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Saturday, May 30, 2015

Filled Up


              Celebrating Each Saturday with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build. It's a good time to read about everyone's celebrations! Come join us!                      Tweet at #CelebrateLu

       No week is perfect, and this one was not. Some tough moments began the week, and it was only four days, but oh so filled!

       There are some moments to celebrate, and I do. 

        Tuesday evening I spent time with a former colleague at her husband's start of his marvelous book tour. He's been writing for a long time, has published several books, but this latest seems bigger somehow. He's touring in bigger cities, there was a huge crowd, etc. And it was lovely to see my old friend with whom I taught. The author is Paolo Bacigalupi and his book is The Water Knife. You might know his YA book, Shipbreaker, and others by him. It was terrific to discover another colleague came, so we sat together, then during the question period I heard a familiar voice, one of my students. She is a young woman avidly writing a novel, come to see a writer, and ask how he started! I am so proud of her for standing up in a crowd of adults and asking a question she wanted to know. Paolo gave her lots of advice!


        We have a special evening dinner each year to bring our continuing students into the alumni group. It is a celebration of their time with us, there are short speeches and the sweetest slide show that includes photos of when they began their time with us, often in kindergarten. Some students are completing their eighth year at the school! This night was Wednesday.

        Thursday students really completed ALL THEIR WORK. We set up displays to be ready for our parent visit on Monday morning. I evaluated so much during the week, and have more to do of course, and next week we'll do all the endings, to be shared another time. Whew! I know students will have a great weekend with not too much left to do except final thank yous and special awards they create for their classmates. 


        Friday we were rewarded by going to Denver's amusement park, Elitch Gardens. It was a beautiful and cool day, just right for waiting in line for rides, eating and drinking and playing with friends. For teachers, it was a good day too. Some of us rode a few rides, some brought some work to do, and we had one day of not rushing around, and a little ice cream, too.
 
        Friday night, after Elitch's, I went to a high school graduation party for two of my former students, still best friends although they took very different paths in high school. I also got to see other students, all grown up and so filled with life, like all high school students! It was a great time.
cupcake at the party

         And now the weekend is filled with planning for next week. I have a lot to do, but I know next week will be good! Best wishes for good weeks for all of you as well!

14 comments:

  1. It is that time of year with so much on the to do list. Thanks for the reminder to look for the celebrations

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  2. You had a very full week! I really enjoyed reading Shipwrecker and will definitely need to look for the new book. I think it is wonderful that your student had the courage to stand up and ask what she wanted to know. I love how most authors are so generous with advice for young people. It sounds like you will have a busy Monday with the sharing of the projects. Have a great week!

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  3. Linda, This is exactly how I felt about my week too, "No week is perfect, and this one was not. Some tough moments began the week, and it was only four days, but oh so filled!" So true!!!! Looking for celebrations amidst the tough times is worth it though. I loved reading your highs from the week!!! A day at an amusement park?!?! Ice cream? That's awesome!!! Mmmmm!!!

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  4. Challenges during the week are balanced with happy moments are is the case in most weeks. I am glad that your ending was filled with such fun times that have already built memories. Have a great weekend, Linda. Would you like to send an #eduinspiration on for the Hall of #EduHero Voices.

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  5. I hear you on the no perfect weeks. This time of year can be tough. But wow, is there a lot of wonderful here! Must have been such a pleasant surprise to hear that voice in the crowd and recognize your student. Very special.

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  6. A week with ice cream, Elitch Gardens, AND a fabulous-looking cupcake? Awesome!

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  7. I'm eager to read The Water Knife after reading a review of it on one of my favorite podcasts, Books on the Nightstand. It's certainly about a topical issue! I still need to read Shipbreaker... One year, my seniors raised enough money to take a trip to Denver to celebrate graduation. We spent the day at Elitch Gardens and had so much fun, though I couldn't talk a single kid into bungee jumping with me! I was too scared to do it alone, but I would have done it with somebody else!

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  8. So sorry you week started not how you would have liked. But it sounds like you still managed to find many celebrations. I will have to check out that book - how nice of you to support his writing success. I had to laugh at the part where your fellow teachers took "work" to the amusement park. Our work is never truly done is it? Hope you get to enjoy these last days.

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  9. I read Shipbreaker! I'll put this new one on my summer TBR list! I love your artful photos. I'm glad you celebrated this week even though it was a tough one!

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  10. Sometimes I feel like there isn't much to celebrate but when I sit down and reflect, I can find cupcakes! Sounds like the end of years blues are seeping in. I hope the last week goes well and you get to see how important the work you have done really is.

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  11. I love how you can always find the sunshine through the rain, Linda. Aside from the rough start, it sounds like you had a good rest of your week full of celebrations and friends.

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  12. I read Shipbreaker, definitely out of my usual reading zone. How fun to discover your student was in the audience. Now you can tell me how to pronounce the author's name. Glad you had a cool day for the amusement park. Hoping you can savor the moments as you wind up this busy time! Thanks for the pics from your whirlwind week.

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  13. Love that cupcake - delicious and adorable. What a full week you've had Linda - so many learning journeys to celebrate in these last days of the school year.

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  14. Love the cupcake. It is the epitome of a HS grad - all puffed up and ready to take on the world.

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