Woes and Cons

Yesterday school ended for the semester. On the good hand, most of my kids did very well (much better than expected, and better than I think any class before them) on their mid-term. This translates into only 2, maybe 3 who didn't pass the semester. The day was actually kind of fun and different - the Social Studies team on the 7th grade had the kids in teams making a product for the past few weeks. Many beads, plastic lanyard strings, sparkles and paint were in evidence up to yesterday, which was the marketplace, set up in the cafeteria. The project taught about teamwork, but yesterday taught them about free trade. Some kids had unique or desirable stuff (homemade brownies sold out first). Others had the same stuff others did, like small snack bags of chips. They realized quickly they had to stand out, and then the fun began. Some groups had barkers, others started offering 2 bags for the same price as others had one. I was outside of all this, selling tickets (no cash inside the cafeteria) along with another math teacher. All told the 2 hours netted over $900 (mind you, this is a school where the kids can't afford to pay $2 a day for their lunch, but instead get it free) which goes toward field trips in the coming semester.

Last night was my youngest's orchestra holiday recital, in which she had a solo. Painfully we have to sit through the kindergarten program (every year). Then the music teacher forgot that she had a solo, and wrapped that portion without her performing (he didn't have a list of who had been practicing...go figure). She was pretty devastated, and we could see how upset she was, but she still performed the last two numbers of the concert. She was VERY upset last night, crying and threatening she would not go to school this morning, and she would quit orchestra.

This morning she is in slightly better spirits. Wife and I will go to the school performance (gah, another Kindergarten program), and the teacher has promised to not only remember, but put her first. I also made pancakes for breakfast - man it is easy to do things early in the morning when you are used to leaving by 6:30 - which helped her cheer up some.

Also last night the bigger dog rooted into my bag (closed with velcro) and consumed a loaf cake (wrapped in decorated plastic, and in a foil pan) while we were out. She got a BIG reminder who the alpha dog is (I don't think she liked being carried through the house by the scruff of the neck, back to the scene of the crime) and we are shopping for a muzzle so we can curb her chewing during the day while we are out.

Many many errands today, and both girls are done with school by lunchtime. Then it is officially VACATION time.