My Fan Club

Yesterday was the presentation of my school's Spring Fine Arts Festival. It is a collaboration of the fine arts specialists who choose a theme and then each of them works with students to rehearse and present a part of the program. The music teacher has the choir and the recorder club perform. The P.E. teacher taught the 4th and 5th grade students three different dance numbers. The librarian has a story telling festival each year and chooses some of those students to perform. The art teacher is in charge of all the scenery and has students help him. Plus, student art is displayed in the halls for the day of the presentations when parents and other guests visit for the programs (presented 3 times--one in the evening.) So, it is a very elaborate event, and the practicing and preparation begin immediately after we return from winter break. I wouldn't have missed it for anything!

Yesterday, a lady from church came to take me over to school. (CoolGuy was involved in an on-line meeting the entire morning--he picked me up at noon.) We drove over and got my little cart all ready to go. She held the doors for me to go in and I turned the corner to enter the cafeteria where the presentation was going to be. I knew that the choir would be in place, and all the participants would be there so they could get their costumes on, ready for the 10:00 A.M. performance. Also, since the 9:00--9:50 block of specials is the fourth grade time, I also knew that many of my students would be in there. The music teacher would have nowhere else for that class to be. What I didn't expect was their reaction.

As I turned into the doorway to enter the cafeteria and find a seat, a little thrill rushed through the room. Then someone shrieked, "It's Mrs. [EarthSignMama]!!" A cheer went up and got louder, then they all started clapping! One or two of the more impulsive ones jumped up and started running over, which encouraged a flood--which was checked by all the teachers (including me) gesturing and calling out to just stay put, please. But, seriously, I was overwhelmed! If I'd have had Justin Bieber on my arm, they'd wouldn't have been more excited to see me.

I watched the program, which was completely boffo as usual. We have the most amazing people working at our school! Then, I went down to the fourth grade rooms and spent about an hour. I got out some more things from my file cabinet to help my sub with some issues. I talked to the students about how I was doing and when I hoped to be back. I took an artifact in that would help the Social Studies teacher explain the era of Nevada history they were studying currently. I also had the chance to stop by the office and sign my evaluation for this year. (Yes, I'm good enough to teach another year.) It was a fun day.

I was so exhausted from spending two hours there, that I came home and spent the rest of the afternoon asleep. So, I guess I'm not ready to return yet. But hopefully by the end of this month, I'll have healed enough to be able to go back when the doctor predicted. It is nice to know I'm missed, though.