Finally Summer

I am sure that every year it feels like 'thank goodness summer is here', but I am certainly feeling it this year.

We finished school yesterday, June 30th.

Don't get me wrong....this was  a great group of students to work with during this Pandemic teaching year. They were cooperative for protocols, they adapted to the multiple switches we had to make during the year, and they were fun to work with.

It was just  an incredibly draining year. Not one big thing (covid aside) but just that ongoing grind of restrictions and constantly trying to find new ways to make learning successful for the students. 

Staff were grumpy amongst themselves and policy changes were misplaced during such a tough year.

We were fortunate in my class to have in person learning all but two weeks for the year. It's a big building and there were many classes (and staff) who had to do multiple self isolations due to close contacts.

It was a year of creativity and relying on each other more than usual to find ways to make things work.

It was a way of steep technological learning.

I worked with students whose parents had never stepped foot in the building, or met me in person. It took a lot of trust for them to do that, so I worked hard at staying more connected that ever.

I am grateful for time to stop and rest and breathe. I am not looking for any WOW travel experiences this summer. Just incredibly grateful for a chance to recharge and destress.

Adventures of the first two weeks of 2021

 Back to work started briskly on January 4th as our school continued with half the students one day, half the next. It took a couple days to get used to wearing a mask again all day, but it did come back. The kids took a bit of brain jiggling to get things back for them, which is quite understandable.

The weather has been incredible for January in SK. Just a teeny bit below 0C. We definitely cannot complain about that. When the -40Cs come along, as they eventually will, it will be a tough adjustment.

Friday the 8th we got an email of our first covid case of 2021 at school. It was to be expected when people don't take things even with a modicum of seriousness. By Saturday we had a second and then a third.

Sunday afternoon I got  THE call from provincial health saying I had been deemed a close contact to a positive case. Not from my own class, but within the building. 

And so begins 14 days of self isolation... minus the 2 since I had last saw the person.

I spent hours Sunday night finding a sub for 2 weeks and planning for the first few days. Thank goodness I had brought my computer home. At least I could access some of my materials.

My husband was allowed to go to work. We could have no one over (which technically has been the rule since Dec 15th in our province). They encouraged us to be as separate in the home as possible. Different sleeping arrangements, bathrooms etc.  I did not have to go for a test unless symptoms developed.

I rather enjoyed Monday at home. I had a few emails from students and parents, but other than that, my time was my own. 

Tuesday morning was wonderfully leisurely until the virtual staff meeting that announced there were more cases and all students in our building would be virtual for the next couple weeks.

And with that my sub was abruptly done her shift, 8 days early, and I began to teach online from home.

Some schools have been doing this since the start of the year, so I really can't complain.

A huge storm in our province Wed covered the roads with thick freezing rain and no visibility, so being at home was a good thing for many.

6 more days of isolation for me and then off to the city on the 7th for my infusion that had to get bumped to the absolute edge of the window.

Here's hoping the numbers from Christmas calm down and we can get back to in person soon

Fall Catchup

 I realize I have been away for the better part of six months. There was nothing cataclysmic keeping me away....just life being busy and no brain energy left to give much else but work and exisisting.

We started the fall here back in person at school. All masks, all the time. 

I have to say that the kids I have this year did really well with this adaptation. There was no pushback. With the group I had last year, it would have been a much different, far more stressful story.

The biggest challenges were that pretty much everything we used to do, was no longer allowed with covid. Working in groups. Challenge stations. Pass and share etc. We are also not a 1 to 1 school for devices so that required some creativity as well.

It took the better part of September to start to feel comfortable in the new routines. Thankfully it was glorious weather so we did a lot of work outside and took a lot of walks on the campus, which could be mask free provided there was distancing. That great weather lasted until Remembrance Day weekend.

It was a blessing.

Remembrance Day weekend brought a snow dump unlike anything we have seen in a long time. We actually had a snow day, which never happens here. In reality, the snowday was more of a 'we don't have enough staff who can make it into work, and we can't combine classes' thing. But it was glorious and a little gleeful.

Towards the end of November we hit Level 3 with Covid protocols. This meant that we had to split the kids. Half one day, half at home. and then switch. The good news is I wasn't required to teach the  in class and at home at the same time. So for their in class day we did a lot of front loading and practice, and then for their at home they worked on deeper level work on the same topics.

