And More Changes

We have three teachers that were told to pack up their stuff 'cause they were not being re-hired for next year. And they did. And Tuesday they were told they were coming back! Wow! How can a company do that to people? Is that the way it is in the real world????
And Matt and I had a good talk and he is coming over for the month and will stay home. He promises not to be bored or set fire to the house. I will pay him to do chores and stuff. And we will have regular outings somewhere--Not sure where yet.
Summer school is almost ready. Tomorrow is my final day to prepare. Then I intend to take the weekend off and go back on Monday to teach 2nd and 3rd grade English Learners. Today I sent out letters to the students reminding them that they need to show up at 8. There are a couple of kids and their parents who are worrisome to me, but I did teach Summer School two years ago. I hope I'm going to remember what to do! Reading, Writing, Math, right??? Lots of writing! And snacks?
I was extremely frustrated and went home on Monday and made a one page book/shrine "What Would Frida Do?--A book to replace dependence on La Virgen" Then Tuesday I made "What Would Salvador Do?" I hope to go through all my dream team members, reminding me that I have them on my side. Robert Goren is next!

We have a new Principal

Tuesday at the board meeting the new principals were announced. We have Petra Franco, who was predicted by one of my friends about a month ago (she has insider info). She came over to school to visit and told Tina that she has 5 people selected to fill 5 of the (now) 9 vacancies. So she knew she was coming a long time ago. And she is scaring the staff and she hasn't taken over yet. One teacher worked with her at another school and is transferring as we speak. Another is afraid she will have a heart attack from anxiety.
The good thing for me is that I will be assisting her and I am good at "Back-up." She is a real hands on person, and decisive, so I will not have to run the school anymore. I will definitely miss the people I met doing the budget and stuff, but I am looking forward to this year with an emphasis on kids and parents---and good teaching.
So...I am preparing for summer school with Madeline Hunter's seven step lesson plan in full view. And I am hoping that she will let me keep Matt on campus!
Changes! Changes! Changes!

No Pressure!

We still haven't found out who the new principal is! This is nerve racking! I have particular worries because I want to know what the new prin will want me to do--or not do. It seems unlikely that the new person will want me to do as much as I was doing. My main job is to test students and to coordinate the testing of all the students in the school. I am also reponsible for the records of EL students and keeping them up to date. For this I have a master's degree? This summer I am teaching EL's with an emphasis on writing. I am hoping that this class will carry forward to the fall and that I can continue to teach this group on a daily basis. But again, I don't know what the new prin will want me to do. Tutoring groups all day? Records? Cleaning the floors of the bathrooms? I need to know and I need to know now!

On another subject, Matthew and I went out to Round Table in Upland tonight. We ordered the Family Special. We got the parmesan twists and then we didn't get the pizza. After 20 minutes, I asked about it and the counter person asked me, "Didn't you get it already?" I just looked back at him. He checked and they gave it away--to someone, some time ago. He did refund my money for the whole family special even though we had the sodas and the twists. But this is the second Round Table that this has happened. And Chili's! Don't get me started! They never seem to get our order! Is it me? Is it Matthew? Is it the combination of Matthew and me? And I bet they didn't ge† the order mixed up of the guy who had at least 10 piercings!

My Boss's Retirement

My whole week this week was taken up with finishing the prep for the retirement dinner for my boss. We had it at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Rancho and there were 46 people who attended. The group was happy and they enjoyed the Tina Trivia Contest. Tina realized that the prizes were her own tchotchkes from her office after about the fourth or fifth person opened a prize.
The event was like closure for us all. New rules, new boss. And new job for Tina, hopefully resting. This is a picture of Tina trying to get a prize back. But the rules clearly stated that you could not give the prize back.

Altered Postcards

Everybody always says that you must do art every day! So ...I have been altering postcards as a kind of warm up for the more "serious" art I want to do. So here's the newest one: Zen Garden

New Blog!

Although I had a blog before, I wasn't consistent in contributing to it. After seeing so many other beautiful blogs, I wanted to share some of the art work I am doing. My goal was 60 works of art for 60 years. I don't have 60 but I have some. Here are some examples. These are "tinnies" that I made. I just couldn't stop making them after I started! I have them all over the house and I have more tin cans to make into. I am trying to do other things, but occasionally I will sneak a tinnie into my art work.