Where to begin…

I will start my review of this past week’s orientation with the good stuff and work down to the not-so-good stuff. However, even the not-so-good stuff is more of a challenge to me than an impediment.

Friends:
Last Friday I met two new teachers at our “special” orientation who, I am sure, will make this year much easier. Giggles is one of my colleagues in the department. After a few days of warming up to each other we are inseparable. She has an awesome sense of humor and more often than not we are laughing uncontrollably. Then there is Al. Al is another “newbie” who Giggles and I look for at all of our meetings and eat with during lunch. The only sad thing is that they teach first-year students and work in another building, have a different lunch, and different school-time duties. The good thing is that we all share the same conference period! I have a feeling that no work will be done during this hour. ☺

Principle:
Bell is my new favorite person. She rocks my socks off! At the start of this week I was signed up for two preparations (the same subject, but two different grade levels). Once word got around about my degree and work experience, I was asked to teach the TV class. Of course, I said I was interested and next thing I knew Bell assigned me as the head of the HS’s TV station. Awesome! Without knowing it, Bell just made this year more perfect for me than she could ever know. I have my own little baby (UIL supported) project at UHigh.

Help:
I met an old friend at UHigh on the first day there. Handy was married to a woman who worked with my mother many years ago. He is the school’s shop teacher! He has already repaired many of the major construction renovations I have made in my classroom. Note: I work in an inner-city school and if I want to make alterations or improvements, it is up to me to either wait (several years for the work order to go through and the money to magically appear) or do it myself.

The school itself:
On the Thursday before orientation began, my district was faced with a huge catastrophe. The districts ONLY other HS was nearly demolished in the wake of Hurricane Erin. The board decided to move all those students to my campus indefinitely. This has put a lot of pressure on the administration at both schools and the teachers at the flooded campus. I have tried to do my part to make the transition smooth (as best I can as a newbie). This morning I introduced myself to all of the teachers from the other campus that I ran into (today was the first day they came on our campus for an entire workday). I escorted a teacher from room to room trying to find necessities like paperclips, paper, tape, etc.

In addition, I received approval today to admit students from the other campus to staff the TV station. My vision is to unite the two campus by airing segments that feature students, teachers, and activities at both campuses.

Summary:
So far, my first year teaching at UHigh will be one that I will never forget. I am so excited for Monday!