Middle School Graduate

WE made it through Middle School - YES, I mean "WE"! It seems like just yesterday that Ryan was having such a diffifult time transition into Middle School and now it's over. Listening to his fellow classmates speak at the recognition ceremony was such an eye opener. When looking back at their middle school "careers" many mentioned all the fears and anxieties they had going into 6th grade. Unfortunately, the kids didn't share those feelings with each other at the time and Ryan would have benefited knowing he wasn't alone.

What a growing experience middle school was for Ryan. Remember that timid immature boy, who for months needed to be led through the front doors of the school by myself, Bill and even the Assisitant Principal? That boy who had tears rolling down his checks as he left the house each morning. That boy who could not walk to school because his legs were too weak from fear. That boy who would vomit every single morning from all the anxiety he was feeling........ And now.......that boy, he was holding back tears because he was sad that he was leaving the school he had grown to love. WE too learned something, Ryan may need to be pushed; but in the end he just may surprise us!




Now he's off to a brand new high school - a school that will only have Freshman and Sophomores. An opportunity to participate in activities that are usually only available to Juniors and Seniors. Leaving the oldest and smallest middle school in the district to the newest and largest school in the district. As I watched Ryan "graduate" on Friday, surprisingly, I was not sad, not scared, but proud and content. Thinking back to when he graduated preschool, kindergarten and then left grammar school, I was very sad and full of uncertianty and fear. (I even got a job at his elementary school to make sure he was well taken care of!!!) So, in the end, middle school was not only a growing experience for Ryan, it was a growing experience for me too! I know, without a doubt, Ryan will do just fine in High School. I am grateful to feel that sense of confidence because it puts my mind at ease!

Speaking of school - - BIG NEWS!!!! I will be working at Brookdale full time beginning August 19th! GOGO will be a part of my past! After trying to get official word of when my position would be elimiated I had finally received a response that as of July 1 the PLAN was not to have any support in the branches. The day I received the email was the EXACT day I had my review with the principal at school. I explained the situation and his exact words were: DO I WANT YOU HERE FULL TIME - ABSOLUTELY. CAN I MAKE IT HAPPEN - WELL, I DON'T KNOW!?!?!?! The district is restructuring the special education program and making deep cuts. Instead of laying off any personnel, they are shifting aides from schools that have too many aides to schools that will need aides. So, for two LONG weeks we waited.....and waited....and waited. On Monday, there was an email that stated the district was retaining all TA's BUT you would not know your assigned school until summer. Of course, I always assume the worst. I'd only be part time and I'd be at some other school. On Tuesday, the principal came down to ask me to come into his office, as he needed to speak with me. His face, along with the head of the student service department had a "serious" and "sad" look on their faces. When I went into his office he said: LISA, I'VE SENT SEVERAL EMAIL'S, MADE MANY PHONE CALLS AND ALL I CAN SAY IS.........YOU ARE COMING BACK TO BROOKDALE FULL TIME!!! Full time means full benefits!!! Actually, better benefits than GOGO and much cheaper. What a relief!

So, now I wait again.........and for those who know me........I don't like to wait!!!! GOGO is now playing a "game". When asking about my separation package and when my final day of employment would be - I was informed that they are now looking into a remote possibilty of a position created for myself! NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!!!! I believe they wish to wait and have me resign, so I am not eligible for the separation package or the stimulus COBRA package. I guess I can play the game for a little while.........as school doesn't start for a couple months........but I was hoping to have some of the summer off. I'm sure everything will work out in the end................

Speaking of summer, Ryan begins his "high school football career" on Monday! GO MUSTANGS! He will have football camp along with strength and speed training 4 days a week all summer long! It's a early morning start, so no sleeping in this summer! It's good preparation for the early morning start for high school!

That's all for now..........................more updates to follow!

FOURTH QUARTER ALREADY?

It's already the end of April and were in the final quarter of the school year......and in about 6 weeks Ryan will be officially a HIGH SCHOOLER! Although our school district does not have a graduation ceremony for 8th grade, they do have a "celebration" of sorts. Ryan's will take place on June 5th.

Since my last post, Ryan has joined the Track and Field team. His "specialties" are the 100 yard dash, discus and shot put, as you can see from the above photo. We also just enrolled him into the summer football camp for his new high school.

Speaking of school, this time of the year is so chaotic! We have so many projects going on and will be entertaining the parents with poetry this up coming week. We have also compiled recipes for a cookbook we will be using as a Mother's Day gift. On top of the regular curriculum and our field trip to Naper Settlement, I've been working into the wee hours of the morning to make these projects "extra special" !

