Day 18

2 weeks from today....the first day of the academy will have come to an end. Hard to believe how quickly this has all come together....yet, there is still much to do!

We finally have a logo!! I will post that by the end of the week.....not sure if I can share it just yet! With a finalized logo, means the brochure will be printed and given to all students by the end of the week -hopefully, tomorrow!!

A finalized logo means we were able to print enrollment forms....speaking of printing....I have decided that a copy machine is similar to a football game....countdown on the printer says 15 minutes....but then it stops...stabilizes....jams (which led to what seemed like a tackle between myself and the printer)....15 minutes later was more like 30 minutes later....but all is good because as you can see below....the enrollment forms have all been printed!!

I made a stop at Wegmans, this evening....picked up a few banana boxes to transport the supplies from Mercyhurst to the site locations for the academy. I have a feeling that my car is going to smell like bananas tomorrow morning....but it's ok....if a smelly banana car is what it takes to begin to change the world than that is fine by me! By the way....all empty banana boxes at Wegmans, from now until Friday, are mine!

That is all that I can recall from the day!

Carpe Diem!

-Amy

Day 17

WOW! Hard to believe that 2 weeks from today is Christmas Eve.....time certainly flies when you're enjoying what you do......

Oh wait....did I say Christmas Eve??? I meant CDA Eve!!! The academy is just as exciting as Christmas....it's very easy to get the two mixed up!!!

Two weeks from today we will be finalizing everything for the Carpe Diem Academy....the night will be a sleepless one....and then the first day of the Academy will begin!!  By finalizing, I do not mean everything will be set in stone....this is all a learning process....we will eventually work all the "kinks" out....but not right in the beginning. One of the first things you learn as a teacher is the importance of being flexible....and we are!

Today I had the opportunity to meet Sheila C. We have had several conversations via phone and email but it was nice to finally meet her in person. Sheila was instrumental in the grant writing process. She certainly deserves a great big THANK YOU!!!

Carpe Diem!!

-Amy

Day 16

Today flew by....when I was leaving work, it felt as if I had just arrived. Time needs to slow down a bit......or maybe I just need to speed up A LOT.......there is much to do.....

Today was the day that I knew was approaching.....creating the schedule....eh...let's make that plural....creating the schedules. I was actually waiting for this day....I saw it as a challenge.....I like challenges....perhaps that is why I was able to leave my previous job so easily......I wasn't being challenged and I was becoming stagnant.

Back to the schedule....at first, the task wasn't as difficult as I imagines....I outlined the schedule on 4 large white boards (pictures below) and then I started to type it....after I was half-way done with typing Schedule #1 I realized it wasn't going to work out as I had planned it in my mind....so back to the drawing board, I went.....

Imagine 4 large blank white boards..........now look below......

The schedule is coming together.....it's a work in progress....but there always has to be a starting point.....

.....I am just hoping there was room in the budget to buy a guard dog to stand guard so no one erases the boards!!!!

I love my job!!!!!!

Carpe Diem!

-Amy

Carpe Diem Academy Start Day!!

Day 14

Today's blog is going to be similar to a picture book....thought it was about time to share some pictures with you...

This is the desk where the majority of the blogging takes place. If you look closely you can see the samples from Wegmans. Please stop by for a taste testing!

This is the note that was give to me on my last day of teaching. Throughout my blog, I will often refer to "changing the world" and this is how it came to be!

Supplies for the academy....This was my office on Monday.....

.........my office on Thursday ( I am supposed to have two tables for GA's to work at....good thing they haven't been delivered yet!)

Gotta get back to work....too much to do....the first day of the Carpe Diem Academy is quickly approaching!!!!!!

Carpe Diem!

- Amy

Special Edition

As I was driving home from work, I started thinking about all the members of the Erie community who are going to help, "change the world"......

 ....without them, the Academy would not be what it is going to be....after Leanne (the superintendent of the Carpe Diem Academy) and I meet with each of the partners, we realize more and more how amazing this is going to be......

Thank you to.....

Jenny K. and JumpBunch -who will be engaging the students in a variety of physical
                                              activities.

Holly N. and ArtsErie - who will be engaging the students in puppetry, digital media,

                                       dance, music, etc. through the Arts in Residence program.

Stacey K. and Spotlight Studio - who will be engaging the students in break dancing,

                                                     hip hop, jazz, etc.

Kelly A. and The Erie Art Museum - who will be opening their doors to our students

                                                             on special field trip days.

Carl K. and CORE - who will be collecting and organizing our data.

Metz Food Services - who will be preparing and delivering nutritious dinners to our

                                    students.

