Thursday, January 31, 2013
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Teachers Make a Difference
I have to say I am starting to feel guilty for not blogging
every day as I did last year. Last year, I blogged each day…..this year I push
myself to write an entry every two weeks or so…..
…..Not to worry….my enthusiasm has not diminished! I still
love my job! Each day is a new
adventure….yesterday, my phone was ringing off the hook….today, my phone was
silent. I could write about what I do each day, but this isn’t about me….it’s
about the 250 students that we serve, daily. Its about the 25+ staff members
that are learning that teaching can be very challenging, yet very rewarding!
Yesterday, I was told of a child that began to cry when she
was picked up at the beginning of the academy. Today, I witnessed a child
become upset when she was told she may no longer be able to attend due to
transportation issues.
We don’t want to see tears. We don’t want to see children
upset. It just goes to show that teachers really do make a difference in the
life of a child. In 16 short days….a total of 48 hours, the teachers have built
a relationship with the children that makes the children want to come each day.
Each of the teachers, both classroom and support, have had
many successes. I cant wait to see what May looks like…..however, I have said
this before…..I don’t want this time to pass too quickly….
People often ask “Why do you think you are changing the
world.” or “How do you know you are changing the world.” It’s simple….take a
walk down one of the hallways with me and I will point it out!
Carpe Diem!
-Amy
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Not so perfect....but it's ok.....
I have been sitting here for about 40 minutes trying to write a
meaningful blog. I get done with a paragraph or two and then delete it because
it’s not perfect.
But….then I got thinking….is anything ever perfect? A teacher’s
world is never perfect……
- ........As a teacher, we have lessons that go well and lessons that turn
out kinda icky.
- ......As a teacher, one day we may be able to manage the class very well
and on other days the students tie us up.
- ......As a teacher, we may have a
great rapport with some students and with others it is an uphill climb.
....A teacher’s world is never perfect….just as our students are
constantly learning, so are we.
The members of the Carpe Diem Academy staff are growing
tremendously in their chosen field. They realize when a lesson doesn’t go so
well, or when they don’t have the best control of their class. Teaching is different than adding two numbers
together. Every day is a new day….with new successes and new challenges.
Every day will not be perfect….but…..as we try to reach perfection,
we will grow……and as we grow, the world will change
Carpe Diem!
-Amy
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Year 2: Day 2
OK….by the date of my last posting, it seems that I have
been neglecting my blogging….my apologies!
The academy has been up and running for 2 days now….on
Tuesday, we started two of the sites and then the following day (yes we were
brave), we started up two more sites….so by the 2nd day, we had all
4 sites up and running……all sites were up and running very smoothly!
We have 250 students enrolled and our waiting list keeps
growing….I want to say we are at about 90 on the waiting list…..this makes us
happy and sad….happy because there is such a high interest in the academy…..but
sad because we wish we could serve all the students…..one day, hopefully we
will!
So….here are the numbers since we started……..
250 students
120 gogurts, 120 cereal bars, 250 bananas, and 250 pastry
crisps served for snack
370 dinners have been served
90 minutes of physical activity for each child
60 minutes of literacy instruction
60 minutes of math instruction
hundreds of smiles shared between students and teachers
hundreds of positive praises given by the teachers
….this is only after two days!
As we continue throughout the year, stop back and watch the
numbers grow! As the numbers grow, the world will change….are you ready?!?!
Carpe Diem!
- Amy
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Back to School Time for Carpe Diem!
It’s Back to School Time for Carpe Diem Academy! Here’s a look at all that has happened since
I last blogged.
- The staff list for Fall Term of Carpe Diem Academy has been finalized. We have 12 graduate assistants, 5 full-time clinical teachers, 4 full time support staff, 8 part-time support staff, and 2 i-Pad instructors!
- We will be running 4 sites this year. 1 more than we ran in the spring and summer!
- Enrollment forms were sent to all Kindergarten – 2nd grade students at the sites. Each site will have 4 classrooms.
- On Friday, enrollment forms were picked up and by early afternoon we discovered that we reached maximum enrollment and have a waiting list at each site. Carpe Diem Academy will have an enrollment of 240 students!
- Staff was trained in the 40 Developmental Assets
- Staff was trained in Pediatric CPR/First Aid.
- And a whole bunch more!
The first day is September 18th and there is a
lot to do before then. Here’s a look at what will happen within the next week.
- Staff Meetings will take place on Monday and Tuesday
- Each afternoon we will visit one of the sites. Staff will meet administration, see their classrooms, organize supplies, etc.
- Rosters will be finalized.
- Acceptance letters will be sent home.
- Lessons will be planned.
- And a whole bunch more!
Carpe Diem!
-Amy
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Dynamic Staff
Every time I logged into Facebook over the past few days, my
newsfeeds have been plastered with back to school pictures of “smiley, happy
kids”……each time I see one of those pictures, I laugh…..you can search far and
wide and I guarantee you will never be able to find a back to school picture of
a “smiley, happy Amy” – until probably college! I HATED going to school. I
student taught where I went to grade school and the principal would often
remind me of how surprised she was that I was going to be a teacher since she
still had visions of me screaming down the hallway on the first day of
kindergarten….and the first day of first grade…..and…ummm….the first day of
second grade.
I was not a fan of school….now…if I could go to college for
free….I would take classes just for the fun of it….cause why???....I love
school! Back to school time is the most wonderful time of year!
I started to love going to school when I started taking
education courses.....
Classes resume Wednesday, at Mercyhurst! Within the next four
years, education majors will graduate and take what they learned into
classrooms of their own but before they leave, I hope many will become part of
the staff of Carpe Diem Academy and contribute their creativity, dedication,
knowledge, etc., just as the current staff does.
If it wasn’t for the amazing staff, Carpe Diem would not be running
as successfully as it is, today. 98% of the staff is returning this Fall and I
can’t wait to see all that they bring to academy, this year. They
motivate……they guide….they share….they dream….they create….they inspire…..they
are bold….they are strong….they are adventurous…….they are courageous….they are
energetic…….they are enthusiastic….they are proud…….they are leaders ……...they
are educators! The academy staff is DYNAMIC!
Here’s to the 2012-2013 school year! Here’s to smiley faces! Here’s to a successful year of Carpe Diem! Here’s to changing the world!
Carpe Diem!
-Amy
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