Week 21: Wandering

Our first Camp City Year Committee meeting - treats and nameplates!

After helping O practice for the ACT, and trying to convince J that he should actually do some homework in his life.

Serving royalty at the VIP lounge.

We made it in the local newspaper!

This week has been full of: chaos.  Due to ACT testing in our classroom, we've been nomads wandering the school for available workspace; we also had a couple "logistical crisis" right before our VIP lounge lunch for the kids.  We also had our first two meetings with the Camp City Year committee (we run a day camp during spring break), and Maggie Evans, our wonderful literacy trainer, came to our school for our training session.

Quotes of the Week: 
"There is no such thing as impossible." - Y, a junior, during a conversation about life.  She is so inspiring - she has a two-year-old boy and works a job every day, and is still one of the most positive, determined students I've met.

"The most effective way to teach kids is to immerse them in the same skill, day after day." - Maggie, our literacy trainer

"Why should I work hard on this?  It's not like I'm going to send it to the president or anything... sometimes I just don't get how they educate us." - M, a challenging junior, during one-on-one time.  Well said. 

"He's quiet in class??  A few years ago, he was outgoing and participated a lot... but then one of his three brothers was shot and killed... another one of the brothers was shot and killed a couple years prior to that, too... "  A shocking reminder that we never really know the whole story. 

"Abuelita got ran over by a REINdeeeeeeer!" - A, a freshmen, walking to the bus :-)

"I'm going to make a Q2Q for my mental breakdown." - Phil, after seeing how busy we'll be with meetings until April.  

Joys:  Hearing "I missed you!" from students and staff when we returned on Monday after a week of training; showing D how to type by narrating it like a sports game; so many small improvements in J - he's a freshmen who usually comes to school one or two or three hours late and puts in minimal effort.  We've had a few really good conversations this week and I gave him an alarm clock, and he actually stayed after school to work on a paper TWICE, and came to school only 20 or 30 minutes late most days!