Below is really a fast write of an experience I had at our district Speech Contest last fall. Let me know if you think it could work for our memoirs. Thanks, Sandy
Today began at 6:30. Okay before 6:30 when the girls' alarm went off. Yup, camping on the classroom floor at Bethel Regioal High School (BRHS) for speech contest. Luckily, I brought one of the electric air pump matteresses from school. Nice. I never shower here because the showers are always icy cold first thing in the morning. So I just dampen the hair, scrunch it and brush my teeth. I also bring wipies to freshen up. Not quite a shower, but it works.
Breakfast was a shock. Well, only because I didn't read the new instructions that told us to take the kids up to the district office JROTC room for pancakes and sausage. (Major Bailey retired last spring, so there's no more 6:30 "coffee's ready if you want some" announcement.) But, we made it to the JROTC room in time - yes, in time to eat and then for me to hear that two students were caught 'kissy facing' up in the library in the dark after curfew- and wouldn't you know it!!!??? - one of them was mine.
The next three hours went like this - talk with student and super of students - make plane reservation home for student - take student to airport and and and wait wait wait till 10:30 for the plane to take off. "So boring!!" to quote my students.
The only good part was that the sun rose brilliant red-gold over the mountains to the east on a balmy -4º moring with little wind. Oh, and my student's relatives came in from Chefornak on the morning plane and gave him the $149.00 he owed the school district for the plane ticket home. (His day, of course, was already a disaster since he was sent home in shame and would miss the dance and another day with his sweety who is from another village. Poor guy. I've got a new nick-name for him now - Lancelot. Yup, he was warned and just like Lancelot and Guinivere, he got caught doing exactly what he was warned NOT to do. Oh, well. Some of life's lessons need hands-on to learn them.
But, then things got better. I shuttled my team and the gals from Nightmute to the AC Store (one of three grocery stores in town). We shopped, then I shuttled again to Shogun (see I can only take 8 at a time), a local Chinese/American/Mexican/Italian and Japanese resturant. One of our elders and former kindergarten teacher, plus my friend and grandma to several of my students came with us. The Nightmute coach, Mary (our elder) and I bought the kids up to $10.00 each for lunch and they paid the balance and left a tip. It was a great lunch. Oh, I should have told them $12.00. There wasn't much on the menu for $10.00 with a drink. My lunch, Almond chicken was $13.95 and that's cheap.
We all shuttled back in time for the final speeches. Two of my boys were in the finals: Tim in Expostior and Ryan in Persuasive. Tim took 5th and Ryan a 2nd which sends him to STate in the spring!! yeah!!!
This evening it's been pizza and a dance. I am typing while Pat's musix is blaring and the strobes are twirling and the kids in motion. Fun.
Later, it's blow up the mattress and settle the kids for a short night. We leave for the airport at 8:15 from the District Office ( I read the note this time ). It's now -15º with a wind chill of -32º. I am hoping that it warms up a little. I do not want to be stuck here in Bethel at the airport all day because the wind chill is -35º and we cannot fly home.
So that was my day. Hope you had a cool day and a great evening.
EnJoy, Sandy
Grades and Transcripts--Updated
17 years ago
Hey, I enjoyed your retelling of your "Day in the Life". I think it's funny how our lives are so different--village life and city life but still so much alike. I liked being there with you. Kids will be kids. There seems to be a Lancelot and Gene in almost every community and school. Twenty plus years ago I had to send a couple home from Daytona Beach and their senior trip for the very thing. Time hasn't change any of this either. Anyway, thanks for sharing and congrats on the two young men that got to go to State. JJ
ReplyDeleteThis is a great subject for a memoir. You brought me back to all my road trips with kids. I never got smart enough to get an air mattress but I LOVED schools with wrestling mats. I would love to hear some student voices in your memoir.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the personality behind your narration. You seem to have a report with the kids and the community, and based on the light-heated voice in your prose, I can see why.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I enjoyed your choice of details. "Lancelot's" face-sucking incident was a great touch.
Reading this, I got the sense I was reading a journal entry as opposed to a focused reflective narrative. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as your description of the day's events were entertaining. However, I don't get a sense of any particular theme.
Apart from the details of your meanderings that day, is there any particular sentiment, epiphany, or moment you wish to draw out? If so, I'd recommend focusing the details of your story to reveal it.
Today Began at 6AM reminds me of the daily sacrifices we make for students-sleeping on gym floors and taking icy cold showers as we chaperone student events. I like that you were able to keep the speech contest in perspective even when your student choose not to follow the rules. How did you feel the moment this breach of protocol happened? Has this changed your relationship with this student or your desire to chaperone students on activities?
ReplyDelete