The tough part comes with keeping the two groups balanced in terms of work load, finding time to get caught up on the online marking, and planning when to load each assignment online. It generally is taking two hours a day outside of school time to stay on top of all of this.

Really hoping the after effects of Christmas do not change us to purely online. That is even harder to do and with the disastrous decision making by the provincial govt in spring about online being optional then, some bad habits have been set.

I guess we shall see what the new year brings for school.

Lies I told myself

As of today I am done teaching for the summer.

Don't get me wrong...the work is not done.

 I have about 20 hours left of an online course they mandated in the last week. The focus is blending the learning between in person and online. While they say we are all back in the classroom in the fall, I don't have great faith that it will stay that way.

I also need to go in and unpack my classroom as soon as they are done waxing the floors. Last year we had to move classrooms and with dad's passing I never did unpack properly. I do not want to experience that 'Hmmm I wonder where that is' again.


so back to the lies.

When we started this 'stay at home' crisis, part of me thought 'yes!!!!" Time to do all those things I wished I had the time to do at home AND still get paid.

Silly me, I had no clue how steep the learning curve was ahead of me with this online platform.

Lie #1
If I were at home I would be able to read so many books off my 'novels my kids read at school list' . honestly there are so many good  YA books out there, I could read one a day like a vitamin and never catch up. But I thought this was a chance to make a good dent. Didn't happen

Lie #2
If I were at home I would be able to get my hiney on the treadmill every day, multiple times. Boy the shape I would be in. I could do one in the morning before I go to 'work'. One to break things up in the afternoon. One in the evening. Truth - I was so scattered and hit and miss on this. I lost 3 months of time to get a new habit.

Lie #3
If I were at home I would unpack all the stuff I have brought from the other house and move more over. Untrue. Though I did work my way through some of it, I still have boxes and tubs that need a home

Lie #4
If I were at home I would be able to menu plan and have meals ready for supper each day. I did this a bit but certainly not on a regular basis. I found my appetite off (yet still gained weight) and had no desire to cook a good chunk of the time.

I feel like I wasted a 3 month opportunity to get these things going and of course, now, I am sad I did not do more

First Day of Work - virtually exhausting

Well that was certainly a different day of work.

I tried to keep it normal. Up. shower. breakie. all that stuff.

The commute to work was rough. Traffic just about knocked me over on my way to the office.

(read, cats raced me down the stairs, between my feet)

I tried to set up the office to make it feel as real as possible. I have a whole house to work with but making the office work -central makes me feel more focused.

We started with a virtual staff meeting. They gave us a list of things to do for the week

• contact each family through email, phone or text and get a yes or no on whether the family wishes to continue with online learning. 
•  fill in the responses we get on a shared document
• for those who wish to, do they have wifi and devices to do this
• decide on our platform for work and class meetings.
• a full staff meeting each work day at 10
•  a grade level team meeting
• decide on how you will communicate regularly with parents.

The troubles became apparent

• missing contact info for parents. we have been trying to update this all year but some families sure do avoid filling it in. I have many bounce back emails. 
• I am not terribly comfortable using my own phone number for contact but there was no choice. Lots of calls and texts unanswered
• students in gr 7 really don't know how to log into their email online. or check it if they do know how to log in.
• my basement is really cold. socks and a small space heater helped
• my head was spinning with email alerts, text messages and calls and meeting reminders. too many coming from too many different sources.

I pulled out a coil notebook, put down the date and started keeping track of what I was doing. Why  a notebook? I am sure at some point the powers that be will want to know what we are doing each day. A notebook shows that step by step progression while an online document can be altered. We have been cautioned before about being able to prove documentation happened authentically and things weren't 'added later'. kind of like a numbered police officer's notepad

Things I learned

• I am glad I had my class set up on google classroom and we used it during the year. for those who hadn't it was a nightmare
•  sticky notes are my saviour. I have notes everywhere for passwords and reminders etc
•  I don't know how ppl sit at a computer all day. My ass was so sore. 
• my head was spinning from staring at  a screen all day
• parents (the ones who were actively wanting to learn anyways) are hungry for information. I have used a class facebook page for years that parents 'like' and follow. My post on there got more responses than my emails. I plan to write on it each day even if it is just to touch base. 

Mid week

It feels like forever since we started this and really it was only a few days ago. I have started to make mental lists of things I might be able to convert into online learning. I definitely feel like I am neglecting the students.

I did some baking today and dropped two tins of it off at friend's houses on their doorstep. I am not used to being at home and feel like I should be out and doing something.

