So today was another one of those days that made me want to believe that Palpatine could possibly turn from the dark side of the Force. She actually showed a little humanity in our first offical faculty meeting, in the form of revealing some personal troubles (the kind that eat at you when kept inside)... and broke down somewhat. It was a moment where she could have reversed a lot of damage done in the past year simply by letting people into her life. But that will depend on how she handles herself from here.
The way she started addressing the faculty lead me to believe that she had finally clued in to how many of us were unhappy just coming to work. It all evolved into a very promising direction... but I've seen a lot of promising things come from her direction that didn't last.
I think the campus is ripe for some counter-reformation. A lot of people want to see the morale improve. If Palpatine is smart she won't try to lead that charge... I think she should let us do that ourselves. Then she can just plug in and absorb the genuine goodness.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Silver lining
So, my summer was fantastic and horrible at the same time. It was fantastic because of all the external things I did. I saw Europe, I spent some of the best quality time with my wife... ever.... I spent three weeks in my favorite music community, making some great pieces come to life.
And at the same time it was horrible because of what I did internally. I worried. I obsessed. I had Palpatine on the backburner of my psyche every waking minute of every day. I know that's not healthy... and I tired not to. I'm surprised that there wasn't more alcohol involved.
So, nevertheless, I haven't been all that enthusiastic about getting ready for school
. In fact I blew off so much prep work, I neglected to set up a retreat for the leadership team. Hell, I didn't even select the members of the leadership team. Every time I had time to work on that stuff, something in the back of my head came running out and screamed "NO! DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT! GO BACK HOME, HANG OUT ON THE INTERNET AND PLAY VIDEO GAMES!"
So here we are at the end of summer, and I can't put it off any more. On monday of this week I e-mailed the kids who had submitted applications for the leadership council, and I basically told the... the truth. I told them I didn't know what to do about the council. I told them retreat wasn't going to happen (which, by now, I'm sure most of them figured out anyway.) I told them we needed to meet at the school and get started. I was expecting that maybe two people out of eight would show.
The enext day, all eight kids showed up. We had a short meeting, after which they grabbed brooms and equipment lists, and proceeded to put the room back in order. They cleaned out the lockers, they took inventory on the instruments, they even reorganized the drawers in my desk. It was the most productive that the council has ever been, and it made me feel all fuzzy inside.
And since then... as I've had time to walk around the school a little, I found out that there was a part of me that was eager to come back... that wanted to be hopeful. Of course, I didn't run into Palpatine at all this week, but I don't think it would have mattered.
And at the same time it was horrible because of what I did internally. I worried. I obsessed. I had Palpatine on the backburner of my psyche every waking minute of every day. I know that's not healthy... and I tired not to. I'm surprised that there wasn't more alcohol involved.
So, nevertheless, I haven't been all that enthusiastic about getting ready for school
. In fact I blew off so much prep work, I neglected to set up a retreat for the leadership team. Hell, I didn't even select the members of the leadership team. Every time I had time to work on that stuff, something in the back of my head came running out and screamed "NO! DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT! GO BACK HOME, HANG OUT ON THE INTERNET AND PLAY VIDEO GAMES!"
So here we are at the end of summer, and I can't put it off any more. On monday of this week I e-mailed the kids who had submitted applications for the leadership council, and I basically told the... the truth. I told them I didn't know what to do about the council. I told them retreat wasn't going to happen (which, by now, I'm sure most of them figured out anyway.) I told them we needed to meet at the school and get started. I was expecting that maybe two people out of eight would show.
The enext day, all eight kids showed up. We had a short meeting, after which they grabbed brooms and equipment lists, and proceeded to put the room back in order. They cleaned out the lockers, they took inventory on the instruments, they even reorganized the drawers in my desk. It was the most productive that the council has ever been, and it made me feel all fuzzy inside.
And since then... as I've had time to walk around the school a little, I found out that there was a part of me that was eager to come back... that wanted to be hopeful. Of course, I didn't run into Palpatine at all this week, but I don't think it would have mattered.
Monday, August 20, 2007
A giant Sunday!
I wish I was talking about a gallon of ice cream, but really it's a reference to the month of August
. I'm here... woefully unprepared for the coming school year.
The good news is that Palpatine didn't move my schedule around as much as she could have. They did make one change that took away my 4th period prep (which means that I won't be guaranteed an early lunch should I so choose.) But the upswing is that my new 2nd period prep is bound to be way more productive, and will put a well needed break in an otherwise grueling string of classes that stretch from 0 period to lunch (that schedule was taxing last year.) Yeah, she may have actually done me a favor there.
The bad news is that she's trying to balance my numbers, and may put more people in band than we can accommodate with instruments. Now, regarding the 7th grade enrollment I have mixed feelings. I think she is trying to balance it out so I don't have an obnoxious amount of people in my first period class (choir)... and by obnoxious I'm talking about 90+ students. I truly believe she's trying to do some me some good there. Only right now, choir may be the only place I can handle those kinds of numbers, although I hope to high heaven that an alternative makes itself known. If I had the instruments to go around, I wouldn't mind so much.
. I'm here... woefully unprepared for the coming school year.
The good news is that Palpatine didn't move my schedule around as much as she could have. They did make one change that took away my 4th period prep (which means that I won't be guaranteed an early lunch should I so choose.) But the upswing is that my new 2nd period prep is bound to be way more productive, and will put a well needed break in an otherwise grueling string of classes that stretch from 0 period to lunch (that schedule was taxing last year.) Yeah, she may have actually done me a favor there.
The bad news is that she's trying to balance my numbers, and may put more people in band than we can accommodate with instruments. Now, regarding the 7th grade enrollment I have mixed feelings. I think she is trying to balance it out so I don't have an obnoxious amount of people in my first period class (choir)... and by obnoxious I'm talking about 90+ students. I truly believe she's trying to do some me some good there. Only right now, choir may be the only place I can handle those kinds of numbers, although I hope to high heaven that an alternative makes itself known. If I had the instruments to go around, I wouldn't mind so much.
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