So...I'll give an update on the current job situation. This past week I have spent preparing, in various forms, for my job at Oscar Pope Elementary (which will be referred to in abbreviation form from this point forward-OJP). Let's also say that I have put 550 miles on my car since Monday morning at 7:15 a.m.! Here is the rundown of my week:
*Monday-Went to OJP for the teacher work day and was told that I was technically not allowed to be there until my paperwork and training had been cleared and approved. So, that was a disappointment-but I opted to stay for the morning meetings and trainings on my own time. I thought if anything, I could at least get some idea of the school environment. Afterward, one of the teachers showed me around the whole campus, including my classroom. It is a nice size with what looks like plenty of storage! That's always a good thing! I like to be organized. It was nice to get a feel of the school and see some of the faces I'll be working with this year.
I got a call from the secretary later in the afternoon telling me they had set the date for my training on Wednesday so I was then able to schedule my fingerprinting and drug testing. I also had my physical done Monday afternoon. That evening, I worked on writing out my classroom rules, procedures, and first day plans. Still a work in progress! :)
*Tuesday-Went to Bartow to be fingerprinted and drug tested. Then went straight to my bank where I could get a notary to notarize a paper for me. None of that took long and then I continued to work on some more stuff for my classroom later that night.
*Wednesday-New Teacher Orientation all day. 7:45 a.m.-3:00 p.m. It actually went fast I thought. I got a ton of information on my benefits, insurance plans, and so on and so forth. I handed in all of my paperwork to my certification specialist and was told everything was good to go after my fingerprints and drug test were cleared. During my lunch hour, I went to an antique shop in downtown Bartow. I didn't find anything worth buying. I was hoping to find something "teacher-ish" for my classroom. No luck. Probably a good thing considering I'm tight on money until that first paycheck comes in. :)
*Thursday-Had plans to go to OJP in the morning to observe the reading coach teach a reading block in another 5th grade class. It was not "my" class, as I won't meet them until I am officially their teacher, for a variety of reasons. Good reasons. I was able to get some good information from the reading coach and it only made me that much more excited to eventually have my own classroom and begin teaching. Just was still waiting on those darn fingerprints and drug test! In the afternoon, I went to a teacher store and bought some things that will soon be very useful to me!
*Friday-The secretary at OJP called me first thing in the morning to inform me that my fingerprints and drug test were cleared; however the fingerprinting office did not have the correct social security number with my fingerprints. So what did that mean? I had to get them done..again! Luckily, I did not have to go through the whole wait process again, they just needed to take them again and attach them with the correct social security number. You can bet I looked very closely over the woman's shoulder who was typing my SS number into the computer. A few hours later, the secretary called me to let me know I was CLEARED! Success! Finally! So, I was told I'd be officially starting on Monday...only to get a call a few hours later telling me I had another teacher training on Monday all day from 8-4. Are you kidding me? After all this, I still don't get to start on Monday? It's only one more day of training, and then (fingers crossed) Tuesday will be my very first day as a r-e-a-l teacher! How exciting!
I must mention in connection with my excitement, how encouraged and supported I feel by my family and friends. I feel that so many of them are just as excited as I am about entering this new phase of my life, and it means so much! I truly am excited to start this adult part of my life-even if it includes a 30 minute commute each way to work and getting up before 7 five days a week. The reward for investing in the lives of these 5th graders will be SO much bigger than any other part of this job. And I truly feel that way! I have a list of my students' names...but I just want to see THEM! I want to meet them, get to know their personalities, and help them learn in ways that impact them. The next five months will go so fast and I want to enjoy every minute of it! And then I will have the next 35+ years to continue on this journey; I know God is going to steer me in some wonderful directions...He already is!
In other news...SNOW...is predicted in my town of Lake Wales this weekend! Yes, I live in Florida and I just said that SNOW is predicted here! Crazy, huh? I have been non-stop checking the weather forecast in my town (and every other town in close proximity) for the last 24 hours like a snow-obsessed lunatic. But, I don't even have shame about this. I love snow as it is, and the fact that it is even being predicted for FL is just so amazing to me! Haha! I probably should stop typing before I make myself look even more lame.
But anyways, I'm hoping to at least see some flurries or something within the next 12 hours. I don't ever remember Florida being SOOO cold for such a consistent amount of time (more than 2 days) in my life! It has been unbelievably cold here for the last week just about. I've been wearing thermals everyday this whole week. It's just THAT cold. I love it. I could totally handle living up north...I would just need to add a few things to my winter wardrobe collection, which I wouldn't mind doing! :)
Dayna wanted canvases to paint for Christmas, so that was her gift from me. She began painting her first one tonight. This week, she started her internship classes and so this is her release! I'll be sure to post her finished product! She has promised to paint me something for my classroom-can't wait to see what her creative mind makes! :)
This weekend will be rather low key, just hanging out and preparing for my first week as a teacher! One week from today, on the 16th, I will be graduating! I already have my degree, but my university does the winter commencement ceremony in January for some reason (that many people don't understand, including me). I'm looking forward to it though, my family will all be here..including my favorite Virginia relatives! It'll be a fun weekend!
Stay warm this COLD weekend! Let me say it again just for the record...SNOW is predicted for some places in Florida today!!!! (How silly I will sound if it doesn't even flurry...oh well! I just have hope...and lots of it!!!)
No comments:
Post a Comment