I enter summer, knowing full-well it’s going to be crazy. It’s always too fast, and make me wonder how I manage to work full-time during the school year. This summer has proven to be crazier than normal. In case you are interested, here is a week-by-week breakdown of the craziness.
first week June-last week of school for kids; swim team starts
second week of June-hubby and kids go on vacation with my family to NC. I have an extended contract so I stay to finish up the 2009-2010 school year. Breathe a sigh of relief that all the administrative team seems to be staying in place for next school year.
Realize that I miss having multiple dogs in the house and add another puppy.
third week of June-
Monday evening-our superintendent announces he is leaving for another district.
Tuesday mid-day-my direct supervisor (Director of Educational Operations) announces he has accepted a job in another district (ARGH!)
Wednesday and Thursday-lots of extra meetings
Friday-leave for D.C for my first ALA
Sunday-return from D.C. with van full of books!
Board member steps down…
last week of June–midweek: first set of house guests arrive. So happy to see my college roommate and her family! It’s always too long between visits.
last week of June-end of week: one set of house guests leaves, another arrives two hours later-So happy to have Guy’s cousin, wife and baby visiting us! They have the happiest baby on earth! It’s also beginning of arrival in town for husband’s family reunion AND 25th high school reunion.
Fourth of July weekend-house guests, street fair, family reunion AND pack to leave for Teachers College
Our beloved Director of Technology dies unexpectedly of a heart attack.
First week of July– 17th annual Reading Institute at TCRWP. (Great learning opportunity-if you ever have the opportunity to attend one of TC’s institutes, you WON’T be sorry! )Hot beyond belief in NYC (103 degrees at 6 p.m. near the former World Trade Center site (see photo).
get home Friday night very late after multiple delays with flight
Our Director of Student Services accepts another job. We are a small, relatively stable district. We go years without anyone leaving.
Saturday-all day class at Muskingum University. Approximately 18 hours after leaving Columbia University’s campus in NYC.
Sunday-drive to Michigan and back to deliver son to summer camp. Wish I was staying for a week of Lake Michigan!
Second week of July-let the meetings continue….new board member and interim superintendent named-whew.
What I was looking forward to was a month of reading on my screen porch, with a lap full of puppies. In the plans were-the new Units of Study for Reading books by Lucy Calkins, The Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen for my upcoming book club, and as many ARCs from ALA that I could manage. Progress is slow, but I have started the first book in the reading series (such a great resource), finished Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (Fantastic!), and at least checked out the book club book from the library. I’ve also learned to type with the lap full of puppies. Unconditional love and affection is worth a few little potty-training accidents.
Instead, I’m reminding myself daily that with each new challenge there lies opportunity. Here are a few of my favorite change quotes:
“Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become.”
“Everything changed the day she figured out there was exactly enough time for the important things in her life.” Brian Andreas, Story People artist
Best Book I Have Not Read 