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Subject: [MK8]Re: How many more days?

From: Penny Thomas

Date: Tue, 18 May 2010 17:24:18 -0400

Eight days here for me (with students). The students get out next
Friday, May 28. Then we have 4 teacher workdays the next week, so
teachers don't get out until June 4. I know we have some meetings and
at least one training scheduled in there somewhere. I plan on
cleaning out my teacher desk. It's something I never really did when
I arrived at my new school last year, and it's a mess and I'm tired of
finding junk from the old teacher. Also, hope to start on lesson
plans for next year.

We had our Spring Program last night (Monday night). It is very late
in the year, but that was the day I was scheduled in our beautiful
Centre for Performing Arts. The performers were my chorus, and first,
third and fifth grades. Now, many of you have had problems with
fifth grades....they have pretty much shut down. Two weeks ago, they
were excited about the program, but last week, they hardly sang the
songs at all. So, last night, out of about 85 fifth graders.....14
showed up!!! And five of those were in chorus, so they were there
anyway. The 14 did a fabulous job, though, so it turned out alright.
But, what a true disappointment for the school to have students who
care so little about anything or anyone else but themselves.

I was also very disappointed with a fellow music teacher today. We
ride together to the Orff workshops here, and once, I was talking
about creating a summer music program. How I had always wanted to do
that, but got no support for it at my FL district, and how we have the
beautiful Centre for Performing Arts here (owned by the school
system), and it would be a great place to have a summer music camp. I
talked about the things to have for the students to do and learn at a
summer music camp......so today, I get this e mail from this teacher,
with a brochure about a ......summer music camp at the Centre. She is
doing it with another music teacher. Talk about feeling stabbed in
the back.

We signed our contracts last Friday. Instead of furlough days, our
county just reduced the teacher days to 187 (down from 190). So, our
pay was adjusted accordingly. I will be making about $1200 less than
when I came here, but still more than I was making in FL, so I can't
complain too much....I just hope this trend doesn't continue.

Dr. Penny, in GA, so ready for school to be over this year.

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