Reflections 2011
Here we go, reflections times a 1000 since I've done this...
Does tone of voice in peoples' writing get older too? I've noticed in the Archives of this coveted journal that I sound really immature and stupid in 2001. That was 10 years ago when I started to put my plaguing thoughts online. I think sometimes I still don't know what I'm doing but I'm more willing to admit it. I do know that time is of the essence, and it slips by quickly when its idle, relaxing time like a break I'm on right now. Christmas break is drawing to a close and I must reflect. It gives my year a feeling of fulfillment to see what all I've done, accomplished, endured, cried, blah, complained about this past year of 2011. 2011, really? WTF? I bet back in 2001, I would have wondered what WTF meant. Boy, talk about experience in knowledge.
January brought a dull New Year's Eve and Day to me because I didn't have plans so staying at home and being bored was my game for those two days and probably looking forward to school starting back up. Professionally, school went on as usual and brought some new things like the IPFW Honor Band, doing more with ISSMA Solo/Ensemble with my 6th grade band students and poking around the marching band music idioms to find the right bit for the staff to wrap their heads around. We met around Christmastime to discuss options and listen to music, but the only thing that was accomplished was a PDA moment between the main man and his woman at my place and it was a tad-bit gross. Looking back upon it, it was easy to predict the outcome of this potential marching band season from that staff meeting. Or actually the personnel involved in the marching band season.
I had speculated since January that something was up with our director and I shared my paranoid thoughts with the other asst. director and he was buying into it. We had a strange meeting at a concert of all places and the director just decided to tell us that he wasn't sold on the music we were looking into for marching band season. What a crock. Kevin rolled his eyes at me with that one and it still didn't sit well with me. My paranoia sometimes clues me into the harsh reality, especially with the director. He again was trying to push his weight with me and the directing of his pep band while he felt the need to gig in Fort Wayne and just needed time off from the group. This was the same story for the past 3 years, my complaining about doing winter guard duties, his complaining about doing so many pep band games, and the other asst. getting caught in it. I got more bolder this year and CCed my principals in an e-mail about this and he bought it. I did one game for him and that was the last time I had bitch written on my forehead. Talk about your context clues.
All the while, things were okay through the spring with the job and even though I spent less time with the family (considerably my sister since November) and that was a reoccuring disappointment uptill this holiday season. I digress to say that my renewed friendship with Sarah in December 2010 has progressed into us having sex once in awhile. It's probably not the best thing to do, but Sarah and I are so comfortable with it that we don't complain. I'm sure the friends with benefits label will indicate she wants more or that I do, but we're okay with what's going on for now. Her family knows we're going at it, but I don't let my family know. I think my mom has an idea, but I don't talk about it much. But wow, what great sex we have. Sarah and I are so comfortable with each other its like we are in a relationship but without all the labels except sex and friends. How the hell does that happen?
Can you get in the mood from just writing that? I think so.
Anyway....*cold shower please*
The biggest thing that happened this spring was the director announcing his resignation. My paranoid proved correct and it was confirmed late March. I think he was given an ultimatum because his dealings with the community weren't politically-correct and he decided to resign to pursue other things. I did interview for the job but realized immediately what the administration's agenda was and I didn't have the stomach for it. I do have some bitter feelings about it and question things like loyalty and experience, but I guess not everyone has common sense. Still sound bitter, don't I? Well, I would be happy to be a director but not of the one I work at now. I love my kids, the economy/job market stinks and education is looked at like its the dark side of the force.....several good reasons to stay where I'm at and remain consistent with programs I'm doing very well with right now. The program brought in a former student I teched at with my alma matter. He's doing a very good job now and the program is doing good for now. I'm sure it will continue to get better under his leadership.
With all this job shifting and stuff, winter guard season came in and went with some awesome performances and tearful goodbyes from our seniors and staff. With our-then-current director, our guard staff was leaving because he wasn't a good communicator and didn't work well with them in the fall. I was the main reason they stayed for winter; the timing of their telling me sucked and I don't wear my emotions well. So that was a limbo situation that wound up working for us when the new director was hired so they all came back. Shocking... :-)
The end of the school year brought many changes in store for the new 2011-2012 school year. My principal who hired me for my first job got moved to the alternative school and I was NOT happy about that. I felt he got the raw end of a bad deal because he's a damn good principal who supports his teachers. Some teachers got moved in and out of the elementaries due to low test scores. That's the wrong direction of our dear system of education is heading toward...and its toward a brick wall.