Watching the toll in Italy grow and the new cases developing in the US is a bit frightening. Lockdowns have begun. Not just self isolation but stay inside.

I have started keeping a list of new cases here in SK and will continue to add as they days go on. We are much more spread out here than probably where many of you are, but it will come.

My routine is still getting up as early as I did for work. Up and coffee and watch the news. Check social media. Then I try to do something productive, but its hard.

DS1 is surviving. He gave me a list of things he was wanting and I dropped them off in the garage. Our buffer zone we call it.

As long as it stays cold  and snowy here, people will be more inclined to stay home. But as soon as it warms up.... yikes.

First Day of Pause

ok well the second since Friday was the first day. Close enough

It only took til noon until I started to feel guilty not connecting with my kids' and their families. We were told to take the week and try to think of ways to keep interest in learning online, but mostly the week is for us.

So I unpacked some books, put a few more things away and started to make a list of things I could do so I wouldn't go crazy.

I am still trying to keep the bills straight between the houses, and the dates they are due.

I spent some time adjusting my budget to reflect 2 power bills, 2 water bills etc.  At some point we will get the boys to kick in but let's wait and see.  It shouldn't be so hard to keep it organized but it feels like a mess for me. Hopefully it will get better.


DS2 is up with his gf and experiencing that same pause. Except for her, she's only been teaching less than 3 months so she doesn't have that wealth of experiences and materials to draw upon.

DS1 is surviving and finding himself sneezing a lot from the cat hair. We've cleaned a lot but it's still there. I suspect the furnace vents all need cleaning.

I definitely need to figure out a rhythm for the days ahead.

And Boom... it starts

There was more of a spring in my step heading to work today, than yesterday. Not sure why. Perhaps the nerf gun war
I finished doing some room tidying and filling in documents for the district.

At 9:20 there is a page for another staff meeting. This time we aren't all gathering in the library. Three groups of staff, three admin, three different rooms. Same message.

We are all instructed to download an app and test it. Then we are told to finalize our paperwork, get our stuff together, and go. Preferably within the hour.

Pause would begin early. No nerf gun war. No last visits. Just get whatever you think you are going to need for online learning. Get your laptop and cord. And get out.

We were forbidden from entering the school - until at least May 1.

I threw a few resources I thought I would need in a box, got my marks binder (yes I do it old fashioned first before putting in online), a few books and I left.

It was really bizarre driving away from the school. Disconnected. Unreal. Confusing.

I drove home and just sat. For over an hour. It was a real 'what the hell just happened?"

DS called about  PM. He and the other boy did their check outs and left by noon. It is starting to become real to him. All this time he was of the 'it's no big deal' mindset. Now, with borders closing it's becoming real. All Canadians lose their healthcare (if something happens to them while down there) if they are not back in the country by Friday Midnight. A caravan of boys started together and will split around Nashville, some heading towards NY, NJ and Ontario others heading up to the west to Michigan, Minnesota and Canada.

I let DS2 know he needed to clear out of the house tomorrow so it's safe for the 14 day self isolation required by law.

Hump Day Happenings

The halls are hauntingly empty.

At our staff meeting this morning they said we are a go until Thursday 3:30. Then, according to the province, we will have Friday, and next week as Pause, as they are calling it. Time to be at home and figure out this new world for our family as well as for teaching.

The govt stated in that initial announcement that online learning is optional and everyone passes.

NOT well thought out to say the least. So many what ifs and our hands are tied. Really wish they would include us in conversations.

I finished my marks and updated my report cards for Term 3. My EA and I began cleaning around the classroom. Wiping desks and computers. Finding library books and returning them. Making lists of students to contact that they had belongings in my room.

We as a staff have planned a nerf gun war for our noon tomorrow. Tensions are high and everyone is shell shocked. We need a bit of levity and togetherness before we say goodbye to each other and the building.

After work, DH and I went for a big grocery shop. Unsure of how this is going to go, we are just making sure we have what we need for at least  couple weeks. The stores were crazy. Jammed. Panicy. Like right before Christmas but more stressful.

Carts are piled high. Shelves are bare. Almost no canned goods. No milk or bread. Surprisingly, the ice-cream bins are empty. This, in addition to the now usual - no cleaning products, flour, TP etc.

We didn't hoard but just made sure we had a few of each item we would want. It was one of the biggest bills I have had grocery shopping. Took forever to put away.

