Christmas Countdown - 2013

[Christmasstar]

It was 64 degrees here today and overcast. A cold front is just starting to push thru Baltimore now, triggering thunderstorms. Can you believe it, thunderstorm in January. Tomorrow, the high is supposed to be 30 degrees; Wow, now that's a temperature swing for you....

I spent all morning watching a plumber re-pipe my grandfathers boiler, it quit working friday night because the system/ hot water piping, sprung a leak in the expansion tank and had no water pressure. Upon my further inspection, I found a couple more leaks, caused by the pressure reducing valve that had failed and with the uncontrollable water pressure, the old pipes and equipment could not handle it and it was blowing the system apart.

Well, I spent all morning there making sure everything got done properly and was tested as well. It's all fixed now and he's up and running just in time before the temperatures dip back down in the 30's tomorrow. Me. I'm back at the office now and will stay late tonight to try to make up my time so that I do not have to use up my vacation time... So Ill be here for awhile tonight!!!

hopefully it will work well now with no further problems, not good when you have to watch thier every move to get it done right.

 

[MerryCarey]

I just had a great idea!!! Would some of you post a note to me to read to the kids in my classroom about my last day as their teacher? I will get online and read them out loud to the kids. We are not really supposed to use the computer for personal stuff, but what are they going to do, fire me??? Also, could you congratulate Giordan for being Student of the Month and encourage him to keep up his improvement in behavior??? Thank you in advance for those who wish to do so!

Congratulations, Giordan! Keep up the good work and make Mrs. Waters be always proud of you! She may not be in your classroom after today, but she will be thinking of YOU every day. Don't let her down!

That goes for all of you. As time passes, you will remember Mrs. Waters as a special teacher---tough, but fair. One of the important things she has taught you is to work hard, keep your standards high, and make learning fun. When you miss Mrs. Waters, remember that the best retirement gift she can have is to know that you will smile and work that extra little bit harder when you think of her.

 

[Christmasstar]

I am praying you and yours are safe !!!

we are all warm and safe thank you for thinking of me!

 

[Christmasstar]

Please, please, please...don't put this on my facebook page....because we are waiting to tell our family because of the difficulties we have experienced....

but....

I'm going to be a Dad...shhhhh.....

That is so exciting congratulations!!!

 

[Christmasstar]

And with this post, Christmasstar is poster #5000. WOW!!! For her efforts, she wins 17 packets of mayonnaise and 11 packets of mustard! Yeah, for Star!!!

alright! now I do not have to go shopping for this stuff!!!

 

[snowflake22]

Congratulations on your retirement, Cherylle!! I wish you much happiness in this new chapter of your life!!

Your students will miss you, I'm sure of that!! I know they will take to heart all that you have taught them over the years. Your legacy will live on through them!

*A special shout out to Giordan for Student Of The Month!! Nice job!! You should be very proud of yourself!! Keep up the great work, and encourage others to do the same.*

Xo

 

[Christmasstar]

The news about my retirement is NOTHING compared with Coach's wonderful announcement. How marvelous!

My party was absolutely WONDERFUL. There were so many people there, including the district superintendent, a school board member, a former district secretary, three former and present custodians, two of my former aides, six teachers who retired several years ago, our present school secretary, the principal, a few teachers and the counselor from the Intermediate School (junior high), and about 24 of the other teachers on staff. I could not believe it! And the gifts!!! Lots of bouquets and arrangements of flowers, balloons, candy, a $20 gift card to Starbucks, a $50 gift certificate to Farwood (an upscale restaurant), a $150 gift certificate to The Galley (a gourmet cooking store in Chico), four bottles of wine, so many hugs and well wishes (the BEST), and a dog toy that is a pig that grunts when you pick it up! The school secretary had one in her candy dish on her desk that I admired and laughed at every day, so she said she had to get one for me. I really laughed out loud at that one because I had plans to go out to Wal-Mart and get myself one this weekend!!! I also will receive $1000 from the district. Am I lucky or what??? And the food!!! Oh, my! Fruit, chips, dips of every kind (7-layer Mexican dip, spinach dip, black bean and corn salsa, dill dip, and one other that I cannot remember right now), cookies, cheese ball with all the trimmings (ham, salami, crackers, etc.), pretzels made with a garlic-dill coating that is out of this world, brownies, a huge veggie tray, a huge carrot cake with the best frosting (!!!), and other stuff that I cannot remember. They wanted me to bring the leftovers home, but I said to put them in the staff lounge fridge for tomorrow. I did bring home a few things: cheese ball, the coated pretzels, two brownies and two pieces of carrot cake. YUMMO is all I can say!