Wegmans - who will be making sure the daily snack is healthy and enjoyed by the

                   students.

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Carpe Diem

- Amy

Day 13

I have a headache….but a good headache…..any ailment that goes along with this job is a good one! A hurting head means that it must have been a productive day….or a thinking day…..Yes! Today was a thinking day!

A few great things happened today…but you will have to wait….not sure if I can spill the beans yet! (Don’t moan….I waited 3 months to hear about the grant…..seemed like 3 years…..went through several pairs of shoes due to the pacing….so I think you can wait a couple days, weeks, months)

The thinking part of the day started and ended with the discussion of DATA….Data and I have a love/hate relationship…originally I thought that I hate data…but the more I thought I realized….I live data….but…..data hates me! Makes me think back to when I took statistics…not good!

More supplies came today…I found the mailroom very quickly…..didn’t get a chance to take a good look at the supplies…more on that later!

I think that is all….need to go teach…..

Many are reading this blog....but no one is commenting......first one to comment gets a tour of my office!

Carpe Diem!

-Amy

Day 12

I am trying to think about what to Blog about....I have 25 minutes before I have to give a final.....

Today, I met with the frontend manager at Wegmans. Josh is going to be our main contact person. He provided the Academy with a great list of healthy snacks for the children to enjoy. My desk currently looks like a shelf in the pantry...if you are hungry, stop by...I have a variety of Wegmans foods to sample.

 Many more items have been purchased....if you are in need of a single subject notebook you may want to refrain from going to Staples....I bought them ALL!!!!  Construction paper and stickers have been ordered and hopefully tomorrow I will be able to pick up the individual dry erase boards for the students.

I was also informed that I have 3 boxes waiting to be picked up at the mailroom....it's looking like another 3 hour tour is on the agenda tomorrow to find the mailroom...I think it's the physical activity equipment...I have a feeling that pretty soon there will only be a walking path in my office........but that is ok....no complaints.....it just proves that this is all really happening...

........it's really, really, happening....how cool is that?!?!

Carpe Diem!

-Amy

Day 11

Week 3......It's finals week here at Mercyhurst.......I know this because the sofa that I normally take a nap on is constantly occupied by students cramming for exams...just kidding!

........No time to sleep....no need to sleep....no wanting to sleep....excitement is in the air! Today has been a great day....actually let's make that a super day!

The day began with touring another one of the schools that will be one of the sites for the academy. Great school....great administrator...great anticipation!

The day continued with meeting Holly N. from Arts Erie......I am amazed at the number of talented artists that will work with the students during the Artist in Residence component of the Academy....from puppetry to dancing to animation....the opportunities for the children are endless!

We then met with 2 enthusiastic graduate students who are in the process of writing a grant that will supplement the grant received for the Carpe Diem Academy. Keep your fingers crossed!

Other than a few more meetings scheduled, more supplies ordered, and the newly gained knowledge that there is a Starbucks on campus, that pretty much sums up the day!

One more thing....today, it hit me while I was ordering supplies over the phone...when speaking about the Carpe Diem Academy, I act as if everyone knows about it...like if someone was ordering supplies for Harvard....I thought for a moment and then realized......everyone should know....so make sure you pass it on...

Carpe Diem!

- Amy

Day10

I am writing about the end of my day first because it is way cool....to my surprise....the supplies that I ordered on Wednesday.....arrived......folks....THE SUPPLIES HAS ARRIVED!!!  I am not sure if I can wait until Monday to go through the boxes....I did a little before I left but am thinking I may just need to go in tomorrow to sort through all of it!

End of week two.....as I reflect back, it doesn't really seem so much like a week but rather one really looonggg day....not long in a negative way because in case you haven't realized, I LOVE MY JOB!!!!

This week I have noticed that I am not one to make decisions....I like to discuss with others.....because if I just went ahead and made the decisions then it would be like my decisions were right.....guess it could be seen as both a strength and weakness...

I have had many visitors this week.....mainly to request a paper clip or stapler.....I think I may start charging and all income will go towards the Academy....

......speaking of visitors....I had a great assistant, today! Gracie K. spent her day off school labeling items, counting supplies, and keeping me company! At one point I was going to help her get some supplies off the book shelf...she quickly replied, "No, don't get up....you have work to do....I will get it."  Thanks for the help and the company, Grace!

Hard to believe it's Friday......Friday's will be used for planning...where we will discuss the successes and failures from the week and strategize for the following week....collaboration is a wonderful way to share ideas and learn from one another.

Happy Friday!

Carpe Diem

- Amy