The World According to Leslie

Yesterday was snow day #2. Today is snow day #3 for the year.  On Tuesday, we got out of school early because the snow was coming. It came.  It accumulated. It melted. It was pretty.  By 4pm on Tuesday, most places didn’t have a bit of snow on the ground.   Yesterday, they canceled schools because the snow was coming.  So we waited.  We waited some more.  Finally about 12pm (NOON!) the snow started.  We could have gone another 1/2 day and wouldn’t have to make that day up on a Saturday….but nooooooo!  Once it started, it started accumulating quickly.  We got about 1” of snow per hour.  It snowed until about 7pm last night.  Some times it was slower, so we probably have about 5-6” in my yard.    About 7pm, the sleet and freezing rain started.  That’s what it is still doing now.  So schools called to cancel around 3pm yesterday afternoon for today!   Today, I’m “working from home”.  I do ...

There are many “perks” to being a teacher. You don’t work during the summer…at least not teaching the kids. You have weekends off…most of the time. You have set hours…again, most of the time. You can actually plan things because you know when you work.   Until today…  okay…. it’s not that bad.   Although I was not thrilled when the alarm went off this morning at 3:30am, I am okay with the fact that I only have to work 3 hours.  We are only teaching TWO classes…. and one of those classes is my planning period!     So… Saturday School isn’t horrible today.  I may complain more next time!

Many of my friends are complaining because their kids are home today for another “Snow Day” although the snow has mostly melted. They are upset that all the roads on their way to school are clear.  So… I got a little tired of it.  I stepped up on my soapbox.  Here is what I posted on Facebook about the situation! I typically try to stay away from topics that cause a lot of complaints and arguing from my friends. But... if you are complaining that your children are home with you today because schools are closed LISTEN UP! You are NOT the only person with a child in the school. (This applies to other situations as well, but really for delays and cancellations!) Your road is NOT the only road that bus drivers and parents drive on to get to the school. Just because YOUR road is clear does not mean that every road in the county is passable. The teachers are NOT thrilled about Saturday school either. Trust me; we like to sleep in the few days that we can....

Although we did not get much snow, and most of it melted yesterday, we have another Snow Day today.  This is because many of the secondary roads (also known as COUNTRY BACKROADS) are still covered in ice.  These are the roads that the DOT does not have to pay a lot of attention to because they are not city roads.  That is one of the drawbacks of living in the county and not in the city limits.   Last night Tony and I went over to my parents’ house.  We picked up mom (who does NOT drive in this stuff) and went riding around to check out roads.  Many of the roads that I would take to work or to get the Princess to school all had huge patches on them that were still snow covered or that would be sheets of ice this morning.    All of the public schools in the area  are closed today.  Since the Princess does not go to a county public school this year, her school decided to run on a two hour delay.  Her momma (ME!) decided that si...

So far, the 2nd semester has been great.  We had a three day week last week. Monday was MLK, Jr. Day (no school). Tuesday was a teacher workday (no school). So we went to school on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday,  but one of those days we had a 2 hour delay because the temperature was going to be around 10-12 degrees. They didn’t want the kids standing at the bus stops in those temps and they were afraid that the buses might not start correctly.    NOTE: Remember….I live in the South.  Snow is a rare, exciting event in our lives!   We went to school Monday—normal day. Tuesday we arrive at school only to stay for 3 hours because there is a THREAT of snow. That was yesterday. Then it snowed yesterday afternoon and last night. It only snowed for about 4 hours. There is only about 2” on the ground (if that much!).   Today, Wednesday, is a SNOW DAY! Hooray for that! They called school last night. I slept until almost 9am. The Princess is still ...

Since I was only off work yesterday for the biopsy, I can only imagine all the questions I'll get today. From the teachers/staff who know why I was out, "How are you feeling?"  "How was it?"  "Are you ok?" From the kids, who did not know where I was going, "Where were you?"  "Why weren't you here yesterday?" "Were you sick?"  "Where did you go?" For the teachers/staff..."I'm good.  Just waiting on results." For the kids..."I had to have an attitude adjustment.  Your behavior today will decide if it was a success or not!"  I love my kids!  So I had to come up with something funny to do to them.  Honestly, I wish I could have had the rest of the week off.  Couldn't we get some snow or something?

Today, we are expecting "ice".  For those of you who have snow, let me explain.  Ice can't be driven on.  It is slick and there is no way to get traction on it. Snow can be driven on if you are careful and don't drive like you are in NASCAR! Last Thursday night, we had snow.  Well... there was about an inch on the grass, but some of the roads were frozen over so school was cancelled!  :)  So, we had the " Not So Snow Day ." Today, the ice is supposed to start soon.  Some stations say 10am.  Some say noon.  There is even one (really random, out there station) that says 3pm!!  The neighboring school district (and several others) have already announced they are getting out early--3 hour early dismissal. My school district is waiting.  Not sure what they are waiting for, but they are waiting. I think they are hoping that we can get the kids to school today and dismiss early.  I think they are figuring that if nothin...

Monday was a day off school.  We celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. day.  (I posted about that here .) Yesterday was a Teacher Workday . Today the students are taking the final exam (last class) that they were supposed to have taken on Friday.  They get out for 1/2 the day.  As soon as I get my grades and stuff in the computer and get a couple more copies made, I am out for the day too.  (I might go have lunch with the Princess, if I can swing it!) Tomorrow begins a new semester.  I get new students.  The students all get new classes, new teachers.  I work in a high school.  We have 4 classes first semester and 4 different ones second semester.  Luckily for me, I only have to tweak what I did first semester because I am teaching the same thing this semester.  First semester, I only had 8 kids in my largest class.  This semester, my largest class will be 14.  That will be the biggest difference for me.  I have ...

Since we had a "Snow Day" on Friday, I have to work today. I had the option to be off today.  However, my procrastinating self decided on Thursday afternoon that I would sign up on Friday to be off today.  Guess what!  SNOW DAY!  (No!  It did NOT teach me a lesson about procrastination.  But...I will use it to teach my students a lesson about it.) :)  So...  I'm working today.  I'm taking the Princess to work with me. As soon as I finish making a few copies and moving my room around for the new kids I'll have on Thursday, I will be out of there.  I really do love my job this year!