Training has begun at GOGO for our new system. Unfortunately, it takes place in New Jersey. Once again, I have told them I WILL NOT TRAVEL. Apparently, this "new" company feels that everyone enjoys to travel and your job should be your first priority.....NOT.... I have mentioned several times my family and teaching position takes priority, and traveling is not an option. My "work-life" ends at 7:00pm and no amount of money will interfere with MY time.

My evaluation from the school should be within the next 2 weeks. (the union contract states it has to be done prior to May 8th) At which time I will mention to the principal the possibility of returning there full time in the fall - in order to receive the union benefits . I am hoping by mid -summer that I will know my options with GOGO and make a decision base on what is going on at that time. After turning down several offers of Future Team Leader, Area Accountant, ticketing agent and most recently Sales Consultant - I'm not quite sure what would be left! Then we have uncertainty with the school district as there will be budget cuts , due to the fact that Illinois is the state with the least funding for schools and is 3 months/15 million dollars behind in payment to the district! The superintendent is trying to change the special education program AND our union contract is up at the end of this school year and in the bargaining stages right now. So, I'm trying to be patient......because good things come to those who WAIT!!!!

Here's Ryan's Easter "basket" from this year -
We also just celebrated my Mom's birthday!




Hope to update soon!

Lisa

SNOW DAY!!

~Let it snow....Let it snow....Let it snow~

The day before Winter break we end up with a SNOW DAY!!! I told Ryan he's going to wish we had this day on the first day back instead of today! I am so glad I was thinking ahead and brought the 37 Christmas gifts I had under the tree for students, faculty and staff. Otherwise I would have had to store everything for over two weeks! Ryan decided to experience a day at work with Mom! He got to see how long the day can be at the office!

This past week has been a trying one! First I was rear ended while Christmas shopping, my check engine light has come on, I fell on the back of my head on the icy parking lot at work and ended up getting many X-rays of my skull - which is still extremely sore! It's causing me headaches and periods of nausea along with times of "confusion". A few people have told me that I've been repeating myself within an hour or two. The doctor explained that I hit my head so hard that it caused my brain to move in my head and I'm experiencing these symptoms because of it. It's been 3 days now and the second day was worse than the first......hopefully soon I will start feeling "normal".

At GOGO our area leader flew in under the impression I would except a position as "area accountant". This would require lots of travel throughout the United States! Not too sure what she was thinking after I've already turned her down as future team leader and to train in New Jersey since "I DON'T WANT TO TRAVEL OR WORK FULL TIME" there. The position I hold is being "restructured" and they keep giving me other duties with other offices to insure I will continue to work there. After turning down the area accountant position I explained that I had an opportunity to go full time with the school in insure I would have benefits. They keep telling me I'm a valued employee and they will fight tooth and nail to keep my there......what ever happens - happens.

For the holidays I will be off on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.....it will be a nice break, as I haven't had that many days off ever!!!!!

Ryan's been doing well with wrestling. I was able to go to my first meet on Wednesday. I arrived while the other team was practicing and wasn't sure how I would handle seeing my son's limps, head and body tortured! What an awful sport!





Hope to post again real soon - HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!! ~Lisa

Looking Back - a month or two!

Among all the blog updating I've been doing for work and school, I've sort of let my personal blog fall off to the side! Football season is now over. Ryan's team had a awesome year, only losing 2 games. His coaches gave him many opportunities as the season went on. I'm sure the highlight for Ryan was having the entire team chanting his name as he was placed on offense and was handed the ball in hopes of completing a touchdown. Sadly, no one blocked for him on either play and he was tackled immediately - but still the memory of hearing SADLER, SADLER, SADLER by the coaches and teammates is the football story he will be sure to share with his kids someday!

With football season behind us- Ryan has now become a member of the wrestling team. He really seems to enjoy it - although I don't know why. It seems so primitive to me. He lost his first match - but so did every other boy except two! I haven't had the opportunity to see a match - but hope to do so soon. The matches are on several different weekdays - and Wednesday will most likley be the only day I will be able to cheer him on.

School has been hectic. Being responsible for FIVE supported ed kids can be stressful at times. Although it can be quite rewarding. Two of my students have come from intercity schools and scored ZERO's on standardize tests at the beginning of the year. They both could not read a single word- had no phonics foundation what-so-ever, and did not have any math concepts at all. They are actually making progress and although struggle even with the modified work - it is so heartwarming to see them stand so proudly and smile over their accomplishments. I even been getting "love notes" on my desk. Sadly, I've never worked with so many children from needy families. At our school, the majority of families are well off......since the restructure of our boundries, we have aquired some children that are part of a a different economic level. Ryan and I went shopping one evening and as I walked through the store all I could think of was how some of these kids don't have hats and gloves to stay warm at recess - where others have many different name brand coats, matching hats and gloves, boots and snowpants. I purchased some hats and gloves and brought them to school the following day. One boy was so grateful, it was as if he had won the lottery! Each year I contribute to the holiday outreach program for the families at our school that may be going through a difficult time. At one point, our school had a total of 35 families. Last year, I believe it was 15 families. This year alone, in our classroom there are 6!!! I am hoping to contribute to each of the 6 families - more specific for the second grade child of each of these families. A "wishlist" should be released soon.