The summer was GREAT! I have never had a more stress-free summer in all my life since I've started teaching full-time! The new director has taken on all the challenges especially the inner-workings of the program that I was used to doing and made it better for the whole program. The asst. and I were able to do more teaching for the parade and we were working well together. We had the usual DCI trips (one of which I got to take my nephews to, it was awesome for them to see a show live!) not to mention a fantastic trip to Minneapolis and a quick-awesome stop in Madison! That trip followed into a cabin-stay that was less than memorable because of unneeded family drama and HEAT. Thank goodness Dad and Jeff went in to get a portable air conditioner. I was so glad to get home after that cabin stay!!
This was finally a year I can say the marching band improved so much. Every facet of the program improved since I've been here, since we've all been here and it was great to see a group of dedicated students work so hard to be great. Their great got them through 101 pages of drill, some original music and a great collaborative staff to make this season successful. I think even with a new director it all worked out because they believed in him right from the start, and were well-aware of my ties with the new director too. I've never seen such collaborative efforts from everyone in the community, school and sports people too!
The new school year started with many changes, frustrations from the fellow teachers and a lot of new technology. We didn't sign our contracts until about a month ago, and that allowed for some tense moments between staff members and administrators at our schools. Some teachers have left since the school year has started and from where I'm sitting, I can't blame them however I couldn't nor will ever be an administrator after all I have seen them tackle in the past 6 years. Even to this day, I don't understand half of what teachers are expected to do let alone how they get evaluated; I just roll with the changes and embrace what I can to make it part of my music activities with the elementary/middle school kids. I am seeing more of a need to get some professional development so I was allowed to attend a conference in Chicago this past December with Kevin and we had some fun times. :-)
Our next conference will be here in a few weeks and that should be okay. I haven't been to IMEA since college and it would be good to get more knowledge going for elementary music and band.
The fall marching band season came and went with a Gold at Regionals, but no advancement to Semi-State. Personally, I thought that was excellent achievement because of how competitive the whole Class B was at Regionals. We were inches from getting into Semi-State but that's alright. We capped off the season with a lock-in and legendary dodgeball tournament where us staff members cheated and the kids loved it anyway (well I think they were anyway) :-) but to see their staff dressed up in ridiculous costumes was the best part I'm sure. :-) We were all exhausted by mid-Saturday when the competition was done and we were sitting in Ryan's chowing down on bad buffet food.
After marching season, winter guard started back up with disappointing numbers but I'm sure it will be a good season for them. These girls need to be more accountable with their fees, as usual. I was working with my elementary kids on the upcoming Christmas program with a few new ideas (handbells and kazoos, nuts!) but it went well! I had them do the program early this year because of the Midwest conference but that was fine with parents. Short and sweet is the way to go!
Midwest was an experience, but to be more honest, kinda disappointing experience with the company I had. I'll leave that one alone out of respect but I hope to get some PGP (professional growth points) from it as well as IMEA. We'll see how all that works out.
Celeste surprised our family and has made connections with us. I don't know how things will pan out but I finally got to see her after a LONG year of not seeing her; we exchanged at Christmas Eve and at Christmas and I went by her house the other day. It was great to see her kids. I love my niece and nephews! They mean the world to me, even if I poke fun at them and help them with their music.
I'm wishing for 2012 to be a better year for my colleagues who are in the trenches as well as my sister to get some grip on her life and let her children be her strength. 2011 was quite a year for all of us and will indeed be a sight to see for years to come. Cliche, cliche, cliche about the past year now more about this year. :-) I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store for us. I won't make promises about my resolutions but I still have my originals from the past 2 years and will try to keep them again and improve upon them again. Didn't I just write about no promises??
Oh well. Cheers 2011, onward to 2012.