Friday, August 11, 2023
Happy Friday – it has been such a weird week – you will have to wait til the end to find out what happened! I am linking up with Andrea and Erika!
First, off, Sunday was the culminating performance of Jack’s opera training. They did Tales of Hoffman – 3 hours in French – please don’t ask me to explain what happened.
I did understand dinner – Mexican food!
Mason wanted to try ham croquettes – I had these in Spain:
Monday was a long teacher work day but the alumni association bought us lunch:
Monday night I wore my new Wit and Wisdom pants – like buttah – you need them. Tom and I finally went to eat at the Italian restaurant where Mason has been working.
It’s pretty incredible inside and I think it’s been a good experience.
Tuesday was another work day:
And, Wednesday we started school with the kids!
After school, the PTA had a big spread for us and it was really nice to socialize with the other teachers and see how their days went.
Look at this cute pencil cookie!
I was so, so tired. It was a combo of not sleeping great (never do on the night before the first day) and just how intense it is. I went outside and read my book and felt much better.
Ernie looked exactly how I felt!
Luckily, I slept great the next night and woke up ready to go Thursday morning. I was drinking my coffee, reading my blogs, when my phone lit up with a message….
School was cancelled for the day and the next day, you guys. Say what? Remember how my school’s schedule was changed? They had changed many schools to aid in the bussing problem. Well, it was apparently a colossal failure with little kids not arriving home until after dark. The word on the street is that the last child to get home arrived at 11:00 p.m. It was worse than the prior bussing situation. I was shocked.
So, yesterday I had an errand and pool day and Friday I was going to do a few other things when I got a second message that teachers were to report to their schools. At the time of writing this (Thursday evening at 7:00), I still don’t know what is going on. There is a rumor that we are supposed to prepare to teach virtually next week.
I am sad, heartbroken, disappointed, confused, all the things. I hate this for our kids.
This post went in a different direction than I had planned…
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
Oh my goodness, that is horrible Amy! I cannot believe the transportation issue, how sad. There are bus driver shortages here but some districts made their office staff get CDL driver’s licenses so they can drive a bus if needed. Can you imagine? Such a sad state of affairs. I hope this gets worked out soon.
On another note – I love the Italian restaurant – looks super fancy!!!
xo,
Kellyann
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I’m even more sad this morning. It’s just horrible. The Italian restaurant is so beautiful inside and I said I thought it would be a nice environment to work in!
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I am so sorry to hear that. How distressing not to know from one day to the next. We have had a similar problem with bussing in our area but it is because of bus driver shortages. It has been a nightmare here for some of the parents.
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Thank you. I’m even more saddened today. Our kids have just been through so much. I think there is a national shortage – it’s so sad.
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Oh my goodness that is awful! What horrible transportation issues. That spread looks amazing for your first day and it looks like you have a huge staff! I don’t think we have that many faculty with all 3 schools (elementary, middle, & high) combined!
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I know! We have about 130 I think? Yes, we are a big school.
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Oh my goodness!! That is a mess! They tried to do that in our district last spring for this year but there was such an uprising about kids getting home too late that it didn’t happen. I hope you hear good news today!
It looks like Jack and Mason had great experiences with opera and work.
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I’m so upset – even more so this morning. I have no idea what they wil tell us today – prepare for live virtual instruction or asynchronous instruction? Either way very hard when you don’t even know your students yet!
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That is crazy. What did they decide to do?
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We still don’t know!
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Oh my gosh! That’s crazy! I hope you can relax this weekend with that unknown hanging around.
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Thank you!
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That’s awesome about Jack’s performance over the weekend, and I love the look of that Italian restaurant. You know I love a place with great ambience! I love your first day dress- you should wear yellow more! You look beautiful in that color. I am so sorry to hear about how the year is getting started. I know it has to be frustrating for the teachers and the students alike! I sincerely hope and pray that it’ll be very temporary and that things are figured out in a few days. When you teach remotely, do you teach from school or from your home? I’m just curious. I can see why those words resonated with you as well that I shared from my devotional- about not needing to know all the details, just taking the next steps.
