So Far, So Good!

The new job is working out GREAT!

Yesterday was the kick off for the year, with the entire school district showing up at one site and doing an awards ceremony for longevity in the district -- 30 years on down through 5 year veterans all got recognized -- and then we heard the sobering news about the budget crisis, and then we had our union meetings to vote on reducing the calendar year by two more student days, tucking them in on the Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week to give everyone a week off instead of just the three days. After that, I got to meet the teacher I'll be working for, Robin, and my coworker Araceli, and check out the classroom. There were several last-minute jobs to get done, so we set to work and got a couple hours' worth of things accomplished yesterday, and a whole day's worth today. Tomorrow the teachers have a staff meeting, and the aides have a seminar to familiarize everyone with visual schedules -- small pictures or icons used to direct children to the next activity, or elicit speech in children that have a difficult time communicating.

My favorite thing about today? (Well, I guess second favorite, as my first favorite was meeting one of our students and his parents, on a scouting mission to prepare him for Monday!) I got to use a die cut machine AND a laminator! Whoo hoo! There's no going back, now!