First Days of First Grade

One nice thing about my fancy-schmancy private school is that they feed me. All the time. One parent brought me 1/3 of a chocolate cake yesterday. Fancy-schmancy chocolate cake. At our faculty meeting yesterday they fed us quiche and strawberry shortcake. In the morning there were bagels. There is always fine coffee and tea available for teachers to consume. For lunch yesterday I bought a really tasty veggie sandwich from the cafeteria. It was $1.25. I’m starting to see how private schools lure teachers away from public ones. Last year working in Portland Public we got Maxwell House with powdered creamer. And sometimes leftover birthday cupcakes. Oh, public schools! How can you compete? It’s all about the snacks…
First graders make me laugh. All day. On the inside. Their self-portraits? Wonderfully amusing. Their pet stories? Hilarious. The way they squirm and wiggle because they really have to go to the bathroom but don’t want to stop playing? Solid gold. I’m committed to being a teacher because I believe that education is the most fundamental tool for creating social justice. But I’d do it anyway because the kids are so damn cute.
This weekend I will meet my newest Internet friend, Allison. She left some nice comments on Perfect Heart, and we’ve sent a couple of emails. Her band is touring through Portland, so if you don’t have plans on Saturday night come see Friends Forever play at Foxes in SE. I can’t wait to meet her!
Thanks to Josh who emailed me a nice photo from New Years and also gave me the idea of mining flickr to piece together my library. Good idea!
Sorry these last few entries have been sorta boring (i.e. no boy gossip.) I did go on a couple of dates recently, but I’m not ready to blog about them. Soon, though, I promise!

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5 Responses to First Days of First Grade

  1. that Best Friends Forever show is at 12 noon on Saturday.
    not evening.
    just so you don’t miss it.

  2. J says:

    Willow, I totally agree–my nephew started first grade this year, and what with his way of jogging everywhere to get there faster and his crazy jagged adult teeth coming in–presto! Adorableness!

  3. the other liz says:

    Willow! you’re post made me so sad.
    first of all it was boyds coffee which is a step up from maxwell house AND whenever we had good food I always made sure you were included, sometimes by force! remember? cafeteria food sucks I agree, can’t argue there. who doesn’t like an old cupcake left over from a six year old birthday party? it’s sentimental.
    and what about their secretary and principal? can you really have whisper quiet gossip sessions during lunch in private school? am I so easily replaced by the luxeries of tuition based education? I’m so jealous now…… :( missing you.

  4. Liz says:

    Did you ever read that NYer article about private school teachers and the gifts at holiday time? You’ll have to keep us updated :-)
    I’m so proud of you being a teacher! You sound like you’re really in your element. And after working with kids for so long in places where the food isn’t good (pb&j on white bread AGAIN, anyone?) you deserve the chocolate cake.

  5. willow says:

    Other Liz!
    No principal or secretary could ever come close to the awesomeness of you and Carol! And you’re right, in the end no amount of chocolate cake could top having a good buddy at work. I miss you too! I want to do a lot of my required observations at your school so that we can get back in the zone. And I also want to have a ladies margarita night soon! I’ll call you during the week…
    (PS, thanks for all those cupcakes, by the way. You always saved one for me. :-) )

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