Wow. So. Been awhile, I know. My main problem is that my school computer does not have access to Blogger and the other problem is my time slips away. But, with the help of the new addition of internet in our house, one half of my not-posting problem has been solved. Yup. I just got home (6:30) and am posting from the comfort of my house. Yay! And I have a lot to write about, so get comfortable...

We're officially one week away from the end of first quarter. I was notified today that I have to send out "Possible Failure" notices tomorrow. Great. I have approximately 50 students who will "possibly" fail if they don't turn in any work by Friday (my last day for missing work). I look forward whole heartedly to sending out those letters.

On a better note, it's been Red Ribbon Week. We have a great Prevention Specialist (a guy whose job it is to help the students of the school with tough issues, like drugs, alcohol, etc) who put together a wee full of fun events and contests for the students. In my years as a student, I never saw such a production! All we got in my school was a cheap red ribbon with one of those crummy gold safety pins to pin on our shirt. This year, Charles (that's his name), pulled ALL the stops!

First, the week started with an advisory class word search contest. Each advisory class had a word search containing words involved with Red Ribbon Week (Anti-Drug, Alcohol, Violence Abuse). The whole school was in competition and the first class to make it to Charles' office won a prize. My students didn't seem too enthused so I told them if we won they wouldn't have to read one day. That got them going. We found all the words but two, behavior and residence. I checked the word search and there were only two "B's" in the whole thing and none led to "behavior," so I (who am not really that competative generally) sent two of my students to the office to see about winning. I watched the students run down the hall. The students back in the classroom waited patiently (not really, I lie) for the two runners to return but we still weren't sure if we had won. So, it's about two minutes before the bell rings and Charles gets on the intercom and says, "Congratulations to Mrs. Hubert's advisory. They won the word search." I looked down the hall and saw my students coming back with a box of 48 King Sized Snickers. We were elated. I had 24 Snickers left after each student got one. I took them home. Shhh. Don't tell Charles.

Another event of the week that I must write about is the door decorating contest. We were asked to decorate our classroom doors for Red Ribbon Week with slogans and such to promote the whole "atmosphere" of the week. My advisory class came up with a super idea, our slogan being "Give Hugs, Not Drugs," and our door decoration being a giant long-sleeved black t-shirt stuffed with newspaper posed with wire hangers to look as if it were giving a hug. I spent all afternoon Friday working on the door. I ended up stuffing the shirt with weeks worth of old newspaper and used two wire hangers to prop the arms in a bent position. Then, I taped "Bob," as advisory kids are calling him, up to the door with a big red ribbon tied on. All of the advisory kids traced their hands and wrote the following pledge and signed their name on the hand cut-out: I pledge to live a drug and alchol abuse-free life." I must say we're all pretty confident about our chances of winning the door decorating prize (a pizza party! wahoo!) because from the looks of the other doors, it's quite simple that OURS is the BEST. I'll take a picture of it tomorrow and post.

We're halfway through the festive week and it has certainly affected student's behavior. They are hyper! Today we had a rowdy assembly, which made the kids crazy and out of control the rest of the day. The assembly was a local group who is made up of former gang members. They each share their story and use music and funny, elaborate skits to get the message across to youngsters that gangs aren't the answer. It was exciting and I think it touched a lot of the students. Tomorrow is a run/walk a-thon all day. Only about 50 students in the whole school are participating. I'm not quite sure what it is all about but I know that the students participating each get a pretty groovy red wrist band.

Turning now to really important news: The first issue of the newspaper was delivered today! I sent it in yesterday via e-mail to the district's printing press and today it came! I won't even begin to tell you all the drama involved in this paper. I have shed the Pacific Ocean in tears because of the stress of everything from printing company issues to students not meeting deadlines. But, I'm very relieved that I've got the first issue done and now, the second will be a breeze!!!

One more thing before I go plop myself in front of the TV and fall asleep: I had my first Principal evaluation on Monday. He came, without warning mind you, on Monday morning during 1st period. I was nervous because I wasn't 100% prepared. BUT long story short, he said I am doing a terrific job and that I meet the standards that he based my evaluation on. I am happy to have that first one over. Coming from this principal, it means alot when he says, "good job."