The last month of school is almost upon us...

Well, I've packed a lot of projects into this one little week "off" and I'm tired. Pleased, yes, with all of the things I've accomplished, but today, since it's a damp and rainy morning, I'm going to slow down and not get into yet another cleaning project. I was going to wash windows and take down the winter curtains, but y'know...that can wait until next Saturday. I don't feel like getting up and down, up and down on and off the step stool. I would like to just putter my way through the day. Actually, through today and tomorrow, and maybe even Sunday. Who knows? 

What I do know is that the last month of school is usually a barely controlled chaos, and I'd better rest a little. Field trips behind us (for the most part), we'll now have meetings, presentations, seniors-this-and-that, and the omnipresent calendar shouting "we still have work to do..."-- and we do. Then it's all about wrapping things up, and doing the end of the year check list: count the books, nag the kids for missing books, tidy things up, finish grades, and so on. I try to sneak in a lot of the mundane duties before the final weeks, because I dislike last-minute stuff, and I know that there will be last-minute stuff that impedes progress. 

I'm also trying to get two of my classes aligned with AP expectations. Not my favorite idea, but it helps the school's ratings. Both courses under the microscope are already dual credit, so kids already can earn college credit for doing the classes. So, why AP designation? Well, the bean-counters of the world rate schools on a variety of "measurable" things, and how many AP courses kids can take is one of them. Normally, I would not give a tired fig about this, but since the state seems to be trending toward universal vouchers (BAD idea), we have to look (and be) attractive. Otherwise, families may choose to send their kids elsewhere. Our enrollment is already low, and we are a small school, so anything we can do to appear "better" is a good thing. And don't get me wrong, we do a lot of great things at our little school. Unfortunately, the good that we do is not measured by the ratings systems. Big field trips? Trips for the entire high school to attend theatre productions? Plays, musicals, no-cut sports? Guest speakers, artists in residence? Enough dual credit courses for a kid to be almost done with two years' worth of college credits? Internships? Clubs galore? Teachers with a depth of knowledge and years of experience? Bah...who counts those things? Not US News and World Report, not SchoolDigger. Sigh. 

Anyhow, this last month will be busy. I usually use April break to literally and figuratively get my house in order, and I have, for the most part. But these next few days, I need to scale back my busy-ness and get my mental and physical self together. It'll be a rocket on rails, and I need to be ready. 

Have a good day, friends. 

C