Talent Show

Madison had its talent show last night and of course the school was able to see the show during the afternoon.  Second grade Janie (not her name) stood in front of 500 students and 60 plus adults dressed in her Little Orphan Annie dress.  Her mother had to hold her up but she belted out "Tomorrow".  She knew every word.  Her audience cheered and her teachers wept.  Janie attends Madison in the centerbase program.  She has Downs Syndrome and is Severely Multiply Impaired.  Sure, her performance wasn't ready for "American Idol" but I was far more entertained than I've ever been watching that program.  There was an amazing range of talent in our little school.  What a lovely memory.

Softball Season

Monte's softball team had their first game of the season last night.  They won - by a lot.  If I weren't a lady I'd phrase it another way.  In the past few years I have neglected these games.  I've had lots of excuses but this year I'm determined to attend most of them.  It was really fun to sit in the fresh air and visit with all of the fans.  It is a "church" league, meaning all of the teams are from a different church.  This makes for fun discussions in the spectator section because nobody gets so competitive that it overrides their Christlike attitude (usually).  I could sit and groan with the other side's fans when our team scored their 20th run, and as my husband threw the ball to first base for a really pretty double play I could say "that one's my hubby" without fear of getting my ears boxed.  It was fun - more to follow.

End of the 09/10 school year.

The end of the year is rolling in sorta like a tsunami.  Our district is closing 7 (or is it 8) schools at the end of the school year.  My school isn't one of them but it means staffing shakups district wide.  Our principal is being replaced by someone with more seniority.  It is never comfortable when your supervisor is being replaced with an unknown. You may remember a few posts ago, I mentioned what a superior principal this woman is.  I will greatly miss working with her.  There was also a real possibility that I might be replaced by someone with more seniority.  The staffing announcements came out on Thursday and I will still be working at Madison.  Hooray! (I think) No really, I've been lucky to work at Madison for the past 6 years.  I will be back in my previous position as the EBD teacher half time and the Sped Department Lead the other half.  AND I will be teaching summer school at Madison this year which puts me closer to home than the past 3 years. So most of the news is good.  My son and his wife are having a baby this summer and I'm beginning to plot ways to get to Utah this summer to see the new baby. (For more info see their blog "Why Not")  Monte has gone back to school.  He has had his nose in his books since January.  I'm so proud!  Anna and Stan are talking about moving to Arizona (or maybe Florida?)  I lost track, but there will most certainly be a move in their future.  Brenda had an emergency surgery in March (if you don't already know for what you'll have to ask her yourself.  She thinks blogging and facebook are far too public as it is so I'll respect her privacy - a little) She's almost as tough as she thinks she is, though, and seems to have healed up well.  So, I'm really starting to look forward to summer coming, getting ready for it is the tsunami part I'm treading water as the wave curls me under.  Maybe my baby brother will teach me to surf!