didn't stop us from acting like a bunch of kids running around the place and seeing who could cheer loudest when 'holes in one' were made. My throat is a little sore... either from the yelling or crazy Texas allergens. Regardless, it was quite a fun time with my team, the green team (go figure!), coming in 1st! Wah-hoo! After, we were treated to the most delicious lunch at Outback which is certainly a treat for us teachers. I couldn't ask for a better school than Coronado to work at... which is saying a lot given that kids arrive on Monday and I currently don't even have a room, or an office, or a nook or cranny for that matter to call my own. Oh well. I guess we'll redirect and deal with any melt-downs that may come in the hallway. Hey! The name of the education game is: Improvise! Be flexible! Remain positive! Luckily, I'm pretty good at all three. I will say though that it IS kind of a bummer to not have a room. My family of Toros have all offered various spots in their rooms that I can call home until I move in to my own, so that's great. Just great. After this bit of disheartening news it sure was nice to have my principal hunt me down today, all excited, because I had received flowers. I knew the second she told me that it was my mom and dad that had sent the sunshine along... and the sunflowers sure did put a smile on my face. Of course the sunflowers made me think of Kansas and how I will be in KC next school year... which conversely made me reflect on the great school I already have filled with wonderful people and wonderful kids. But KC has one thing that SA does not (okay... let's be real... KC has TONS of things SA does not have!) and that is my great family minus Chloe. Chloe will be closer though, so that's another positive for the chart. In all seriousness though, I hope I will find a school that has an environment of fellowship and learning close to what CVE has. It's bound to be out there. This year though, I will appreciate what I've got and make the best of every day. And the sunflowers will be a great reminder of all the great things to come!