Thread: You know, this just might work out....

I only hope I am not being overly optimistic.

School begins, for us, this Friday, August 25th. We had open house last night. The 8th graders did not seem so big as I thought they would be. Parent and family participation was overwhelming. Our wish list, drawn in the shape of a tree with items we would like to have donated (everything from a podium to an easel to colored copy paper) was picked just about clean. There were almost 30 "leaves" on the tree.

I spent much of today sorting through the things in my almost new science lab. Never been in such a well stocked science lab. They even gave me a brand new (well...almost new) Dell computer today and tell me I will get a laptop as well. Gracious! They're gonna spoil me!

Now no one is kidding anybody. Like any school, this one has issues too. There is gang activity in the area and one neighborhood we draw from in particular is pretty tough. But of our four classes (I have only science) three of them are fairly "high level" students with only one that might have a good number of at risk students in it.

I am still going to reserve any kind of judgement for awhile. One of my flaws is that I am always worried that the proverbial house of cards will collapse under me at any moment. 23 years of experience can do that to you.

I want to thank ALL of you who have been so encouraging and urged me to take the proverbial plunge and take this position in a new town in a new school with a new grade level. I THINK I am beginning to understand what I would have missed. I still hear from my buddies at my old school. The "principal" there has already started mismanaging, making poor decisions, and creating a mess. I KNEW that whatever I did, I could NOT remain there and endure that for another year. I would have put my fist through a wall out of utter frustration. I just have limited tolerance for "stupid."

I WANT to believe this is going to be a good year. I find myself almost afraid to believe it. The last two were very trying. I am ready for a good one.

After we had spoken to the students and parents, last night, and everyone was meandering out of the building, my new Principal (whose daughter is on our team) came up to me, grinning widely, and proclaimed:
"They love you!"

I have to admit to giving him a blank look. I really didn't know who or what he meant. "Who?" I asked.

"Your students!" he said.

I shook my head. "Now WHAT is wrong with them, anyway???"