Speaking of Christmas, I've begun to wrap the gifts I have purchased so far. I have a total of 41 people to buy for (not including the 24 students I will purchase something small for.) I've completed 31 people!! Once the holiday outreach list is released there will be 6 more gifts to purchase. I'm hoping to finish shopping/wrapping soon, so I'm not so overwhelmed with the holidays.

I've made several photo books through snapfish for that "special" gift. I just finished creating a book for my uncle and two cousins, in memory of my aunt who passed away a few months back. I'm sure this holiday season will be very difficult; as it is the first without her. I hope they appreciate the sintament and thought that went into it.

I've been trying to find out a way to post or embed the collection of photobooks I've made......stay tuned!

~Lisa

OCTOBER ELECTION?

Hard to believe we've entered Fall already. Ryan's football team is 2 & 2 so far. He's been enjoying his special team kick return position. He is rotated into the defensive line also.

Ryan was voted into the student counil as arepresentative last week and now has decided to run for the executive board as Treasurer. He will be speaking in front of the entire student body and faculty (over 1000 people) on Friday to persuade them to vote for him! Sure is a far cry from the boy who cried entering middle school just 2 years ago! He's asked me to attend the assembly to hear him speak - so I've arranged for a substitiute and hope to have good news to report soon!

GOOD LUCK RYAN!!!!

Where Has The Time Gone?

WOW! It's hard to believe my last post was in JULY!!! So much has gone on since then. Of course, school has started for both Ryan and I. AGAIN, Ryan was chosen as STAR STUDENT for the first week of school out of over 150 kids on his "team". I was placed in Second Grade, which is one of my favorite grades. (First and Second tend to be my favorites!) I'm with a teacher I worked with for my first two years at Brookdale. She changed from Kindergarten to Second Grade several years back - so it's nice to work with someone I know so well. Unfortunately, the only slotted on classroom for supported education students, thinking there were only 3 children qualifying. Two more students moved in that have IEP's so they were placed into my care! YES, 5 students (2 with autisim and 3 with learning disabilities). In addition we have 3 low students one with behavorial issues that require constant monitoring. I feel like an octopus at times - but since I was with two of the students last year I know them well enough to know their abilitities. It's the new students that I need to get to know better. They have been sending someone in to assist for about 1/2 hour during literacy since two of the children do not know the first grade sight words. I have been helping the teacher keep up our classroom blog. Visit us at http.//sandersscoops.blogspot.com to keep up on all our adventures.

In addition to this classroom blog - you will see at the right side of this blog under portfolio - I have designed around 20 blogs for teachers and the office. I've set up almost all of them and created a header and layout for all. Check them out - I even have teachers contacting me from other schools!

Ryan joined football again this year. He made starter for special teams and is very excited. He chose to keep his same number from last year (THE BIG 49!). He mentioned that the jersey felt a little tighter this year!! He has a big game at the high school football field on Wednesday against their rivals - so he's been practicing and reading his play book to prepare. He spent the night at grandma and grandpa's last night; so I decorated his bedroom door to surprise him when he gets home tonight. Yes, it's 3 dimensional! GO TRAILBLAZERS!!!

Among everything else, it was my birthday at the end of August. We celebrated at Hugo's Frog Bar in downtown Naperville. I received many generous gifts from family and friends and a message on my answering machine reminding me of how old I am!! Thanks Jacob!!!!

I hope to update MY personal blog more often - or at least as much as I update the office blog and the school blogs!!!

Until then.................

Long Time No Post!

Life has been busy between the 2 jobs. On top of that I am coaching an afterschool Enrichment T-Ball team.




I designed all the t-shirts and personalized all the visors for both teams - It was worth it because they look so nice and it's easy to tell the teams apart. Each player is getting a team photo and an individual picture I framed too:





At school we've began the ABC countdown to the end of the year. Today was "A" day which means only 25 more days of school left. It was bring an "A"nimal to school day. Tomorrow is "B"ackward day!!
Last week we celebrated my mom's birthday. This weekend we will get together for Jacob's First Communion.



Ryan's joined the flag football team and is on the student council and joined plastic modeling club, so he's been very busy also. Bill's work and picked up considerably and has earned some extra cash for a new vacuum and grill! Until next time...........