5 Pennies - Day 317

1. Brought in breakfast for guidance department
            They really did a nice job with the 5th grade orientation from earlier this week. They have been working really hard lately on various projects- 5th grade orientation, 8th grade transition, state wide assessments, etc. I just wanted to let them know how much I appreciate all the work that they do. By the way, the breakfast was Blueberry Scones

2. Wrote "Thank you" notes to other staff members
                And included a piece of candy with each - just to say thank you for providing this extra opportunities for the students.                

                The art teacher for a field trip to the local museum
                The 7th grade team leader for planning a behavioral based field trip
                 The two social studies teachers for a Civil War Assembly

3. Watched students for another teacher as she attended the field trip
                The bus was running late back from the art field trip, so I just housed her kids that couldn't go on the field trip with my regular general music class. No big deal & it was easy to do.

4. Complimented another teachers outfit
                I really liked her shirt today. It was a bit outside her box - but it was really nice. Its always a risk when you buy new clothes, especially when they are not your normal type. I rarely get any clothes outside my box - which is solid one color with limited decorations. I do have a few shirts that have some stripes :-)

5. Wrote a "Good Luck" note to the orchestra teacher for tonight's concert & attended.
              The kids really did a nice and I was pleased with their performance. There was a guest violinist that performed with the kids. Such a great idea and the exposure for the students to have this opportunity. I should look into this for next year.

5 Pennies - Day 316

1. Wrote 2 "Thank You" notes to those staff members that covered my afternoon class.
               I had a special student activity this afternoon and two other staff members volunteered to cover my classes. I really appreciated their willingness to help me out at the last minute. So I wrote a simple thank you note and included a piece of candy to each.             

2. Wrote "Nice Job" notes to other staff members that have done extra student based activities
                Lets see here-

                    The Spanish teacher took her kids to the local Spanish Restaurant as a hands on Field trip
                    Two other teachers coordinated and implemented a successful student leadership activity day
                    Then there was the organization of the 5th grade orientation & visitation program

3. Helped clean up the cafeteria after the student leadership activity
                It wasn't a big mess, but tables needed to be moved back and wiped down. Easy to do.

4. Wrote a "Thinking of You" card to a staff member who is having some family health issue problems
               One of my close friends father is in the hospital. It makes me sad knowing that she is going through this hardship and doesn't want to talk about it much. So I decided that a simple thinking of you card would brighten her day.

5. Made my mother her favorite bread & bought her flowers to wish her luck at work tomorrow
                She has her annual State Regulation Evaluation. She has been working really long hours for the past 2 weeks trying to get everything ready. I know that she will do well - it's just the stress of it all. By the way, it was Banana Walnut Bread :-)

6. Helped a woman at the grocery store in reaching some food items
                *This is my favorite.
                 There was a woman who had her baby in one of those frontal sling carriers - FYI - I'm pretty sure that my son spent almost his first 6 months in one of those. I basically wore it constantly. I had 2 of them so that I always had one clean. Anyway, here was this woman trying to bend over, hold onto her baby, and also pick up a watermelon. I had to chuckle at the sight. Sort of like been there, done that type of thing. I just simply went over and picked up the water melon for her out of the bin. She was so grateful. I remember those days. 

5 Pennies - Day 315

1. Wrote 2 "Excellent Job" notes to the art teachers for putting together a wonderful student art show.
               Yes, I know that it showcased only student made artwork - but it was so wonderful to look at - to recognize the names of the students that I also teach. To see all of the hard work from the two art teachers. If you ever have the opportunity to go to an art gallery of student work, do so. It is amazing to see how talented some of the youth really are. Personally, I am a horrible artist - so to see this talent from such young people - I'm impressed.

2. Gave an ice cream gift card to a staff member for her daughter
                This particular staff member brought her daughter to the school dance Saturday night. She was so well behaved and really deserved something special.
               
3. Gave extra art supplies to the Art Department
               I had to buy color streamers for a project that i was doing with some of my students. We were talking about 'The Planets' from Gustav Holst. In particular we were talking about the movement about Jupiter. Even though the music isn't really about the orbital planets, but more about the Greek/Roman mythology - I let them wrap me up with colored streamers just like the bands on Jupiter - they loved it, especially when I exploded at the end. Anyway, I had a good amount left over that I knew that the art department could use for something.

4. Took back the cart of another customer
                    Just because.

5. Wrote a "Thinking of You" card to a church shut in
                  Haven't seen her in a while and just wanted to say hi.

6. Replaced the chairs that were used from a classroom for an evening dance.
               I noticed that some chairs weren't set back correctly after the dance sat night. So I just wanted to straighten things up properly for another teacher before they came into their classroom.

5 Pennies - Day 314

1. Sent pictures of art from another school to an art teacher to use in classroom
            I always like to share information with other teachers in my building that I think that they may be able to use within their classroom. The two art teachers in my building are amazing - really. They can find inspiration and themed units from anything.  So whenever I see student artwork, I just feel compelled to share with them.

2. Sent resources about Biblical women to the church's female student group leader
           She is starting a discussion group about famous female people from the Bible. I thought that this extra resource could help her organize and plan. My favorite Biblical female is - hands down - is Esther. Her courage to stand for her family while being so afraid, just the strength is awe inspiring. The name is very beautiful and only have taught one student with it :-)  - she played the clarinet. The first time I met her, she gave me that look when I said her name - like, "I know - its a weird name." Reading her expression I told her that I have always loved the name because the strength of the character. 


