Dad on Duty #85

Today’s blog will be a photographic essay.  A day in the life of a school, in pictures.

I’ll limit my commentary to that needed to provide context for the photos; they will largely speak for themselves.

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Sidewalk art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are dozens of these Neolithic-like cave drawings on the back sidewalks.  What would future archeologists think of them?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If only we could preserve them.

Kudos to the teacher who freed the kids to do this work today.

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Do you remember duck duck goose?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funny thing, as I watch them now, it’s so clear:  the “goose” selection is not random.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s almost always some little girl (or boy) you have a crush on.   Yeah, now I remember.

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We have a true neighborhood school.  So many kids walk, or ride a bike or scooter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve been to other elementary schools where the bike rack is nearly empty.

Ours is full, every day.

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My work husband job of today; cut all these open so they can be used on the feet of the desks and tables to protect the carpet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever try to cut open a tennis ball?  It’s really, really hard.  I don’t recommend it.

I got them all done, eventually.

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Spring is here!

Essentially, the process of sexual arousal involves certain correlation of brain, hormonal
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the kids want OUT.

(We do too)

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About twice a day, for about 5 minutes, the hallway looks like this

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aaaahhhh.   Peace and quiet.  Isn’t it beautiful?

Then, the chaos resumes.

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These kids are helping clean the cafeteria between grades.  They do it every day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s hard work.

A former cafeteria aide, who now works as a teacher’s aide (a great success story in its own right) came up with this idea.  She got the Boss’ approval, and she manages it.

And the kids love it. They feel important and useful.

Learning, in different ways, in different settings.  Great work.

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A short, but very prestigious, list; the designation of “Recorder Blackbelt” from Ms. McEntire!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Again, learning comes in many forms, from many teachers, in our school.

One of these alternate paths to learning is a cooking class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The head chef for GISD, assisted by our cafeteria staff, comes to McCoy and engages the kids in real cheffing every Friday.

They chop, stir and use real fire.  They are entranced.

And they learn; measurements, application, leadership and teamwork.

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Who am I?

Such a crucial, and difficult, question when you’re 10.   Especially when you’re a girl.

Our classroom teachers tackle it head on. Talk about it, help the girl construct her own answer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But importantly, seed the much bigger conversation that follows.

And I am grateful for that.