I gave a short speech (I will share it in another post) and then the partying began and lasted for three hours. I was exhausted when I got home. Time for a rest!

sounds wonderful and you so deserve it! So glad you had a great send off.

 

[Christmasstar]

Giordan was almost overwhelmed with his award as Student of the Month. His face turned red and he said, "But I don't have a backpack to keep the award safe!" The principal gave him a special folder for it. I wish all of you could have seen him. He was smiling and grinning from ear to ear. So, so special!

that is great, sounds just like what he needed

 

[Christmasstar]

My speech:

Some of you may remember Charles Kuralt of CBS News fame, a fellow North Carolinian. When he was ready to retire, he said that his inner voice told him he had to give up his big salary and his corner office and leave his Sunday morning program to somebody else. The voice told him that he did not have a world of time left to do all those things he had promised himself he would do someday. In his own words, Kuralt wrote, “I had worked at CBS for 37 years. Without a single misgiving, I sat down at my desk at home and typed a short letter to my boss: ‘Dear Eric, I feel it is time to resign from CBS News. Accordingly, I ask that you find a replacement for me on my show, Sunday Morning, as soon as possible—by the end of this month, I hope….’ I delivered this letter that same day. The second it was out of my hand, I felt a wave of giddy release. I felt like singing. The thing was done, and I was on my own. CBS announced my departure as my ‘retirement,’ and Dan Rather read the announcement so solemnly on the air that many people, upon hearing it, assumed at first that I had died. It wasn’t an obituary notice I had meant to hand in; it was a Declaration of Independence. I wanted Roman candles, not funeral wreaths. Even the word ‘retirement’ suggested a withdrawal I was nowhere near ready for. I knew I might retire somewhere down the road, but I desired an adventurous passage from here to there.”
I am no Charles Kuralt, but I am now ready to give up my big salary and my corner office and to leave my classroom to somebody else, Tara Be**ns.
Some of you know that I am known as The Mean Teacher and, yes, I AM a mean teacher. I am a MEAN teacher because I insist that each student do the best s/he is capable of doing.

I am a MEAN teacher because I insist that students hand in their assignments on time.

I am a MEAN teacher because I do not accept incomplete assignments.

I am a MEAN teacher because I require students to think carefully and to make his/her own decisions.

I am a MEAN teacher because I hold each student responsible for his/her own behavior.

I am a MEAN teacher because I make students keep the classroom, themselves, and their belongings neat and clean.

I am a MEAN teacher because I do not allow free time in class until all classwork is done.

I am a MEAN teacher because I give homework regularly, every single night except for Friday.

I am a MEAN teacher because I call on students who don't raise their hands to answer questions.


I am a MEAN teacher because I require all students to treat each other with respect.

I am a MEAN teacher because I make life miserable for my students by insisting they always tell the truth.

I am a MEAN teacher because I help produce students who are respectful, responsible, and successful.

Yes, I am a MEAN teacher because THE WORLD NEEDS MORE MEAN* TEACHERS!

*(MEAN = Making Excellence A Necessity)

Love it! That is a great speech, well done. Now I am crying thinking of you giving this speech and leaving all those kids.
I am so proud to know you.
(((HUGS)))))

 

[Christmasstar]

One of the best days of my life has come to an end. Now, the nightly prayers for a healthy baby will begin (although there have already been about 50).

