Extended Stay

 

 

Well Garr started school down here in Louisiana and had a rude awakening! He has to shave his beard...HA HA HA. As part of the dress code no beards are allowed, only strictly manicured mustaches and the occasional sideburns. Darryl took the lead and showed my first born how to shave and I of course recorded it (don't know why he required so much shaving cream for just a furry chin - but oh well). 

 

I also walked him out to the bus stop and took pictures simply to embarrassed him, and to seal the deal took a few more from my car as I exited the community on my way to work.

He reluctantly posed for this one, thinking I'd leave

Garr trying to ignore me snapping photos like the paparazzi

Dae walked him to the bus stop each morning to check out the girls

he was super embarrassed - but this smile is priceless!

Driving around the block taking pics

There was some good news to compensate for for the sacrifice of the beard, Garrett's old football coach from 6th grade remembered him instantly and insisted that he join the team! So I of course took him for his sports physical and had the waiver notarized and he joined immediately. He was even waived the mandatory "3-practices before playing in a game" rule and allowed to start in the first game as a corner back this past Friday.

With all this I must say, he's adapting to country living pretty well this go 'round but his stay here is only temporary; we're just trying to get all of our ducks in a row with his health before sending him back up the road to complete the remainder of the school year in MD. Fall football season lasts until October so he may just be able to complete the entire season after all and that will surely make him happy as there is no football program at the middle school he attends in MD so he'd have to wait another full year until high school. I told him that the likelihood of walking onto the field without trying out and starting were not in his favor in MD - so I hope he understands that this is a unique situation down here.

DeRidder Dragons - he picked his number though!

They are nameless in junior high - you've gotta earn your name!

You know there's a culture of sports in the south at ever level - its literally like that show Friday Night Lights but it includes whoever plays (from little league straight up to college) - small town livin' at its best! I'll have to record some highlights from the field next time...

OCD in Full Effect

I was asked back to work with the same group of children this year as the permanent teacher took a sabbatical and while last year I merely worked within her classroom, this year I actually went through all of her things, had Darryl pull many of mine out of storage (with the exception of my library) and cleaned and organized everything to my liking!

Bulletin Board #1

Bulletin Board #2



Closer look @ Bulletin Board #2

Closer look @ Bulletin Board #2

I must say, although it took well over a week - I'm most comfortable in the new room, I just hope she's able to locate her desk when she returned because this isn't "Kansas anymore"! I have a total of three rooms for starters: my room, my paraprofessional's room, and a multi-functional room that is used for centers and to deescalate students. I worked all three into the theme of one to create my Swann's Epicenter of Academics (even though I have no Smart Board because if teachers don't go to such trainings or demand the use of such technology, it won't be wasted in rooms not being utilized). Well, then. I'll have to change that! But for now, I've at least gotten the overhead screen remounted after locating it in the corner hidden behind a bookshelf.

Checkout my room thus far - week three of school starts tomorrow for us! But hey, we get out before Memorial Day.

muti-functional/deescalation room (view 1)

muti-functional/deescalation room (view 2)

muti-functional/deescalation room (view 3)

Paraprofessional's room (view 1)

Paraprofessional's room (view 2)

Main room (view 1)

Main room (view 2)

Main room (view 3)

Main room (view 4)

Excuse my messy desk! LOL - I didn't notice that until the pics were uploaded! But I bet you did notice my signature Swan's all over the room.

Main room (view 5)