Monday, Monday

Happy Birthday Penny & Karen!

Well, Laura and I started the day off with a call from Mirah canceling her visit. I don't know about you Laura, but I was relieved. Although, after Penny's suggestion, I rescheduled a 3rd grade class that I was supposed to have at her visiting time. It worked out beautifully however, because 1st quarter grades were due today, so I could get those finished up. Big shocker that I would put them off to the last minute huh?

Christy, we'll have to get together for lunch. I would love to hear all about your new job. I can imagine that apartment life is getting a little crowded. Good luck getting your house sold. Any chance that the renters would want to buy?

Lori Jo, wowzers!! It sounds like you have a library jobby job for next year. Keep me posted!

I'm looking forward to a semi short week. We have conferences Thursday afternoon/evening and Friday. The general policy is you only need to be in the building when you have a conference. So far, I have none.....yipee!!

Take care- Mary Ann

Checking In

Hello ladies! How is everyone? From the posts it sounds like everyone is busy. Lori Jo, hope the news is good on the library job! MaryAnn, I think you will love public school, but I can understand how you would miss your current library.

Things are crazy here as usual. I love my job in Spring Hill though! The library (the entire building actually) is beautiful and I've been working hard to get the students in their. My predecessor was not well-liked by anyone (funny how the stories started to come out after a few weeks) and so anything I do looks amazing--so I guess I should thank her! She is still in the district (3-5 grades). We're pretty sure they're trying to get rid of her.

Brady's job is going well and the kids are great. Ellie is in kindergarten and was Student of the Month this month. Her class is only 20 students and her teacher is great. Aidan is in a home-based Montessori preschool and loves it! He has progressed a lot this year now that there are more kids his age around. Mya stays home with Brady's parents for now. We are looking for a place for her a few days a week--they're are spoiling her!!

Our home in Rose Hill hasn't sold, but we are renting it until April so that's helping out financially. The 3-bedroom apt in Olathe seems to get smaller by the day:) But we are together again and doing well so will count our blessings.

Finishing up SLIM this spring--hating my classes. Getting to the point where I know no one and the workload this semester has been wild! Anyway, sorry to post a book, but thought I'd better catch everyone up. Let me know if you guys get up to KC. Would love to see you! And enjoy the rapidly approaching holidays!! Cristy Bolton

Happy Birthday Karen and Penny! We miss our SLIM SISTA TIME!

Big News..but Not Official!

Almost time to celebrate...but not officially. I heard it from the boss today. The next board meeting (the third Monday in November) will be the night he will be notify the board of ed. of the impending retirements, my move to the library and ask permission to adverstise the opening of my position, math teacher and counselor. It will become official after that point. However, our nosy counselor walked into our discussion so I still don't know what changes he was talking about??? Don't worry, I will keep you posted.
Wanting to shout YES! WAHOO! but want it official..still holding my breath.
Miss all of you!

Hey Ladies

So, apparently I'm the only one whose been a total slacker on our blog!! It's been fun to read the recent posts and catch up. It sounds like everyone's year is zipping right along.

Lori Jo, have you heard anything back from your principal?? I'm curious as to what kind of "changes" he's thinking about.

I'm getting ready to look at assignment #3 for the internship hoop that we must get through....I'm curious to hear Mirah's feedback for assignment #2. I'm with you Courtney, this class sucks!! I can't wait until it's over. Mirah is coming out for her visit with me on the 29th. After a few emails with Penny, I think I'm going to try to reschedule a 45minute 3rd grade class that I have at that time. I really don't want Mirah observing me teach if at all possible.

So ladies, after much encouragement from you all, I have started looking into the possibility of moving to public school next year. I have filled out an online application with the Shawnee Mission School District, and I'm getting my transcripts and license copies put together to send in so they can create a file on me. I don't know what's going to happen, or if any openings will even come open, but I'm just going to try and go for it. As you know, I have very mixed feelings about leaving, but I'm trying to look at the big picture.

I hope that all is well with everyone. If anyone is planning a KC trip this fall, please let me know. I would love to have a few drinks and catch up with my SLIM Sistas!!!
-Mary Ann

I've got issues

To any of you who used freewebs to create your portfolio (aren't you glad you're done...this is a pain in my ASS) I am linking my artifacts into my webpages. When I go to view my results, I can't see any of what I just linked? I haven't played with it too much, but what the heck can I do?

Assignment confusion, AGAIN!

Ugh...I have never in my life been more confused by the assignments, then w/ this class.

Question: What is our 'portfolio notebook'? Mira states in assignment#2, paragraph#3, 'Separate from your information needs assessment, create a section in your portfolio notebook titled, "Collection Analysis and Evaluation." The first section in this document should be "clientele." So, what is this portfolio notebook she talks about?

Thanks for the help. I feel like such a dummy this semester....

Possibly Good News?

Okay ladies, my librarian Ruth showed up with her engagement ring on Monday! They are getting married in July. Of course, I ask the principal, "hey, did you see Ruth yet?" He said, "no, why?" So I told him and he said he figured she would be getting one because she turned in her letter that stated it was her intention to retire at the end of this school year. The math teacher turned in one too. That way they get the $1,500 notification by November 1 money for early retirement. He says, "you still want to move over to the library right?"...I said, "I'm willing to jump through a hoop and do a backwards cartwheel to be in the library next year." Of course, this might have been the wrong thing to say...because he says, "well, I have already talked to the supt. about my intention of moving you over...but there's some changes I need to think about and we may need to figure out for next year. I guess we'll need to meet on it." WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF does that mean? I'm guessing other assigned duties or teaching a class too. Does anyone have any pointers about this mystery meeting that may be coming up? Court told me to throw out there: they would need to pay me for a plan period and hire a para if they wanted me to teach too. Any other smart things I coud say? I haven't emailed Carol yet, but I need to.

readergirlz

You have got to check this site out! http://groups.myspace.com/readergirlz. For the month of October they are interviewing a different author every night (see the list below). I think if you are at the high school level, this would be great.

The link is to the google groups site and you can link to their website from there.

The Readergilz purpose is: "Readergirlz is about celebrating books featuring strong female characters, connecting girls with stories that will change the way they see themselves, and inspiring girls to have the guts to make history of their own."



Week One 1. Meg Cabot 2. Tiffany Trent 3. Brent Hartinger 4. Lorie Ann Grover 5. K.L. Going 6. Nikki Grimes

Week Two7. Ellen Hopkins 8. Justina Chen Headley 9. Chris Crutcher 10. Ann Brashares 11. Sarah Mlynowski 12. Cecil Castellucci 13. Kirby Larson

Week Three 14. Tanya Lee Stone 15. John Green 16. Sara Zarr 17. Deb Caletti 18. Rachel Cohn 19. Kirsten Miller 20. Mitali Perkins

Week Four 21. Sonya Sones 22. Lisa Yee 23. Carolyn Mackler 24. E. Lockhart 25. Janet Lee Carey 26. Gaby Triana 27. Lauren Myracle

Week Five28. Holly Black 29. Cynthia Leitich Smith 30. Dia Calhoun 31. Stephenie Meyer (Her chat is at Midnight, Eastern, on Halloween!)

Hey SLIMERS!!!

Wanted to share a few of my "slim sista" photos!! What a bunch of good looking librarians!

Tandem Tent Sale!!

Oh my goodness ladies--did any of you attend the Tandem Tent sale this last week and weekend?? I spent over $600 in a matter of 2 hours. Every book is $2.50- hardback. Some of problems but most are just overstock. Great way to cheaply add to your collection.