Isn't it funny...the only people in mY life who know are people that I have never met....

I think that speaks volumes for the tight-knit community we have here.

Thanks for the well wishes. It only made my night better.

thank you, we are privileged to know you too.

maybe you should tell your wife, I think she should know too?

 

[made582]

Seawaters- Thank you for all that you have done. Through your tireless efforts and hard work you have helped shape the next generation into the leaders of tommorrow. Enjoy your retirement!!!


Giordan- Congratulations on your improvement and being named Student of the month. Keep up the hard work and your future will be limit less.

 

[made582]

I hope everyone is having a GREAT DAY!!!!!!

 

[Christmasstar]

I have missed so much the past couple of days. I am glad that I popped in tonight so I didn't miss the great news from Coach, of course! Congratulations again :]

I am exhausted so I am heading back to bed. I haven't slept well for a week or so, I could really use a good night's sleep. My stomach has been iffy for the past couple of days so I think once that goes away I will sleep better. We have really been having the wacky weather here. Six inches of snow, then it warmed up to almost 70 degrees today, and then tons and tons of rain. It's crazy! Tomorrow we're supposed to get snow and another 3 inches this weekend. I think I'll be taking vitamins to avoid getting sick!

I am going to try my best to catch up tomorrow since I have a day off. I hope you are all well and healthy. Praying for you and your families, as usual! Good night!!

oh you poor thing, I hope you can avoid what is going around. I am uping my vitamens too.
We have that weather too, one day snow, the next rain, then snow again and now back to snow. At least we do not get bored with it all!! LOL

 

[Seawaters]

I wish you could see Giordan's face as I have read these posts! It is totally priceless! The other kids are telling him that he is famous. One girl said, "You are awesome, Giordan!" Another said he should get his own website because he is so famous!!! So funny! I am laughing just watching these kids interact with these posts. Hilarious. Thank you all so much. I told him I will keep checking back. Another teacher brought in a gift for me. Giordan's deskmate said, "You are stealing Giordan's thunder, Mrs. Waters!" I thought I would crack up!

 

[Christmasstar]

Good Thursday morning everyone! it's my last day at work until next weds as I am taking a few days off to go snow skiing at Canaan valley Wv. They are expecting snowfall all weekend. We are leaving first thing Friday morning so should be there Friday night. I will miss wife and kids and this is my first time away from them since they were born. It will be fun to have some guy time though with my buddies I guess. I will probably be on the slopes until late sunday since they have night skiing and will miss superbowl but have dvr'd it mostly for commercials.lol My teams are not playing sadly. I miss everyone here and I vow to visit more when I get back from Utah the following weekend in feb. as this place really keeps my spirit up especially this time of year! Have a great weekend everyone and enjoy those chicken wings on sunday!!!!

Have a great time! Getting away once in awhile is an important part of recharging so you can be a good parent !

 

[jennifer91]

yesterday it was 15c (59f), windows open enjoying spring like weater...

today woke to -6c (21f), strong winds and a bit of blowing snow!!!

Stay warm!! It was 68 here yesterday and now 20's here today, too.

Good Thursday morning, my Christmas friends!

It's much colder today than yesterday, down in the 40's, and we're expect the upper 20's by Saturday. Whew.

I don't have any news that can compare to Coach's news, so I'll just say...

I hope y'all have a great day! cheesy

LOL! Anything going on with my day seems more boring than Coach's news, as well. Have a great day!!

I just had a great idea!!! Would some of you post a note to me to read to the kids in my classroom about my last day as their teacher? I will get online and read them out loud to the kids. We are not really supposed to use the computer for personal stuff, but what are they going to do, fire me??? Also, could you congratulate Giordan for being Student of the Month and encourage him to keep up his improvement in behavior??? Thank you in advance for those who wish to do so!

