First Day

Today was fantastic. A really wonderful first day of school. The day was quite simple, really, and it's only 6:30 and I'm actually home. I am exhausted--but the exhaustion is well worth it.

Here's how the simplicity was enough to fill up a whole day.

7AM--photocopy daily news, schedules and put those and candy in every staff member's box. Prepare signs for each class so they know where to meet. We had three meeting locations in the school where students met their teachers.

7:30--Head outside to greet the early arrivers.

7:45--Welcome each child and parent as they come into school.

8:15--TM leads the 6/7/8 opening assembly. The big pep talk thing isn't my style--I will go to classes one on one to meet kids instead. I make sure all classes have made it upstairs and answer questions for parents who are in the office. Thank goodness for the most amazing office staff in the world.

8:15-11:00--Visit every classroom and say hello. In the kindergarten, the teacher says, "Here's Ms. Cook, my very special friend. Does anyone know what her job is? It's very important..." "She works in the kitchen!!!" they said, "since her name is cook!" Makes sense. And when we explained my real job, they weren't nearly as impressed.

11:15-11:30--Attempt to sort out the situation of overbooked music space with the music teachers, but don't solve anything

11:30-1:30--Be a visible and strict presence for all four lunch and recess blocks. Take some time to turn some double dutch ropes and vow to go to Target to buy some recess supplies. How did we forget about that? There was one soccer ball outside. Shoot. One detail I forgot--I shouldn't have assumed there was an overflowing recess bin with all sorts of ropes and hula hoops and balls. Oh right, that's our job to make sure that bin exists.

1:30-2:00--Quick check in with TM about what needs to happen for tomorrow. Make a decisions to call it a fairly early evening. We're tired!

2:00- Head outside to greet the buses as they arrive and attempt to direct traffic around the poorly designed circle out front. If parents park on the circle, buses can't get in and out. This is a recipe for crabby parents. "Hi! I'm Ms. Cook. Move your car!"

Say goodbye to almost every student and family as they leave.

3:00-- The last, late, bus has left. Hand out locks to a couple of students and teach them how to use a combination lock.

Eat my lunch.

Meet with the music teachers and solve the overbooked music space issue.

Write the morning routines document to ensure a smooth start tomorrow and from here on out. Write the daily news for tomorrow. Email both.

Drive to Target and buy 2 playground balls. They don't have anything else. Lame.

6:30...home!