The last full week for seniors--but summer's not here yet...

The last week of classes for seniors is always a bit hectic. The soon-to-be-released-on-un-unsuspecting-world young adults are, at times, very serious, often moody, and sometimes even revert to silly behaviors more fitting to middle schoolers. It's a momentous occasion in their lives, and they don't quite know what to do with all of the emotions: stress, sadness, excitement, worry, etc. I have to take a deep breath and let them work through their "big moods" right now. It happens every spring, so I'm used to it. As long as they get their final paper done and in on time, all else is window-dressing. 

For the ones left behind, the juniors and below, the challenge is to keep them corralled long enough to make it to the last day--ish. This year, there are actual activities that may keep them coming in, one of which is a generously-funded full day trip to Boston. I can't walk all that, so I will not be going (and that breaks my heart-- I love doing the things on the itinerary, but it's too much for one day for me). I'm pretty sure none of them will be coming in the day after, as the bus will be returning around midnight or so. But I'll be there for the stragglers, one way or another. There's plenty of end-of-year stuff to keep me occupied. 

Teachers are contracted to be at work until 6/16. Then, summer schedule kicks in for me, and this year will be a little different. I don't have summer work for the Frost Place, at least nothing scheduled. I do have the Conference on Poetry and Teaching during the last week of June, though. And I have the looming jury selection on July 10; maybe I'll dodge this civic-duty bullet and not have to report, but if I do get selected, then I'll know what a chunk of July is going to look like. Then, before we know it, the next school year will roll around mid-August. 

But for today, starting at 50 degrees and not sunny, summer stuff is "not yet" and we have work to do.

Sigh. We can do it. We always do.

Take care,

C