Day 168 of 365: No gnus is good gnus!

This is the flat screen plasma TV that was donated to the school by someone last year. It hangs in the hallway outside of the office. My classroom is right across from the office so of course I see it everyday. In the morning, they show the Broadcast News (announcements) done live by the students! That part is actually pretty cool. But honestly, what a waste for a really nice TV! The rest of the school day, it's on channel 3 which shows the "Jaguar time" (our mascot is the jaguar). So basically, it is just an overly expensive clock??? Yeah, I don't get it either.

Day 135 of 365: Ah, Parree!

A gift from a student at school who went to Paris during the Christmas/winter break. Wasn't it sweet of her to bring me something?? She was even worried I might have one already. I told I didn't and I unofficially collect Eiffel Towers since I've got several other things at home. She seemed excited to have "guessed" and I promptly put it on display on my desk! I told her I'd look at it and it would remind me of how wonderful Paris is everytime I see it.

Day 59 of 365: The lighthouse

This is the lighthouse. A giant, plastic lighthouse that gets passed from teacher to teacher at our school (which explains why it's slightly crooked!!) There's a program called "Lighthouse Class of the Week" that the students do. They nominate a teacher and class period to be the recipient. They give reasons why the teacher is deserving, then the administration (?) vote on the week's winner and present the giant plastic lighthouse and a framed certificate to the teacher! It's very sweet and really is quite an honor since the students themselves nominate you. I missed the original announcement on the school morning announcements Monday (I wasn't at school that day!) but today, I came into my classroom and it was sitting on my desk, along with the certificate and mints for each of the students. They were very excited and proud that we won. So am I. :)

Day 41 of 365: My School (Not quite as exciting as cock soup, though)

Here's the entrance to my school where I teach! It's fairly standard design for all the schools around here. In fact, I worked at another local middle school down the street before coming here, and it has the exact same layout, only mirror image! It took some getting used to when I first came here, especially since my room was on the same hallway as it was before. I still sometimes get turned around if I'm not thinking!

There are a few parents milling about the breezeway there. They are on the beautification committee, I believe. They were discussing whether or not to put in pavers (stone steps) leading to the grass from the sidewalk and if they thought the kids would actually use them! I'm pretty sure they wouldn't!!