DS phoned tonight. Their league is suspended. He is doing his close out interview tomorrow (Thursday), taking care of his banking, and cleaning their condo.  One of the boys on the team is from SK. He had planned to fly home but was more than a little nervous about it. That, and last minute flights were exorbitantly expensive. DS decided they would come home together. How they will get 2 sets of equipment (the buddy is a goalie), and all their belongings in DS's Jeep Compass, is beyond me.

so much for their big plan of "many of the boys are going to caravan together, stop in Nashville for the night, etc)

DS2 is cleaning up our old house and getting his things ready to clear out before DS1 gets home.

so what do we do from here?

Our big  - hey we are doing sanctions is quite meaningless now.

no students in my room so no need to arrive early. There are still kids in other rooms, especially in 10-12 and technically they can be here til Thursday.


Today I am mostly marking assignments that have come in and getting my marks book up to date.

In other news, DS1 hears tomorrow what is happening with his team.

NHL, AHL and all our Canadian leagues are suspended. It's only a matter of time until DS's league is too.

Apocalypse now

9 AM - 13 students in the room

We carried on and did a new lesson in math for those who were here.

9:50 - break

9:57 - started period 2

10:00 - student tells me they got a text from their parent saying school is done.

I head to Social Media - Yup . Announcement from the government. 

Really bugs me they didn't share with school districts first and then on to schools and us.

They want us to be a partnership and they blindside us with info.

How can we support kids and their families when they don't give us info.

I go in the hall and see three of my colleagues with the same stunned look on their face.

It's just surreal.

By 11 AM all my kids were gone. Some cleaned out their lockers and took their stuff. Some did not.

Staff are sitting around stunned. unsure what to do.

I mean I have read a ton of Young adult books with that post apocalyptic theme, but now I seem to be living it.

Friday the 13th

Let's face it. Friday the 13th often brings chaos in schools. It's like a full moon.

I should have known things were up when there were so few kids in the hallways.

I ended up with 17 of 29 students. It was weird.

We pushed ahead and taught new things as we can't stay in a holding pattern forever.

The other gr 7 classrooms were the same. 

The news is full of Covid struggles.

Ontario, Quebec, BC and Manitoba have announced school closures.

It was supposed to be a PD Day

Some of our professional development is great. It makes sense. It's realistic. It is do-able.

Some of it is definitely less so. Usually this PD is planned by the district office as something they think is very important. And usually it has no practical applicability to the every day life of teachers.  Those grandiose ideas envisioned by people who haven't been in a working classroom in years, if ever.

So today we headed in wondering which category it would be.

It was kind of ….neither.

Our teaching federation decided they were going to impose sanctions - work to rule - as our contract negotiations were going nowhere. Again, the government is another body who has no idea what life is like in the teaching world day in and day out. Or the health care system. Or farming life. or... well you get the idea.

Sanctions would start Thursday. We are not allowed to arrive until 15 minutes before the bell and must leave immediately at the end of the day. No noon hour support. No clubs or teams. It's never something we enjoy.

So our PD topic of the day was mostly  blur for everyone as we tried to figure out how to teach effectively without being able to prep effectively.

It's upsetting for students. parents. staff. everyone

First week back

Ok not a full week but three days,

and only staff

I have not been able to spend ANY time in my room this summer.

Not only do I have to unpack everything as half the school were moved to new classrooms, I need to set up AND I need to plan.

There is often time during those first staff only days to get a few things done but not this year. Out of three days, all but 2 hours were in meetings. Super frustrating as there is so much to do. Hard to focus on yet another new initiative when your mind is whirling with all you have to do.

My butt is sore from sitting and I am feeling overwhelmed with all I have to go back and do this long weekend.

Summer payday

Last September our pay period changed from monthly to twice a month. The 15th and the last day of the month.

A lot of people were excited about getting paid 'more often' but I was not thrilled about the switch, and 10 months later, I still don't love it.

For 25 years I had been getting paid on the 25th of each month.  Granted I didn't start to figure out the budget system until 1 years into it, but I still had that habit.

Once I got my jar system in place in 2008 things started to fall into place and it. felt. right.

I had divided it up into the payday and 3 'fake' paydays for my weekly jar money, so that I didn't overspend in the first couple weeks and then have to stretch it all out for the last 10 days.

It was a good rhythm.

With this change I had to sit down and figure out which bills came due when so I could create the bi weekly budget. Phone bill on check 1. LOC payment on check 2. That sort of thing. Some savings goals I had to split into two chunks just so that it would balance the budget.

