I haven't been too faithful about writing in my blog lately. Some of my excuses include crazy kindergartners sucking away my energy, an exhausting field trip to the Philadelphia Zoo, visitors at our apartment this weekend, the stressful search for a car, Kaitlin's bachelorette party, the fun but emotionally exhausting end of the year party for Urban Promise staff at Rob's, and the finale of Lost. Yes, it is the busy time of year. This week I have my last 3 days of Reading Assist training. Tomorrow is field day at school, and I'll miss it. At first I was kind of excited, because last year the kids were cranky and bad sports, but now I'm kind of sad. It's our last field trip of the year, and I'll miss seeing them play games and taking pictures. But it's supposed to be 93 degrees, so I'm happy to be missing 4 hours in the sun. But I would probably get a nice start to a summer tan...as you can see, I am conflicted.
Our field trip to the zoo went pretty well. It's the trip I got funded through a grant from Target. Last week I found myself wishing I had never even applied for a grant, or that I had used it for a smaller-scale but still very nice field trip for just the younger classes instead of the whole school. The logistics of this trip got pretty out of hand and at some point or another in the planning or on the actual trip, many people were angry, stressed out, or frustrated. Lots of parents went (lots 0f chaperones to watch her class=happy Allie) but then a lot of them expected to just be able to take their own child around the zoo for the day (free of charge with free transportation) and then meet us at the bus and get a ride home. Or they wanted to buy lots of snacks and souvenirs. We had some fairly intense discussions as a staff before the trip about what are policies should be about these things, and it took a lot of work to come a consensus. Honestly, the parents who came with my students were very helpful and didn't complain at all. I really have a great and supportive group of parents this year. The zoo trip was actually fun for me because of their help. I didn't really have to worry about the kids at all; I just kept our group together and led the way to different exhibits and the parents stayed with their two assigned children and made sure they didn't get lost.
I am thankful for a safe and successful trip, but if I apply for the Target grant again, I don't think I'll try for a whole-school trip. Maybe Pre-K and kindergarten going to the Please Touch museum and having our admission, lunch, and bus paid for and even getting a special program while we're there. That sounds nice and educational and not nearly as stressful.
I am also thankful that none of the teachers threw any of our students in the monkey cages, a topic that was frequently discussed in the days leading up to the trip.
Sunday was the end of the year party at Rob's house for all Urban Promise staff. Monica made delicious food (plus Bev's cinnamon rolls and sticky buns--hopefully not the last time I'll have them!), and it was fun to talk with people I don't frequently get to see these days. But the main event of the party was (per annual tradition) what I like to call the "forced affirmation circle." We all sit in a circle (maybe 25 or so people) and have to one at a time share about 3-5 verbal affirmations of people. Maybe "Kaitlin, I admire the way your class respects you and your dedication to them." Or "Alison, your class is freaking crazy for the second year in a row, but you still show up every day and haven't gone insane yet, so good job." This takes forever (we were at Rob's 5 hours), and I strongly dislike having to sit and be complimented by someone while 25 other people stare at me. Plus I had to say nice things to Bev, Linda, and Kaitlin, three people I love a lot who are all leaving Urban Promise forever in less than a month, while 25 people stared at me and I tried not to cry.
OK, I didn't hate it. I did breathe a sigh of relief when it was done, but it made me really appreciate where I work and the wonderful people I get to work with every day. They are dedicated and selfless and humble and very hardworking. They are different ages and races and denominations from different parts of the world, but they (and I) have chosen to come here to work towards a common goal and with a common motivation of love for God and the children and families of this city and a desire for peace and justice. We are a unique and special group (if I do say so myself!), and I'm so thankful to be part of it. We are a family. Plus it made me feel unexpectedly good to hear that the people around me see the work I'm doing and appreciate it. They understand (in a way no one else really can) that it is hard and frustrating and that I feel like it's not enough. But they were able to remind me that I am planting seeds and I am persevering and I am being faithful. And I was able to tell some people I love some specific things I appreciate and admire about them. Maybe not entirely comfortable for me but definitely worth the discomfort. I think it was the emotional boost of hope and idealism I needed to hold out until June 9th.
Our field trip to the zoo went pretty well. It's the trip I got funded through a grant from Target. Last week I found myself wishing I had never even applied for a grant, or that I had used it for a smaller-scale but still very nice field trip for just the younger classes instead of the whole school. The logistics of this trip got pretty out of hand and at some point or another in the planning or on the actual trip, many people were angry, stressed out, or frustrated. Lots of parents went (lots 0f chaperones to watch her class=happy Allie) but then a lot of them expected to just be able to take their own child around the zoo for the day (free of charge with free transportation) and then meet us at the bus and get a ride home. Or they wanted to buy lots of snacks and souvenirs. We had some fairly intense discussions as a staff before the trip about what are policies should be about these things, and it took a lot of work to come a consensus. Honestly, the parents who came with my students were very helpful and didn't complain at all. I really have a great and supportive group of parents this year. The zoo trip was actually fun for me because of their help. I didn't really have to worry about the kids at all; I just kept our group together and led the way to different exhibits and the parents stayed with their two assigned children and made sure they didn't get lost.
I am thankful for a safe and successful trip, but if I apply for the Target grant again, I don't think I'll try for a whole-school trip. Maybe Pre-K and kindergarten going to the Please Touch museum and having our admission, lunch, and bus paid for and even getting a special program while we're there. That sounds nice and educational and not nearly as stressful.
I am also thankful that none of the teachers threw any of our students in the monkey cages, a topic that was frequently discussed in the days leading up to the trip.
Sunday was the end of the year party at Rob's house for all Urban Promise staff. Monica made delicious food (plus Bev's cinnamon rolls and sticky buns--hopefully not the last time I'll have them!), and it was fun to talk with people I don't frequently get to see these days. But the main event of the party was (per annual tradition) what I like to call the "forced affirmation circle." We all sit in a circle (maybe 25 or so people) and have to one at a time share about 3-5 verbal affirmations of people. Maybe "Kaitlin, I admire the way your class respects you and your dedication to them." Or "Alison, your class is freaking crazy for the second year in a row, but you still show up every day and haven't gone insane yet, so good job." This takes forever (we were at Rob's 5 hours), and I strongly dislike having to sit and be complimented by someone while 25 other people stare at me. Plus I had to say nice things to Bev, Linda, and Kaitlin, three people I love a lot who are all leaving Urban Promise forever in less than a month, while 25 people stared at me and I tried not to cry.
OK, I didn't hate it. I did breathe a sigh of relief when it was done, but it made me really appreciate where I work and the wonderful people I get to work with every day. They are dedicated and selfless and humble and very hardworking. They are different ages and races and denominations from different parts of the world, but they (and I) have chosen to come here to work towards a common goal and with a common motivation of love for God and the children and families of this city and a desire for peace and justice. We are a unique and special group (if I do say so myself!), and I'm so thankful to be part of it. We are a family. Plus it made me feel unexpectedly good to hear that the people around me see the work I'm doing and appreciate it. They understand (in a way no one else really can) that it is hard and frustrating and that I feel like it's not enough. But they were able to remind me that I am planting seeds and I am persevering and I am being faithful. And I was able to tell some people I love some specific things I appreciate and admire about them. Maybe not entirely comfortable for me but definitely worth the discomfort. I think it was the emotional boost of hope and idealism I needed to hold out until June 9th.
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