Day 14 “I meet the kids today. and a few nervous parents.”

School starts tomorrow but today the students come in for orientation. I have an 8^th grade homeroom so I get to meet all of them. They are all so anxious to get started that I can just feel the excitement in the air.  As I look out to the drive, I see all kinds of automobiles- Bentleys, excursions, fancy vans. and drivers.  I wonder what the neighborhood people feel like when they see such wealth and yet some of them live on $200.00 a year? I get to meet some parents (such beautiful garments) who are so proud of their children. I run out of things to say and people are still looking at me, so I do what I do best…have a little fun.  I tell them I am sure they are use to the rain but in Texas we are in a drought so at times we have to make our own rainstorms and I proceed to do a crowd pleasing Texas rainstorm (some of the kids rub their hands together, some snap their fingers, some pat their legs and then it ends with everyone stomping the ground.  Probably not the best idea—but hey- I gotta be me.

So much for staying in the background:  At a small school everyone does a multitude of jobs.  I am on the community service committee, helping with high school student council and on the ESL committee.  I have three preps (which is standard)– English 8, 11 and 12 and will service the high school ESL kids.  It will be a rewarding and busy year.