I made a lot of errors at the start of which bills needed to go into which paydays, and had to keep switching things around.

I still do the fake payday every week so that I have a fresh reload on my jar money (groceries, gas, etc)

I know this is only short term. After all, I will be retired in the next 10 years and I will go back to once a month for my pension payment. Lord that feels weird saying. Pension payment.

Last day with the kids. sort of

Today is the last day with my students for the most part. Tomorrow is a day where they can come in and hand in assignments or projects that never were done, or write a test they have missed.

It is a weird ending to the school year. My room is in various stages of being packed up to move downstairs. It worked out that I am doing a straight switch with a college so we have been proactive in moving things to each other's rooms. The kids are happy to move it and we did a lot of the big shelves of books last week.


I am going to miss my room. The windows overlook a quiet green space and my new one overlooks the parking lot. Not nearly as fun.

Today is pizza reward day for my kids. We are moving whatever is left that is ready to go and then DS1 is bringing pizza for the kids as my thank you for  doing so much heavy lifting. They are exited to meet DS after hearing about him all year. My hockey boys are particularly looking forward to it.

We shall have a good meal together and then write our last big exam together.

The days take forever but the years go by quickly.

Catching up - My health

I have to say that since I started a new oral pill last September, things have been much better colitis-wise in my world. I am still hyper vigilant about what could happen when I am out and about but I have actually been able to go eat at a couple restaurants without having to drive home in a mad dash to get to the bathroom.

I hope this trend continues. It would be so nice to live a more normal life and not have the burden of this disease the major factor in all my trips outside of the house.

The time spent with dad however uses up all my free time. I am feeling overwhelmed and like I don't have a life of my own anymore. I try to frame it as positive as I can but it  isn't easy.

I am behind  at school because I can't be there after schools or weekends to get caught up or, gasp, plan ahead.

It uses up all my brain energy so that when I get home from dad's I am often in a zombie state, without the ability to make big decisions, or organize, or remember where I put things.

My second mammogram shows the abnormalities are still there but haven't changed in size or shape. They don't feel it is something to be concerned about but I still think I should get a biopsy. Maybe paranoid, but I don't want to be surprised and find out that it is too late.

My filling in January broke in mid Feb. I had it refilled and it broke again a few days later.

I ended up having to go get the tooth pulled. I felt instantly old, with this weird gap on my lower jaw. A bridge or a crown were not viable possibilities. Add to that the tooth was a hot mess and roots were crooked and I had to pay $700 for sedation and it was NOT covered by any health plan. Boo!!

End of the school year

There were times when I didn't know if I would make it.

There were times when I wondered if my parents would be alive at the end of the school year.

I looked forward to this day for a long while....just something to keep working towards so that I could just..................... be.

It was a tough year with student deaths and a lot of chaos at work.

It was a long 6 month C journey with mom and a long month after she was gone.

I pushed aside grieving to get through the end of the school year.

And now it's here.

Time to rest.

Time to think.

Time to pray and heal.

Time to be with dad.

Time to declutter and take care of a very neglected house and a very neglected me.

I laid down for a moment when I got home and I literally was asleep in under 60 seconds.

It's that kind of tired.

Let the summer begin

so excited for summer.

No huge plans.

Just.....renewing myself.

It was so good to come home and kick off my work clothes in glee.

It was an amazing evening. BBQ and dine outside.

The knowledge that there is nothing on the 'have to do' list for tomorrow.

And a beautiful fire in the firepit to bring on the start of summer.

Last Day of School

Well, I made it. today is the last day of school.

Report cards are done.

Materials are returned to the office or library.

Desks are stacked and everything is up off the moveable shelves. The room looks odd without the life in it. Abandoned. Almost apocalyptic.

This morning will be a lot of visiting with staff. Goodbyes to a few who are retiring or moving on.

We get our first draft of class lists for the fall. 

I plan to type up my class lists into my nominal rolls. I have a few things I made for fall that I will laminate and cut out.

I have time to type out of few webquests I have started and get those ready for September.

We have a quick staff meeting and then it's time to put the finishing touches on everything for the Graduation Ceremony for the afternoon. It's always exciting to see the kids come in to get their cap and gown. Excited. Nervous. Seeing the school for the last time.

Hopefully the weather  holds so we can go outside for the cap toss.

Happy End of June to all the teachers out there.