Today is a very sad day in the life of Christie. I would ask that you would all join me now in a moment of silence. .................... So here is the story. This morning we had a bad snow storm hit. There was an accident on the 201 which is the road we usually take. So instead we took I-15. As the road comes into town it changes from 50 to 35. So I was slowing down as I was approaching the sign. When I got to the sign I think I was going 40. Right then I see a cop turn his lights on and pull out. I could not believe it!
On Thursday I was stopped by a cop because he had looked up my license plate number and it said that my car was not insured. Well, I showed him my insurance card and he accepted it. But then he told me that I needed to get a Utah drivers license or it would be a $1000 fine.
I changed car insurance companies YESTERDAY and I couldn't get a new license because it was a holiday. So when I got pulled over I was terrified that I was going to a $1000 fine plus get a fine for not having my new insurance card. Thankfully, he said nothing about either of the issues.
He pulled me over because he said I was speeding in a school zone. I was completely confused. I could see the flashing lights of the school zone ahead of me, so I was going to slow down when I got to them. But he said there was a sign before that and that I was in the school zone already. He wrote me down for going 25 in a 20 mph school zone, thankfully. I was going 38 but he was kind. He said there is a driving class that I can take that may take it off my record. I am totally bummed though. I am exceedingly sad that my perfect record has now been tainted. Sad day.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Short Skirts and Rainy Winter Days
At my school, the dress code says that girls skirts have to come to atleast mid-thigh when they are sitting. One of my students, Savannah, wears a skirt that is mid-thigh when she is standing. However, she almost always wears leggings with it, so I don't say anything.
But yesterday she was not wearing leggings with it. We were in the computer lab working on their letters to a legislator. Everyone was working, so I thought this was the perfect chance to talk to her. I just said, "Savannah, could you come here for a second." Now, I have to tell you that Savannah is one of my best students. She has tons of personality, she works hard and she does well.
So when she came back to where I was, she leaned over and said, "This is about my skirt isn't it." I replied, "Yeah, how did you know?" "I just had a feeling. Would you like me to go change?" I said yes and off she went to the locker room to grab her gym shorts. Amazing!!!! It was just that easy. I gained a lot of respect for Savannah at that moment. Kids can be wonderful.
I was expecially grateful to Savannah for being so repsonsible after having a very infuriating discussion with one of my other students. We have been working on this letter to a legislator project for two weeks now. It was due Friday. On Thursday while we were in the lab typing up our final draft, one of my not so favorite students asks me, "Since I am not doing this project - since you never explained it to me - can I work on my CTE homework?" AHHHHH!!! I just about lost it! I couldn't believe she had the nerve to say that to me. No other student seemed to be having a problem, just her. Everything had been done step by step in class - it was fool proof. Or so I thought.
I told her we would discuss it later. After all the students were working, I stepped out of the lab to talk to her. She tried to blame me and then tried to blame her mom and then said that her mom would not let her do her homework for punishment. When I reminded her that all of the work had been done in class, she again, blamed it on her mom. I wanted to strangle this girl!!! At any rate, I gave her until Monday to have the entire project completed. It is worth the equivilent of 3 quizzes, we shall see how it goes.
Add to that, that the next day I had a student cheat on a quiz. One of my best students told me that she saw this kid cheat last week and told me how he did it. She wanted me to know so I could watch for it this week. Well, sure enough, he did it. I wrote him a note and told him I knew he had cheated, so he could do one of two things: 1. Come talk to me and confess and then we could work something out or 2. Not talk to me and I would give him a 0% on both quizzes. He chose not to talk to me about it. I lost a great deal of respect for that student and I am extremely disappointed in him. Student-led Conferences are coming up in 2 weeks (basically parent teacher conferences, except the students come with their parents.) You had better believe I will be chatting with his parents. I figure that in the mean time, they will notice that his grade dropped from a B+ to a D in one day. I am going to let him try to explain that to them.
Now for the rainy winter day portion of my title. A year and a half ago when I lived alone in my aunt and uncle's basement apartment, I went for a lot of walks. It was during the Fall, so the weather was gorgeous. Living by myself stunk and no one was interested in getting to know me, so I filled my evenings with long walks. Since then I have become a huge fan of walks.
In honor of my long walks, I decided to go for a walk today. I had straighted my hair today, so I was a little bummed when it started to rain on my walk. It was only a drizzle, so I did not worry about it. My walk was wonderful! Walks are so refreshing and lovely. I can just think and in the mean time enjoy the beautiful scenary. The homes around where I live are amazing! They are classic homes that all have their own character. I love the area I live in.
But yesterday she was not wearing leggings with it. We were in the computer lab working on their letters to a legislator. Everyone was working, so I thought this was the perfect chance to talk to her. I just said, "Savannah, could you come here for a second." Now, I have to tell you that Savannah is one of my best students. She has tons of personality, she works hard and she does well.
So when she came back to where I was, she leaned over and said, "This is about my skirt isn't it." I replied, "Yeah, how did you know?" "I just had a feeling. Would you like me to go change?" I said yes and off she went to the locker room to grab her gym shorts. Amazing!!!! It was just that easy. I gained a lot of respect for Savannah at that moment. Kids can be wonderful.
