You're Squeaky

Today as I was telling our head custodian, JA, that she'd be getting one of the eMac computers that have been brought to our school, there was a very tall delivery man dropping off supplies in the office. As he is getting directions from our secretary, VD, he turns to me, looks down and says, "You're SQUEAKY".

I was a little shocked and said, "excuse me"? He then repeats himself; "You're SQUEAKY"! Shocked, I mentioned that yes, when I was a small child that was one of many nicknames that I had; then I walked away. So, yes, I do have a rather unusual voice; it is high. I guess in a way, I'd love to some day sound my age, but I doubt that will ever happen. [On a side note, I did smoke for a couple of years in college in hopes that it would help lower my voice.. I then realized I probably would have to get throat cancer for that to happen. Thankfully, I quit smoking many years ago!]

Who just blurts that out to people? I didn't know this man and had never seen this man before in my life. I was completely shocked at how he didn't think before opening his mouth!

Eebie Geebies, Strikes Again!

In the midst of running from one classroom to another today, I stopped in the school office to ask a question. As I was asking the secretary, VD, the question, I turned my head and looked down a small hallway, I saw the school's nurse inspecting a child's head; yes, HEAD! I quickly turned back towards the nurse and motioned to the little girl then scratched my head, in a sense to ask if they were looking for lice. ICK LICE! The nurse said "yes".

Ohhhhhh, I instantly began to itch! Why is it that when something gives you the eebie geebies you have to squirm or itch uncontrollably?! Then, after being creeped out for a moment, and after the nurse sent the child on her way to get her things, my concern went immediately to the headphones that the children use in the stationary computer lab. So I asked her if I needed to throw them all away and not let anyone use them for a week or so. Her response was "no", and said that if I did find any critters on the headphones all I needed to do was to put them in a sealed bag and after two days they'd be dead. I then asked if it was then that she'd want me to throw them away and she said "No; you can actually use them because they can't live after two days unless they have a host". [Okay, I really got grossed out... there is NO WAY I'D EVER have a child wear a set of headphones after a child has had LICE"!!!

At that point the nurse and secretary were laughing at me because I was truly squirming! The secretary then began to itch too, and it was as if those in the office couldn't sit still. The nurse kept telling us to not think about it, but how could you not?! The principal, DN, then came out and treated use to a chocolate candy, but then suggested he buy us a soft drink from the faculty lounge. Personally, I think I would have rather showered and put on a full "be safe from eebie geebies" suit!

Computers Galore!

About a month ago, the school district went through the Title 1 schools and pulled out all of their eMac computers and replaced them with newer computers due to federal funding. With the abundance of eMac computers they had enough to provide all Non-Title 1 schools such that each classroom could have three computers each. [This is a good thing!] This too, meant I had to remove all of the older iMac computers in our school.

The school district dropped the eMacs all off last month and they've been sitting in the various classrooms since. SB, my Tech Assistant, and I had been told by the district that we weren't able to touch them until the District Tech guys came out and set things up; they were waiting on more memory and Internet access.

Since the District Tech guys put more than just three each in various classrooms [and some didn't get any] I was given the permission on Monday, to go and relocate any computers in classrooms that had more than three. I can only tell you this has been a monumental task! For the last three days, all I've been doing has been moving computers... extremely dusty and dirty computers!

I too, have been pulling out any older computers, mainly desktop computers and have been stock piling them in the stationary lab. My intention for those was to finally pull out the old iMac computers in the After School Program and replace them with the desktop computers. It might be a battle with the ASP Coordinator, but honestly this is a good thing.. we are moving forward with their technology! I too, am going to push to get a printer out there too!

So all in all, I'm tired tonight!

November radKIDS Graduates

Tonight we held a simulation for 12 of our radKIDS. All of the kids were geared up and ready to defend themselves from the "attacker" (a police officer). We've been working hard over the last 2 1/2 weeks learning all about safety (school, fire, bike, bullies, chemicals, etc..) and how to defend themselves from attackers. Each day the kids have come excited to learn but more excited to learn the various techniques and run through bag work.

Well, today was the day that they all were able to run through a simulation and show their families what they have learned. M, SG, MM, CC, and RO all came out to help run the simulation. M was the "bully", SG was the "angel", MM did the gear, CC did the 911 and finger printed the kids, RO was our "aggressor" and I ran the video camera.

I think the kids had a really good time. At the end of their simulation I asked each child what their favorite part of the simulation was. Most would tell me of a certain technique and many told me that they liked "beating up a cop". (M and RO were the two officers that we had helping tonight.)

Dusting of Snow

On Friday and Saturday, we had just a slight dusting of snow, though at times it looked like a blizzard out side. I felt as if it was a "winter teaser". It was fairly gloomy and cold out, and it made you just want to curl up with a good book and hot chocolate!

The radio stations have also been playing a few holiday songs here and there, thus putting you in the mood for the holiday season.

I think I'm ready for a good snowfall and relaxing evenings with the family!

A Surprise Puddle

Today as I was running from one room to another fixing or working on the various computers in the school, I headed back to the stationary lab for a moment. When I walked in, to my surprise, there was a puddle. Yes, a puddle!

Hmmm, for a moment I stared at it and wondered... what could it be? Did someone spill a drink, though drinks aren't allowed in the lab? Did someone go crazy with the giant bottle of hand sanitizer? Or did someone have an "accident" and not tell?

So off I went to do a little investigating and to have the custodian attack it with a mop! After a little investigative work, I found out that a little girl in 2nd grade, CB, made the puddle; ... yep, that kind of puddle! Come to find out, she didn't even tell her teacher when leaving the lab, instead she headed straight outside with the rest of the class for recess!

Thankfully, the teacher, RC, called home and got a change of clothes for the little girl and the custodian, JA, came to the rescue and cleaned things up!

So Proud

I am such a proud mother today. This week, I have questioned myself; whether I have taught my children to make right choices when sometimes it could be difficult for them. There was a situation this week that my children, hid the truth, in hopes that I wouldn't see that something was damaged. I wasn't angry that the object was damaged but I was saddened to know that they felt that they couldn't tell me.

Well, today, our oldest (C) redeemed himself. On his way, walking to school, C found a blue bag with a notebook and money in it. He chose to place the bag in his backpack and there he left it today. When he got home from school, he called me on my cell phone and told me of what he had found. I asked that he open it up and describe to me what was inside. As he did, my tech assistant, SB, mentioned that the school had just announced that someone had called the school and told them about loosing a blue bag with some money in it.

As soon as I got off the phone I walked down to the main office and told the secretary, VD, that I thought C, might have found the bag. VD then showed me the mans name and address that she had written down, and it ended up being a neighbor of ours.

As I headed home, I called C and told him that we thought we knew who the bag belonged to, and that when I got home he could go and deliver it to them. I then made a second phone call and called the neighbor, TG. His response after I had asked how he was doing was, "..poor to rotten". I then asked if there was anything I might be able to do to make his day better and he responded, "...I doubt it". I then mentioned that I thought I could, because "C had found a blue bag while walking to school...". I could hear TG's voice tremble on the other end of the phone, and he squeaked out that he had been praying all day that a miracle would happen.

As soon as I got home I had C run the bag over to his home. Come to find out this was his (personally owned) companies bank roll. [I can't help but beam thinking that our son made the right choice today; he definitely did his good deed for the day!]