August 30, 2015 {242/365}
“Every sunset is an opportunity to reset.” - Richie Norton
So the sun sets on the summer of 2015. Tonight is the last Sunday for a long time that I won't feel that particular combination of excitement and apprehension. On Tuesday, I'll push the reset button and the sun will rise on my 22nd year in Pewaukee.
August 29, 2015 {241/265}
"Summer ends, and Autumn comes, and he who would have it otherwise would have high tide always and a full moon every night." - Hal Borland. The days have already turned cooler, the nights are crisp, football season has started, and school starts next week. Yet, as much as I love fall, it seems much too early for the leaves to be turning!
le 28 août 2015 {240/365} « Premier amour »
« Quand le premier amour devient le seul amour, c'est une belle vie. » - André Maurois
August 27, 2015 {239/365} Office at Tiffany's
[Photo taken at Tiffany and Co. - 727 5th Avenue, New York, NY]
“Behind every attractive room there should be a very good reason.” - Sister Parish
I've been looking for ideas to arrange and decorate my office this year. This might be a bit much, but I love the vintage touches (the typewriter, the suitcase, the books), the pop of Tiffany blue on an otherwise neutral palate, and the inspiration boards. We spend so much of our time at work. Shouldn't it be a space where we are motivated to be creative and productive?
August 26, 2015 {238/365} Desserts
It can't be a coincidence that STRESSED spelled backwards is DESSERTS!
August 25, 2015 {237/365} Drums
"Life is about rhythm. We vibrate, our hearts are pumping blood, we are a rhythm machine." - Mickey Hart, Grateful Dead
Today, I began my twenty-second year as an educator in the Pewaukee School District. Although my roles continually evolve (this year, I'm full-time EdTech/EE coach with an overload of one Blended French 4/5 course), every year really begins the same way. We meet as a district to reconnect with colleagues, to celebrate the successes of the previous year, and to get inspired/motivated for the new school year. Although the scenario is the same, the theme is always unique. This year's focus is on pride, gratitude, and teamwork. We shared our pride in the work that we do both individually and collectively. We reflected in gratitude, keeping in mind the idea that "It is not happy people who are thankful. It is thankful people who are happy." And finally, we not only talked about the necessity of working as a team to achieve our common mission, we lived it!
Under the guidance of our superintendent, all teachers, administrators, coaches, support staff, and even school board members participated in a giant drum circle. Over three hundred people worked together to create rhythm and music. Sometimes our beats were in unison and sometimes we had individual parts to play ("ham and cheese", "peanut butter sandwich", "mac, mac and cheese"). What a fitting metaphor for education! We are all working in harmony to educate the students of Pewaukee -- sometimes as a district, sometimes in smaller groups (schools, departments, etc.) and sometimes, we have to improvise, to find our own beats.