I was expecially grateful to Savannah for being so repsonsible after having a very infuriating discussion with one of my other students. We have been working on this letter to a legislator project for two weeks now. It was due Friday. On Thursday while we were in the lab typing up our final draft, one of my not so favorite students asks me, "Since I am not doing this project - since you never explained it to me - can I work on my CTE homework?" AHHHHH!!! I just about lost it! I couldn't believe she had the nerve to say that to me. No other student seemed to be having a problem, just her. Everything had been done step by step in class - it was fool proof. Or so I thought.
I told her we would discuss it later. After all the students were working, I stepped out of the lab to talk to her. She tried to blame me and then tried to blame her mom and then said that her mom would not let her do her homework for punishment. When I reminded her that all of the work had been done in class, she again, blamed it on her mom. I wanted to strangle this girl!!! At any rate, I gave her until Monday to have the entire project completed. It is worth the equivilent of 3 quizzes, we shall see how it goes.
Add to that, that the next day I had a student cheat on a quiz. One of my best students told me that she saw this kid cheat last week and told me how he did it. She wanted me to know so I could watch for it this week. Well, sure enough, he did it. I wrote him a note and told him I knew he had cheated, so he could do one of two things: 1. Come talk to me and confess and then we could work something out or 2. Not talk to me and I would give him a 0% on both quizzes. He chose not to talk to me about it. I lost a great deal of respect for that student and I am extremely disappointed in him. Student-led Conferences are coming up in 2 weeks (basically parent teacher conferences, except the students come with their parents.) You had better believe I will be chatting with his parents. I figure that in the mean time, they will notice that his grade dropped from a B+ to a D in one day. I am going to let him try to explain that to them.
Now for the rainy winter day portion of my title. A year and a half ago when I lived alone in my aunt and uncle's basement apartment, I went for a lot of walks. It was during the Fall, so the weather was gorgeous. Living by myself stunk and no one was interested in getting to know me, so I filled my evenings with long walks. Since then I have become a huge fan of walks.
In honor of my long walks, I decided to go for a walk today. I had straighted my hair today, so I was a little bummed when it started to rain on my walk. It was only a drizzle, so I did not worry about it. My walk was wonderful! Walks are so refreshing and lovely. I can just think and in the mean time enjoy the beautiful scenary. The homes around where I live are amazing! They are classic homes that all have their own character. I love the area I live in.
Our New Bishop
I am pretty sure that our new bishop would be a little uncomfortable with me posting this, but here we go. A new bishopric was sustained in my ward 3 weeks ago. When they announced the name of the new bishop, every persons head turned and you could see that people were wondering. His name was Thomas L. Monson. Hmmmmm....
Well, it is true, our new bishop is the son of the prophet!!! How crazy is that? He is a wonderful guy, very down to earth and easy to talk to. His wife is lovely. She is from Ucon and instantly we got along very well. Bishop Monson said it is still a little odd when people bear testimony of the prophet. To him, his dad is just his dad - nothing more or less. He is a wonderful bishop and I look forward to getting to know him. Perhaps we will have a FHE with the prophet sometime...yeah right. Oh well, I can hope. :)
Well, it is true, our new bishop is the son of the prophet!!! How crazy is that? He is a wonderful guy, very down to earth and easy to talk to. His wife is lovely. She is from Ucon and instantly we got along very well. Bishop Monson said it is still a little odd when people bear testimony of the prophet. To him, his dad is just his dad - nothing more or less. He is a wonderful bishop and I look forward to getting to know him. Perhaps we will have a FHE with the prophet sometime...yeah right. Oh well, I can hope. :)
If You Sing in Conference, They Will Come
I am in the Institute Choir presidency. Each semester we have around 30-40 people in choir. However, that ALL changed this semester. We are singing in the March CES fireside and then we are singing for the Saturday Afternoon session of General Conference. Well, well, well my friends, the masses have now appeared.
The first week of this semester, we had 130 people at choir. We thought that was a TON! On no, no, no. That was only the beginning. The last two weeks we have had 230 people. Clearly, we cannot have that many people. So Brother Keaton made attendance the deciding factor in whether of not you get to sing in the fireside and conference.
It has been amazing to me to see the enormous number of people that have shown up. It is exciting and I am glad to see that this many people want to be involved. However, I must admit that I am a little sad that I know there will never be this many people again - unless of course we sing in conference again.
I must also add that Julie Taylor and Jennifer Dutson are in choir with me and I am so glad. Look for the little section of people from Skyline when you watch conference this April.
The first week of this semester, we had 130 people at choir. We thought that was a TON! On no, no, no. That was only the beginning. The last two weeks we have had 230 people. Clearly, we cannot have that many people. So Brother Keaton made attendance the deciding factor in whether of not you get to sing in the fireside and conference.
It has been amazing to me to see the enormous number of people that have shown up. It is exciting and I am glad to see that this many people want to be involved. However, I must admit that I am a little sad that I know there will never be this many people again - unless of course we sing in conference again.
I must also add that Julie Taylor and Jennifer Dutson are in choir with me and I am so glad. Look for the little section of people from Skyline when you watch conference this April.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
