2013-2014 School Year comes to close!

My favorite school week of the year! I love my job, but who among us who love our jobs can't love a 2 day week? Especially when it comes just before a vacation? Thanksgiving week is one of my favorites for the same reason.

We had our last days of Finals on Monday, and had just one class left. After they finished, I spent the next period grading them, and it took me into the afternoon to finish. There is nothing like entering those last grades into PowerSchool for the year! There are some students who didn't pass their classes and many of them were close. For those students there is a "Credit Recovery" program that lasts about 8 days starting the day after school gets out. Students have a teacher and an Ed Tech to work with on any classes that they were just a few points shy of passing. They work on projects or other assignments they did poorly or didn't do at all the first time in an effort to pass the class. I wish them the best, but I'm glad I'm not there!

Our last day of school was on Tuesday. My 9th grade Advisees and I went to where their lockers are and made sure there was nothing in them, nor in any of the lockers nearby us. Then we had the Awards assembly in the Gym. This assembly can be especially difficult. It's often long and students are anxious to start their vacation.

We then had a staff meeting in the afternoon. Here is where we say goodbye to those who are retiring and celebrate our end of year accomplishments. I am not comfortable talking about folks in front of everyone so I never say anything, but I'm glad for those who have the need to say things publicly that they have the chance. I spent the rest of the afternoon getting my room in summer shape for cleaning. I left by 4 for the Staff retirment party at the Yacht Club in Wayne. This was a great gathering with food and music to send off 3 Staff members into retirement.

Its hard to believe its over and it always takes me a few days to adjust. I always a feel a bit like I've been in some sort of trauma and am recovering from that the first few days of summer vacation. There is a Learning Leaders retreat next week but I am unable to attend because I will be at the NEH summer institute studying the Gold Rush in California.

I plan to post once in July about my NEH institute and once in August about the training for AP US History I will be doing and then back to my weekly posts the week before school starts.

Of course I end the school year the same way I have every year for quite a long time with Alice Cooper...