And so it is September....

And I begin this very long winded, beginning of the year, school update... and other misc. stuff!

School:
Let me preface with some background. I work in a VERY large school district. There are 16... yes sixteen Elementary schools, 5 middle (Jr. high 6-8) schools and 3 high schools. It is huge. In the past myself and one other teacher split all of the emotionally disturbed kids in the district. We were strategically placed in buildings that would be best equipped to handle these kids. (meaning, the polar opposite of the environments these kids come from). So for the last ten or so years we have split evenly the ED classified kids from the 5 sending schools. Well... a year ago, said "other" teacher decided he couldn't take it any longer... so he posted for a new placement. They hired a new teacher last year to take his place. It.lasted. for. four.months. They dissolved the class and distributed the students to other (out of district) placements. So now I'm it. The one and only ED placement in the district for all 5 middle schools. In the interim, insert brand new superintendent. I know of him as an Elementary Principal... he's awesome. BUT... he walked through that administrative office door and I think his head exploded. He's doing things that are not only scary within the SpEd dept... but also very unrealistic. He has decided, for the most part, that each school needs to deal with their own SpEd disciplinary issue students in house. Mind you... this bodes well for my numbers... but greatly effects the success or improvement of these kids, in my opinion. They have this classification for a reason, I have this job for a reason. But he feels that students should be put into my program as an ABSOLUTE last resort... In my opinion... that is often too late for me to really change things.

So hence... 2009 begins and I currently have 6 boys. I can have 12. I know of at least 5 others in the middle schools that should be in my program, but are being pushed into classes where they will not be successful. It.Makes.Me.Very.Disheartened.And.Angry. But so be it.

So here is my run-down;

I'll start with my final year bunch...
There is R, remember him from last year? (click back for background) He is not off to a great start. He is NOT happy to be back in school and is testing every limit and pushing every button he can so far. I'm slightly (OK a LOT) annoyed at the fact that this should not be his last year. He really did not produce enough to be in his last year. But, that's how Jr. high works... failing kids is not an option. So I sent home the obligatory "summer packet" of work for him to complete in order for this to be his final year with me and he completed nothing... none of it. Whatever, fresh start, or so i'm told. But let's just get on record that 5 days in, it's not a very good start.

Then there is J. He is off to a decent start, he always does start off really good. But I'm already seeing the signs of the kid who is all about the reward without doing the work to get it. He is the master of selective memory with the smile of an angel. He is in a half-day Voc's program that he decided on the 3rd day that he wants to quit. I (albeit falsely) informed him that he has to complete one quarter before he is allowed to withdrawal. I need him to find something he likes in this program. He is not college material, he needs to learn a trade, but he doesn't seem to understand that notion yet.

Remember this kid... B. Well He's BACK!!! He was out on a medical home instruction for the entire year after the nether regions incident. Now he's up to his old tricks already, thankfully of the finger down the throat kind, and looking for a Dr. to write him out again. I don't think it will happen this time around. On the flip-side... academically so far he's holding his own. Only missing a couple of assignments, and ACTUALLY TOOK HIS BOOKS HOME TODAY. I don't know if his intention is to actually do the HW or just find some other use for the very expensive texts that left my domain today.

Then A.... he's no different than last year. Does his work, gets good grades, has the impulsive nature of a pet grizzly bear. No predicting the anger that comes from this child... but mostly he is doing just fine. Also in the half-day Voc's and loving it. Yay!!!

New to me this year:
There is J. He is the younger sibling of a prior student. I heart his older brother. he still comes to visit on occasion. J got himself into an awful mess of trouble last year. He was not classified though. So, late in the year after many conversations with his mother and his older brother.. we decided he needs to come into my program. He is doing fabulous. (I know I'll regret ever saying that... I should know better by now!) But he is. And I love having him. He is the kid that is truly fitting of this program, and I get him. His entire life environment is a bag of shit. Sorry. But there is no other way to describe it. We are slowly bonding and I love the report we are starting.

Then there is E. Can't tell ya anything. He hasn't shown up yet....

So that is my run down for the moment... it can change on a dime, so stay tuned!

Misc. Stuff:

I am ALREADY taking a day off on Friday... oh the stress. I hate taking off. It is more stresful than it is worth sometimes, but so be it! My cousin is getting married and I'll never pass up a family wedding. We are some pretty spec~tac~ular people and always have more fun than necessary when together.

Okay... I'm putting my extreme dorky girl secret love out here now... intrigued yet? My BFF Kelly (and that isn't just an annoying acronym here, we have been BF's since we were 12) is taking me for my B-day gift to see... wait for it... wait for it... Little House on the Prairie the musical. I know... I know... your all going to make endless fun of me now. But seriously, no one loves this series more than me! (I swear I was there in a past life) And... get this, Melissa Gilbe.rt is playing Mrs. Ing@lls.. can ya stand it! I'm so excited to go. No flaming please!!!

I have TWO vacations planned within the next 3 months. To say I'm excited is an understatement. Both trips are planned with my most favorite people in the world... so no doubt I will have an amazing time on each. And they are scheduled 2 weeks apart! I don't mess around. When the opportunity comes up... I'm on it!

Since I have some time on Friday morning before I get ready to go to the wedding, I plan to completely change over my house to all things fall. As much as I hate to see summer end. Fall is by far my favorite time of the year. I have more decorations for this time of year than any other. I love everything about it... all the family gatherings, the weather, the yearly vacation plans... I could come up with a thousand reasons why I love this time of year So.Very.Much.

I'm all about getting healthy.. well at least healthier right now. I let myself get a little too much out of control the last 8 months. So I'M SO ON IT right now... I do already feel a vast difference, not only physically... but mentally because of it. AND i'm down 17 lbs... so that is a huge motivator. I'll never be thin. I'm not built that way... but being OUT of the plus size department does a whole lot of good for the soul! So those that will see me in Oct., hopefully you'll be seeing a lot less of me!

Okay... I'm going to leave it here. HA! I need something to say later right??
Have a good rest of your week.
~Night all