I hope you’re able to figure out a plan after today at work, and that you can go into this weekend with that in mind, with peace knowing your next steps for the days to follow. You know I’ll be praying for you, my friend. I’ll text you later, because I’ll be curious to know how it all went today. 🖤
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The Italian restaurant looks amazing!
I’m so sorry your week ended like it did. I’ve been wondering how things have been going after I saw the transportation news. I hope everything gets sorted out soon!
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I read in the news about your school yesterday and the bussing situation. What a mess! ☹️ I hope everything gets worked out for the kids soon. I imagine you would like to be in person and not virtual!! I love black wit and wisdom pants. I will keep those in mind if I need nice dress pants.
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That is HORRIBLE. Oh my gosh, absolutely insane! I feel like this should be on the evening news…
The first day is always a little crazy with dismissal and takes longer but holy cow. That’s such a colossal logistical failure. In all my years/locations, I’d never heard of that happening. Praying they get it sorted out TODAY.
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That is just crazy and sad all at the same time. I feel bad for all the kids…and teachers!
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Your yellow dress is so pretty and cheery. Wow – your PTA knows how to put on a spread.
But, I don’t understand the bus issue. Why did it take 7 hours for a child to get home? Sorry to not understand, it has been a hot minute since my son was in school.
Have a good weekend!
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So sorry to hear about the bus situation, kids and parents alike must have been so anxious and worried. I hope you don’t have to do virtual learning again! Have a good weekend and try not to dwell on the nonsense!
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Oh wow! The opera training sounds interesting. Ham croquettes are so good and how lovely to be brought lunch. That restaurant looks amazing and the food too.
I hope the new school year goes well.
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Your blog post SHOCKED me. Wow. How horrible!! I’m sorry – I know you worked hard to be ready and kids were excited to be back to routine with their friends. This situation is INSANE.
Your first day outfit was SO CUTE! And I love wit and wisdom jeans 🙂
Praying for the decisions made today that effect an entire community. I’m so you will do your very best for your students no matter the outcome. You obviously have a very supportive community by the looks of the meals prepared by parents and alumni this week. Hope you have a restful weekend.
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That Italian restaurant looks so interesting! And the food looks delicious! But the school situation sounds like a mess for everyone involved. I sure hope it all gets resolved quickly!
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It’s really unique. A big giant mess!
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Oh Amy! I was loving all your food pics and the restaurant where Mason works looks amazing. And then I was so shocked by how the school year has started for you guys. That’s awful and I really hope that you don’t have to teach virtually. That’s a tough gig!! I will be praying for you. Sending big hugs xx
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Thank you! I have had some fun outings lately. It’s simply shocking and so sad. Thank you!
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I heard about this on the news, but I didn’t connect it to you. I’m so sorry. That would be the absolute worst way to start a school year. I retired prior to the start of virtual learning, and I can’t imagine it being a good thing when you don’t even know your students. I do hope they can get the system up and running before next week.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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It’s my district! You really had perfect timing – the last 3 years have had my head spinning.
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Wow, what an anti climax after one day with students! Crazy! I hope everything works out! And all those new students that were supposed to get to know you… Aaah… I look forward to a hopefully positive post on Monday! (which by the way is my first day back…)
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Yup – it was crazy! Thank you! I hope to have a fresh start with them again soon. Good luck to you on your first day back and savor the rest of your free time.
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Thanks! And good luck to you! Tough to end your days later, but maybe you’ll have time to do something nice in the morning?
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Wishing you a very happy and healthy school year- you are an inspiration! I am sorry about the bussing situation- it is happening everywhere-will pray that it is fixed soon!
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Thank you! I don’t know about all that. Such a sad situation for our country.
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Oh my goodness! My heart is going out to those kids who got home so late!
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Right? So sad!
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