School has officially started. We actually had to report yesterday but today is our open house. Parents are bringing their kiddos to meet the teachers and learn where their classes will be as many are transitioning from a self-contained classroom to having to move about from class to class. People who could see our little campus would likely laugh but it is a big transition for some of these kids. I'm excited for them.
We have gone through much of our PD yesterday and this morning. Blood Borne Pathogens, Child Abuse and Neglect, FERPA, etc. I have been through them so much (this is year 36) I could probably teach them myself. But as I was doing my continuing ed on CPR training I looked around at the young teachers, many of whom had never touched a defibrilator, and I was happy to be there. This is training that has been added during my years of teaching that we did not have to do when I started. I have come to think that it is necessary, especially for where we live. Fortunately I had the CPR training as a member of the volunteer fire department so when a kid quit breathing and collapsed from an allergic reaction to a girl's perfume (for conservatives, see, it happens ... and has been happening even before the COVID vaccine) during my 4th year of teaching, his PE teacher and I were able to do CPR and stabilize him until the paramedics arrived 45 minutes later. Sadly, years later he died in an car accident but I taught all three of his children as well, the last on graduating 3 years ago.
I had a mom of a 7th grade girl just come in. Mom was a student of mine several years ago. She was telling her daughter about getting caught in my Algebra II class with a dip of snuff. I know it's gross but that's the way of things. I had forgotten about it until she mentioned it today. She had the dip and I could tell she had it, but continued teaching until I finished going over the lesson. There were a few minutes left in class for them to work on their assignment so I just sat right in front of her and watched her. She couldn't spit without me seeing her, obviously, her bottle hid under her desk. After about 3 or 4 minutes she asked to go to the bathroom...and puked. LOL I'm glad that worked because some of these gals are tough and don't need to spit. She had to give me a hug before leaving my classroom today.
I'll be here until 4 pm today so I'm listening to sports talk radio and perusing the web. Got to go to town after we get out of here. I guess I'll have to spring for supper for me and the wife somewhere this evening.
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