What's After Work?

That's kind of how I felt today. Just gone. I left school today for the last time. No fanfare, no hoopla, no cheering crowds. Just start my car and drive off. I went in today because working one day in a month gives me the benefit of keeping my health insurance till the end of the month. I also wanted to help the art teacher that is taking my position at Mary E. Bryant to start and answer any question she had. And tell a my coworker good by one last time. But in the end I realize that teaching at Bryant will continue and the buses will arrive tomorrow morning at 7:10 just like they have every morning. I'm not sure if I will be up by then. Tomorrow I start on a new part of my life. In some ways I'm more prepared for this change in my life and in other ways less. Financially I'm in pretty good shape. Not wealthy but comfortable. What I'm not prepared for is the time and what to do with if.  Jan wants me to take a year to develop a plan for what I'm going to ...

One of the traditions at Mary E Bryant Elementary is to clap-out the graduating 5th graders as they move on to middle school. Well today I received a surprise clap-out from the entire school. All the students, teachers and staff secretly gathered in the courtyard to send me off. This in itself was quite a feat because my room is not far from the courtyard. At about 1:45 Mrs. Oberschall came to my room declaring that there was some sort of tech emergency in the office that needed my immediate attention. I thought to myself "great someone needs their computer restarted so they can print an email for a file." But by the time I got to the doorway I knew something was up. Then by the time I stepped outside the cheering started. I went to the middle looked at all the cheering kids then climbed on top of the bronco to wave at everyone. That really got them going. I then jumped down and ran through the crowds giving high fives all around. Back in the middle I stayed for a few mo...

I've been busy the past week Getting ready for the final art show, finishing up the ceramic unit the students are working on and pulling together lesson plans that whoever comes after me can use till they get their sea legs at Bryant. So I haven't been giving much thought to my last days at Bryant. I had heard that there were plans but knew nothing mire that that. That changed when I saw a Tweet on our school web site about the "12 Days of Blissmas" I was surprised and humbled. Our 12 Days of Blissmas begins Thursday! Much fun and festivities planned to show our gratitude for Mr. Bliss as he retires at the end of this month. #WeClimbTogether @Rob4Principals @HCPSArea2 pic.twitter.com/Rw3Y4x0b96 — Bryant Elementary (@MaryBryantElem) December 2, 2019

With the start of December begins my yearly time on the naughty list seen on the schools morning show. This year I was placed on the naughty list because I'm retiring. I guess it could be worse. So now all the kids know that I am leaving and most today tried to talk me out of  going. It was kind of hard.  Posting the school newsletter on the school web site. One of the other jobs I do at the school is manage the school web site and today I also posted the school newsletter with the announcement of my retirement. I don't know if this is my last or if there will be one more at the end of December before I leave. Up-date: While I posted the newsletter yesterday I did not post this blog at the same time. While at bus duty this morning I ran into a parent that congratulated me on my retirement and spoke enviously of me going to Hawaii. I was not sure how many read the news letter or were interested in what I was doing. But I guess there are a few.