matching tracksuits

fun in threes, sometimes fours

Our Team

Thursday 11 May 2023

One of the sweetest girls on our team drew a dry-erase marker portrait of the four of us.

It's that time of year when I'm of two minds: on the one hand, I'm tired of these kids. I'm ready for new, fresh blood. I know the ins and outs of each kid (sort of); I know what makes them tick; I know how they're going to react to this or that. And I'm ready for a new batch.

On the other hand, I love most of these kids. Every year, I think, "This is the greatest group of kids I've ever worked with. There's no way next year can be better." And it usually is. And so I'll miss them, and a part of me doesn't want to see them go.

But just a slightly bigger part does...

Time to move on, kiddos.

Dworzec

Wednesday 10 May 2023

Flood 2023

Tuesday 09 May 2023

We had a tremendous hail and rain storm today -- about the worst we've ever had.

Victorious

Monday 08 May 2023

Congratulations to our girls' soccer team, who won the district championship tonight.

Several of my students are on the team, so I had to go watch this -- not just our school to cheer but individual students I'll see in class tomorrow and give high fives.

They went to extra time, scored at 0-0, and they won in the final minute of extra time. In a way, though, I feel awful about it: they didn't win on a big strike to the corner of the goal. It was a goalie mistake, pure and simple. Almost a beginner's mistake, I would say. The goal slumped down and began weeping. I felt awful for her: she's going to feel the whole team did their part, and then she let them down. She's going to relive the moment endlessly. She's going to beat herself up over that for weeks. And the team will (and already did) huddle around her and cheer her up, tell her everything is fine -- "We did the best we could!" But that won't help. At least not for a while.

Sunday at Conestee

Sunday 07 May 2023

Before Without the After

Saturday 06 May 2023

Today was so busy that I forgot all about the after picture.

Throw

Friday 05 May 2023

L won the javelin competition at the regional meet!

Guest Speaker

Thursday 04 May 2023

Some days, out of seemingly nowhere, every single class clicks. Every period, kids are focused, doing what they need to do, and doing it well. Doing it thoroughly. And appearing even to enjoy what they're doing.

Where do these days come from? How is it that we're doing almost exactly the same thing we did yesterday and yet everything is different? How is it that the same students are here, even the students who can exhibit problematic behavior at times, and yet we have a totally different result?

The frustrating thing about it is the timing: we have 20 days of school left…

Regionals

Wednesday 03 May 2023

ACE Awards

Tuesday 02 May 2023

Tonight was the ACE Awards, a local award program that recognizes the kids who might not be in the spotlight all the time but are making a difference. The "unsung heroes," as they're called.

One of the two winners from our school, a sweet young lady named A, is in my English class. You've never met a sweeter, kinder human being. It's an honor to get to work with such kids.