5 Pennies - Day 262 Recovered

1. Made Whoopie Pies for Staff-
                   WHOOPIE! We made it through the first full week of school! The custodial staff has really put a lot of time and energy into making the school look very clean. We hold close to 800 students and various families have been in and out for welcome programs, but yet everything thing still looks so nice. So I decided that it was their turn to receive some baked goods. Whoopie Pies are actually really easy to make because it is just cake batter in small round gatherings and the frosting goes in between.

                   

2. Wrote a Welcome Note to a new staff member
                 We have a new English as a second language teacher within the school, so just a simple note & a piece of candy to say hi!

3. Sent a birthday card to staff members
         The first one went to an admin and then I bought him his favorite Frostberg Bologna snack stick.
         The second one went to a math teacher and was sent through the mail, just to wish her a happy day.

4. Made Neighbors Zucchini Bread
             I'm honestly a novice at baking. I find it as a stress releasing activity to bake for others. First, I get to use my hands to release tension. Second, I know that I am doing something good for someone else. It is also a great way to try out new recipes. So I found myself looking at these really great looking zucchinis at the grocery store yesterday and thought about how long it has been since I made some zucchini bread. Instantly, I knew that my next door neighbor, who has had some health issues recently, deserved this tasty treat.

     

FYI - since it is September, my next baking adventure includes apples :-)

5. Gave homeless couple a box of snacks
              I have decided to keep an extra box of snacks in my jeep at all times. I do have a box for me and my son when we are on a road trip, but an additional box will be given to an homeless people that are in need. Today met that need. Although it was just a simple box of fruit bars, I knew that it was something that was good for them and possible family. As I pulled up to the corner where the woman was standing with a sign and the man was sitting on the curb, I rolled down my window and handed her a box. Instantly she smiled and sincerely thanked me.

5 Pennies - Day 261 Recovered

Happy First Days of School!!!

Nothing like the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and the sight of new back to school sneakers :-)

1. Wrote and encouraging note to substitute
               One of our staff members needed some extra time with his family, so there was a long term substitute in our school for the next few weeks. She has worked at our school before, but the beginning of the school year is always very stressful for everyone. Bless her heart she got really confused with locker combinations and in moments she was completely frazzled - with it being just the first day. So I helped her get everything situated, wrote her an encouraging note, and gave her some chocolate.

2. Wrote my son's teacher a Thank You note
               Not only is it back to school for me, but my son as well. He transferred to a different school this year and with some anxiety worried about meeting his new teacher. She on the other hand was extremely welcoming and very friendly at the back to school night. Just wanted to let her know how nice it was to meet her and how much Sean feels better at ease.

3. Bought extra supplies
               So my son's teacher has a giving tree request in her room and before I knew it I was taking down the post-it that said Hand Sanitizer. Yes, this is when OCD becomes helpful. I have it now posted on my refrigerator as a reminder to buy it every time I am at the grocery store - including this week!

4. Bought Chocolate Coffee Creamer
               My school as a new Administrative Intern this year, which is a change up because she is a woman. Its been 5 years since we have had a woman as an Admin, which is nice because now I don't have to talk to so many girls about dress code policy. Anyway, I don't know much about her except that she does love coffee and York Patty Creamer. So while I was at the grocery store this past weekend, I checked out the creamer section. Nope, no luck! Instead I bought her some Chocolate Creamer - which still sounds very delicious.

5. Made Monkey Bread for Staff Meeting
                 What a great way to brighten up a staff meeting, especially since it was about suicide prevention!

Recipe- http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/grands-monkey-bread/7a1e41b1-4708-4028-8ce6-fcb5baebbc19

5 Pennies - Day 260 Recovered

1. Gave flowers to Guidance Staff
             So the beginning of school is always stressful for teachers, at least for me it is. However, I know a group of staff members that are often over looked as school personnel. The staff in our Guidance/Counselor area are really great! They spend a lot of time prior to the school opening for teachers in enrolling new students, fixing/adjusting schedules, and making sure that every student is placed in classes to meet their needs. It is a lot of extra effort on their behalf to make sure that everything is running smoothly. Just to show my appreciation, I bought extra flowers to share with each of the staff members.

2. Gave extra money for a staff retirement
               As we start the first teacher back to school day, it was announced that a math teacher decided to retire over the summer. I didn't have many conversations with her, but know that she was a valuable resource in my school to the students, their families, and our staff. Although I will miss not seeing her in the halls, I am happy that she has the time now to enjoy her various hobbies. Instead of going to a special dinner, I gave extra money to the organizer.

3. Gave the art teacher extra pencil sharpeners
                There was a sale of these items at the local school supply store. I wanted to buy a few for my classes, but also bought extra to give to her. Since she is an art teacher, I figured that they would be put to good use.

4. Helped a special needs woman with groceries
                  I was shopping for cream cheese when I met her. I didn't exactly introduce myself, but noticed that she was having problems in understanding the different flavors and reaching the items. I just started to get them for her, read the labels, and describe the various flavors. Soon she decided and with a smile she was on her way - and so was I.

5. Wrote a 'Good Luck' card to previous student
                  I remember this particular student from several years ago. He played French Horn for me and I can vividly see his face - behind the twisted brass tubing sat a cute little kid with glasses and a big dimple of a smile. He always ended his sentences with raising his pitch - which always made me think if he was asking a question. I was his mentor at church as well and he would often refer to me in class by my first name. Anyway, I couldn't believe that this little kid grew up so quickly and graduated from High School this past June - and now he is going to college - wwwwooooaaaahhhh!!! I sent him a 'Good Luck' card with a gift card to a local sandwich shop - wishing him the best and to keep in touch if he needs anything.

