Days with the Dorans

  Well... I was SUPPOSED to go back to the grade I had prior to all this switching Covid nonsense, but I'm staying in first grade which I am bummed about. I probably should have said something but it's not like people listen to you anyway. My principal said I did so good with K remote, I should teach kindergarteners. I told her it was a bit different when you had a mute button and PLEASE don't put me in K. Thankfully she didn't, but she didn't put me back in second. I'm disappointed but what else is new??? I did get this sweet text message from a parent of one of my remote kindergarteners and it made my day and reminded me to keep things in perspective. It does always work out no matter how bad things seem. That's it for now Room 119! See you in the fall and PRAYING it will be a MUCH better year. And now, I can REST!!!

It's a bit surreal that after 12 years we will no longer have a child at Dublin Elementary!!! This was certainly NOT how I expected Sean's "5th Grade Graduation" to go. He hasn't spent the year with these kids but they are his past and I'm sure it was good to see them. No parents were there but we could watch it on zoom and I did (with my class). I took a video of Sean walking the stage and then he shared his perspective on how the year went that you can see HERE . Thankful a teacher sent me this! It's OFFICIAL!! He had two different teachers at Dublin and then also Matt Hewitt for the third trimester!

I got a picture of Jeff at work so I had to post it since I don't usually get them of him. I am so glad he made the change and left Clarkston. His VI job is very cool. And I spoke at a board meeting recently that you can see HERE . We don't have a contract which is frustrating especially after the nonsense of the year.

  Well, we were supposed to run but no races are allowed because of dumb covid. We still decided to head north to Elk Rapids and it was so nice to get away. We did some running there but what I really liked was just being together and getting away! It is the best place to run! Joey played on the beach and I took a video of one of his songs (Fake Plastic Trees) and posted it HERE . My little fishies got in the pool! I thought it was cold!! We did actually find an outdoor place to eat. It was fun and yummy! We even made friends and had a sing-along at the bonfire!

Little by little the kids are starting to get their covid shots. Sean is still not eligible but Zach was! I feel like with each shot I can breathe a little easier. A student of mine's dad passed away and this stuff is just still scary to me!

Teacher's appreciation was nice and I especially loved the flowers from my kids! ;-) Work has been exhausting and hard. In addition to my "in school" kids, I've been keeping in touch wiht some of my formers who are still learning from home. I host zooms for anyone interested and am amazed that some that I only had for 10 weeks show up regularly to "talk" and just catch up. Shane is there ALL the time and we zoom pretty much daily. He was mainstreamed into my classroom and we have a pretty solid bond. It makes my day hearing from him!

Masks are on and soccer is back!

  I feel so lucky!! The Bigs were finally able to be vaccinated! I'm hoping the littles will be next but I'll take this. I had to take them downtown to get their shots but it was really well organized and we were in and out. They did great and I feel like we are on the way back to normalcy! (fingers crossed)

I'm SO mad at my district for the way they have handled this and all the stress it's put on me. They did give us some "free" therapy opportunities (which I was thankful for and used), but of course it had it's limits and since they were no longer paying, I was out. I am a bitter Betty toward them but the PEOPLE I work with are gems!  True I haven't taught first in quite a while but my team is familiar! Jill and Lisa are the best and were part of my first team (with Lynn). When I got to school there were love notes, and encouragement and a sweet care package (complete with the mascot "Rasheed" from Lucy- I'm NOT a fan of that curriculum but they each have a stuffed animal that is cute). When I got to school, this sweet note was on my door! Gianna's mom told met that when her daughter came back to school she really struggled going by my room and knowing I wasn't in there. As hard as this year has been, this meant a lot to me! The names on t...