I will be posting in a separate post next

I wish you could see Giordan's face as I have read these posts! It is totally priceless! The other kids are telling him that he is famous. One girl said, "You are awesome, Giordan!" Another said he should get his own website because he is so famous!!! So funny! I am laughing just watching these kids interact with these posts. Hilarious. Thank you all so much. I told him I will keep checking back. Another teacher brought in a gift for me. Giordan's deskmate said, "You are stealing Giordan's thunder, Mrs. Waters!" I thought I would crack up!

LOL! They are being very sweet to Giordan! He should be congratulated for being Student of the Month. You are great with your students!!

 

[jennifer91]

Seawaters, congratulations on your last day. I am sure that it is very bittersweet for you. Your contributions will never be forgotten, especially not to those students who will cherish you forever. You deserve all of the relaxation in the world that comes with retirement! Congratulations again at being a wonderful person, an amazing teacher, mentor, and guide to those students.

Now, for the kids:

Kids, be sure to thank your teacher plenty of times today because she deserves it. She is a wonderful person and we are very lucky to be able to call her our friend here. You have to try your best to continue to succeed in school - always think of your teacher and what she would say to you if you are struggling or are having a bad day. You can get through anything if you try and work hard, which I am sure she has taught you! I know you are all very special and important to her, so don't ever forget it. Have fun in school, pay attention to what you learn, and make memories with your friends. I can tell you from experience - you will never forget a teacher as awesome as her!

Giordan, congratulations for being Student of the Month! What an honor! Student of the Month shows your hard work, dedication, kindness, and respect to not only your teacher, but to the rest of the class. Stay motivated and do your best throughout the rest of the school year. You know how hard you worked to be the Student of the Month, strive to keep that same attitude. Keep up the good work!!! Since you're a STAR for all of your hard work, here you go!

 

[Christmasstar]

Good morning everyone!

We're closing in on the first weekend of February! In Ottawa, people seem ready to leave the coldest month of the year behind us. I don't mind January though. We had a good mix. A couple record setting days for warmth and also a stretch of very cold days where we were lucky to reach out of the -30c's! Judging by the long range forecast, there is no forecast for a warm or cold spell. This will be great for the outdoor rinks. It would be nice to have at least a few more weeks of enjoyment out of them.

Last night was relatively quiet. The gym was fun, as usual. The only real frustrating part right now is having to run 40 minutes for rehabilitating my knee. I've gotten over the fact that I cannot powerlift just yet, but 40 minutes on a treadmill isn't the greatest of times. It is all for a good cause, however. I can't wait to finally be medically cleared for high impact activities. The good news is that there is an end in sight. It can't be any later than the end of February. We'll see after my appointment next Thursday.

we have not had it quite as cold as you but did shiver for a time.
Be careful with that knee, I know we all wish to get better quick, but slow and steady is better.

 

[Christmasstar]

I just had a great idea!!! Would some of you post a note to me to read to the kids in my classroom about my last day as their teacher? I will get online and read them out loud to the kids. We are not really supposed to use the computer for personal stuff, but what are they going to do, fire me??? Also, could you congratulate Giordan for being Student of the Month and encourage him to keep up his improvement in behavior??? Thank you in advance for those who wish to do so!

You kids have an amazing teacher, mrs Waters loves you all and will always have a place in her heart for you.
Gordon, congrats on making student of the month! Well done!!

 

[Christmasstar]

Yeah, after stopping in every once in awhile today finally got caught up!

We have streamers coming off the lake which means one min you can see the next you can't. Not a lot of accumulation of snow but the little there is, is blowing all over the place.

I have not got much to do today. Packed up all the stuff from when I was doing the Keurig demos, now waiting for Loomis to come and pick it up.

Also doing work on the pieces for that cake. I need to take a trip intof Missasuga for more gumpaste, that is the closest cake supply shop that carries what I need.