This is what tired is.

7:00--Arrive at school

Prepare agenda

Prepare opening remarks trying to keep them simple but strong

Ensure that all papers are in order

Hang up string for timeline activity

Decide against using string and instead use pushpins to stick cards to the wall with years ranging from 1969-2009 all the way down the front hallway in preparation for the timeline activity.

Thank the custodian for letting me get in her way to do this while she is trying to clean up.

Drink some coffee. Should have eaten breakfast instead of thinking I'd actually make it in time for the pastries at the district staff meeting.

Check in with principal and take a deep breath.

Walk over to the high school for the district meeting.

8:30

District Meeting

I smile and wave when introduced. I'm the only new vice principal.

I am in the group of people who leave during the teacher's unions meetings now. Weird.

10:00

Back at school

Finalize the welcome poster and position it in front of the door.

Post agendas, prepare opening day folders for easy collection on the way into the theatre

Gather tools for timeline activity

10:30

Teachers arrive

Welcome teachers as they come into the theatre for our schoolwide opening meeting

Listen as TM gives opening remarks for about 25 minutes.

Open with simple remarks:

-Kids first

-I'm open to feedback if it means you can teach better

-The classroom is where the magic happens, so I'll support you to ensure you can work that magic--which isn't really magic, but hard work

Ask teachers to write their name and year they came to our school along with a statement about when/why/how they came. Ask teachers to write important events in Lincoln's history on small cards--including small events, large events, funny events, personal memories, etc.

Ask teachers to walk to the main hallway and tack their cards on the wall.

Stand and watch as teachers laugh and talk and walk along the wall to take a look.

Ask teachers to return to the theatre.

Finish with a reading of the school goals.

Ask teachers to choose one word or phrase that rises to the top for them

Ask each person to say their word or phrase in succession so that we hear everyone's word--kind of like a poem. Words like thrive, equity, and balance come up a lot.

Lunch. Thanks for the pizza, PTO!

Quick lunch with pre-K folks.

Take pictures of small groups of teachers for staff bulletin board. Get to know teachers names a little bit more this way.

1:00

Staff come back together for required paperwork. Sexual harassment, Swine Flu, etc.

1:45

Release teachers and keep paraprofessionals. Try to make recess duty sound exciting and get people to sign up.

2:00

One on one meetings with staff about schedules, needs, moving offices, particular students, IEPs.

4:00

Get tomorrow's agenda ready

4:15

Meet with TM about tomorrow.

Prepare materials for tomorrow.

Sit at desk and talk to Justin on chat for 5 minutes.

5:00

Rush out to the BBQ celebrating the summer reading program I ran this summer. Eat. Think about what I really should be doing--finalizing schedules.

Gather with summer staff from reading program after dinner to look at amazing growth of high school readers' scores and feel glad I came to the BBQ after all.

10:00

Get home

Begin work on schedule

Answer emails

12:16

Finish blog.

12:18 Proofread blog. Actually, nevermind.