Tuesday: 9th Grade 7 Peaks Day - I was one of the chaperones for this trip. I haven't been on a school bus since I was in 9th grade and it was a strange feeling! Allison, Cameo, and I sat in the sun for 4 hours chatting and having a great time together. Intermingled with visits from our students, Glen in black socks with shorts and sandals, Ron and Curtis (teachers) sharing a tube for the water slides, Asa (student) in a speedo, and an insane sunburn - literally scorched skin!
Wednesday: A/B day - We had all 8 classes today which basically just turned into letting the kids talk amongst themselves all day.
Thursday: Yearbook Day - I made a goodbye video for my students with the help of Lani, Heather, and Jessica. I played Green Day "Time of your life" on my guitar with Heather singing and Jessica playing the violin. The kids loved it. I showed the video to each class and then they signed yearbooks for 20 minutes in each class period. I certainly was not this popular when I was in junior high but I thought my hand was going to fall off signing everyones yearbooks. It was a great day though. I am going to miss so many of those lovely kids. I got a few gifts - most of them breast cancer themed - which I love. After a very long day of school I met up with the fam for Jamesee Bear's birthday party. Went to bed very tired and not ready to face the next day.
Friday: Last Day of School - Today was hard. I had to say goodbye to some amazing kids. I have the strangest job in the world. The people I love and see everyday are ripped away from me at the end of every year. Mean. But the upside of today was longboarding. No, not outside after school. It was inside during school. The administration didn't want the students just roaming the halls so it was the teachers' job to contain them insdie the classrooms. Well there was 10 minutes left of school and two students walked into my class with longboards and I decided I wanted to stand on it. This was a bad idea because I was terrified to get off without falling. I was trapped. The boys pulled me into hallway where Mr. Johanson pushed me down the hall at a very high speed. I was obviously screaming so soon every student came out to watch. We had all the students and all the teachers out watching me attempt to not die on this longboard in the hallway. Then Allison jumped on the board with me for a double dose of fun. Cameo and I even had a race. I won but only because she took a little spill. It was honestly the funnest thing I have done all year. The energy was high, I was terrified, and the kids thought it was the greatest thing ever. After school was full of tears as I said goodbye to some teachers who won't be returning next year.
I love my job. I love Allison for loving me enough to help me stay at Orem Junior. I have the most amazing co-workers in the world. They are my best friends and we have something so magical. I LOVE LOVE LOVE teaching with them. Goodbye to OJH for now but come August I know I will find a new group of kids that I will probably love just as much as the last crew.
A1 Class on Yearbook Day
Longboarding down the hallway on the last day of school!
Walking down the "red carpet" entrance to the 9th grade dance on the arm of one of my students per his request