By the way, my son also likes to watch the Veggietale's reenactment of this story.

3. Sent a text to another woman from church who is traveling this weekend
              Just wanted to wish her safe travels.

4. Went to art teachers' and students' art show
              Several of my students were displaying their artwork at the event - one even won a first place prize in the category of sculptures :-) It's important as teachers to support each other's programs - especially in the area of Music & Fine Arts - because when finding is reduced we are normally the ones that are dismissed. If we don't stand together, we will surely fall separately.

5. Helped another band director set up for his outside concert
                   The local high school band played at a community park this evening and my Woodwind Ensemble students opened up for them. Thankfully, it was the last performance of the school year for them - yeah! It was a really pretty night - nice temp, slight breeze, no rain & good music. Everyone should take time to listen to an outside concert in the late spring/early summer months - at least once in their life. There's something magical about it all.

5 Pennies - Day 312

1. Gave my seat to another person at a conference
              I was at a mini conference today that focused on how to integrate music, drama, dance, and art into the academic classroom. It was really interesting to see how other teachers viewed my curriculum. Anyway, I got to a session earlier and prepared my area for a working lecture about the balance of art and literature when another person sat down beside me. We were on stools and I was on a shorter one while the person beside me was on a taller one. I was ok with the shorter one, but obviously he wasn't - so I easily gave him my seat to make him more comfortable. It actually worked out that the taller seat was better for me anyway.

2. Bought & gave cookies to the other teachers that attended my presentation
               I just wanted to do something nice and give a special treat to those teachers who choose to attend my session at the conference. By the way - it was a session where I talked & demonstrated about world dance & music. It was pretty cool to be able to talk to various teachers.

3. Cleaned up the music room for another teacher and left him a thank you note for letting me borrow his room
                 Again, at the conference I conducted my session from another teacher's music room and just wanted to leave a thank you note for him.

4. Helped chaperoned a school dance
                   It was the spring formal dance for the 8th grade students. A really special night. I'm glad that the kids had a really nice time tonight. It was great to see them all dressed up.
                 
5. Helped clean up after the school's dance
             It was a beautiful dance and I am glad that the kids enjoyed it. But once everyone left, wow there was a lot to clean up. So I stuck around and did what I do best - cleaned.

5 Pennies - Day 311

1. Bought a small gift and a good luck card for a student and that I am mentoring at church.
            I'm so proud of her. I remember when she was 8 and I helped her with a Sunday School project. Then soon she become one of my trumpet students. Then she moved onto high school and I would often keep up to date with her from conversations at church. She is currently attending college for engineering - she is a very smart. Anyway, she will be doing an internship in Spain throughout the month of July. I'm so proud of her!

2. Filled the copier machines with paper for the next teacher
            It was running low on paper and just wanted to do something simple and nice for the next person to use it.

3. Returned copy materials to other staff members 

               As the school year approaches its ending, we are starting the transition process for the elementary school students to visit our middle school. The Guidance Department has been working very hard in putting elementary school tours together. They do a fabulous job at this every year. Anyway, they accidentally left some paperwork in the teacher workroom by the copiers. I just wanted to be helpful in returning their materials.

4. Returned laminated materials to another teacher
            The art teacher that has a room near mine was laminating some projects earlier today. She left them in the workroom to cool down, but accidentally forgot to come back for them later on in the day. So as I was finishing up my own work, I cut out hers and returned the items to her room. Although she has already left for the day, I figure that she would appreciate them being returned tomorrow morning.

5. Cleaned up the bathroom
                 I wanted it to look fairly nice because I knew that there were going to be a lot of parents in the building tonight - it is either the Chorus Concert or an open house. Anyway, the custodians are extremely busy in keeping the school clean for the elementary school tours during the day. I just thought that this extra help at night would be appreciated.

5 Pennies - Day 310

1. Brought in flowers for various staff members
             We had a really special student ceremony at school yesterday. I just wanted to treat those staff members that helped organized and part-take in the event. It was a beautiful ceremony and the parents, students, and faculty was really pleased with the event. 

2. Wrote a Thank you note to another teacher who volunteer to watch my students
               I had to help in administering a state assessment earlier this morning. Unfortunately, that meant that I was not able to see one of my band classes for regular attendance. Therefore, I needed another teacher to watch them while I was away doing this other work. I just wanted to say a special thank you to this particular teacher - with a note and a simple piece of candy.

3. Wrote a Good Luck not to a music teacher 
                 His orchestra ensemble has their spring concert tonight. They all have been working really hard in putting this program together.

4. Brought in snacks for an after school student activity 
           So I have a small woodwind ensemble group that has met throughout the school year. Their spring performance circuit is officially done, which is great because it is one less thing that I need to worry about. However, I will miss working with these students throughout the summer and some of them will be graduating the middle school and going on with their high school lives. I just wanted to officially say thank you for all of their hard work throughout the school year. The nicest thing about having this simple spring party is that the kids are so cool. They wrote me notes on a card, got me flowers, got me a dance video, and gift cards to shop. I can really use the gift cards because my son needs some  summer clothes. Regardless if they didn't have gotten me anything - They are a bunch of cool kids. I have been really lucky to have them this year.

5. Returned programs for another teacher that were being copied for his concert
                   The orchestra programs were left in the copier room. I figured that this music teacher may need them for tonight's performance.