5 Pennies - Day 259 Recovered

1. Made Chocolate Chip Bread for Staff members
                 So we had another special student training the other end of summer day. Although there are a couple of us that showed up to work with all of the student leaders, there were two teachers in particular that are trained to lead the leaders :-) Both of these male teachers did an amazing job in putting together the program and training the students. The training days went so fantastic and everything was so well organized. I just wanted to make them something special for putting in their extra time.

2. Participated in a Community Service Race
            So let me please make this clear: I do not like to run. I do like the challenge of it and working on something physically active that I am not good at. But again, I do not like to run. Anyway starting last Thanksgiving and March, I've started to run local 5K's to work on this skill. Then throughout this summer I have picked up the racing chronicles and started to participate in 1-2 races a month with 3 days of training a week (other days I either lift weights, zumba, or yoga). Yesterday was a race called the 'Non-Traditional Donut Run. Apparently, traditional donut runs consist of running a mile eating donuts, running another mile eating more donuts, and then running the last mile eating yet more donuts. The amount of donuts you eat is a minute off of your overall time. However, this race was only sponsored by a community donut shop and no donuts were harmed during this activity. The coolest thing about this race is that all the money collected at the entrance fee will go to the Army Vet Hospital for various services that they may need.

By the way, my time for the 5K was 32:20. I know, I'm a slow poke. Again, something I'm working on.

3. Made scones for the school's Administration
              So the Administration at my school have all been working the past few days in preparation for the teachers and then the students to come back. We also have a new intern Admin this year. So just to say 'Welcome Back' in a tasty style, I made each of them a care package of Jamocha Mocha Scones - a new flavor that I am trying out.

                                        

4. Made cupcakes for the school's Staff members
              We began our teacher work days this past week at our home school. I know that many other staff members are sad to come back to work, but as for me - I love it! I love the regular routine of the day and I've missed my band students very much. The summer time is tough for me because I feel so lost without my regular schedule - WELCOME FALL!!! Anyway, just to say hi and welcome to all of the other staff members I made around 100 cupcakes for everyone to eat. A 'sweet' way to start the school year!

                                        

5. Bought another staff member special pens
             Its so funny how different teachers decorate their room so differently then what you may think. Like we have a social studies room that is decked out in superhero materials, another that has a Hawaiian theme, and another that is covered with Raven's football stuff. Anyway there is a science teacher that I have been having some conflict with in regards to rehearsal times and such. Her room is covered with different colored dots, which yet again makes it very unique and personalized. So while I was at the store the other day I saw these pens that were covered in dots. Instantly when I saw them I thought of this particular teacher and bought them for her. Although we may not agree on our opinions, I must admit that she is a valuable teacher within my school.

5 Pennies - Day 258 Recovered

1. Gave neighbor extra school supplies
           So my son received special permission to attend a different school from where he went last year. We are both very excited because it is much closer and a better opportunity for him. Prior to finding out this news, I bought both of us plenty of school supplies - 'Tis the Season! Anyway, after finding out of his acceptance, I also learned that his supplies will be provided for by the school. So needless to say, I had a lot of school supplies that I could not use within my music classroom. Wondering what to do with this surplus, I noticed that my next door neighbor has become very sick again. She has two boys of her own that she needs to prepare for the beginning of the school year. Instantly I knew that our supplies were her's. I bagged everything up and left it on the front step at her house. It wasn't much, but enough to get her kids prepared for the first few weeks of school.

                              

2. Bought snacks for student leaders
              So its towards the end of summer and with the sharpening of pencils scent lingering in the air, it is also time to do the 2 day training with our school's student leaders. I know that each year I always think that this year's crew is amazing, but really this year's crew is better than outstanding! So I wanted to treat them for all of their hard work after their two day training and giving up their few last days of summer vacation. I bought them two big trays of chocolate chip brownies from the local grocery store. Enjoy!

3. Helped another parent with her school shopping list
            As I was finishing up my list, I noticed another parent literally going around in circles within the isles trying to find everything on her list. She was frantic because her oldest daughter will start attending the local middle school and the idea of different supplies than the usual ones was definitely throwing the mother into a tail spin. It all started with me making the comical remark of, "Its like playing scavenger hunt." And with that being said she choked back tears to try to agree. Working in a middle school, I basically know what my fellow teachers want their students to have and how many. So as I was basically finished my list, I started to help her. The more I explained why her daughter needed a certain quantity and how they were going to be used, the mother seemed to relax more. Soon her list was complete too.

4. Moved a heavy box for another teacher
               So a teacher in a nearby room recently had an operation on his eye. He is restricted from lifting certain amounts of weight, which is a struggle when you are starting to put together your room for the beginning of the school year. When I went to ask him a question about an up coming student activity, I saw him about to reach and carry a heavy box. I instantly told him to freeze and moved the box for him. The expression that he gave me at first was much like a child getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar, but then he realized that of his medical condition. I joked with him that it was my 2nd workout for the day :-)

5. Gave another teacher a Trivia postcard
             So another teacher in my building loves Elvis Presley. While I was in Tennessee, I kept my eyes open for any little thing that I could buy her that would have something about "The King." On one of the last days that I was there, I saw some different post cards about Elvis' favorite meals & snacks. Of course the one that I bought this particular teacher had the recipe of Elvis' well known Peanut Butter & Banana sandwiches. When I gave her the post card she laughed and said that she would make this for her daughter.

5 Pennies - Day 257 Recovered

1. Helped another runner get a drink

            So I have started to do races. I really don't know why because I am a horrible & slow runner, but I like the challenging and want to get better at this. My overall goal is to someday run a 1/2 marathon - 13.1 :-) Anyway, I did a 5K (3.1 mile) this morning in the hot summer weather. I was really exhausted from the heat and went to get a cup of Gatorade when I finished. I noticed that a younger kid was there fighting with the cooler - he ran quicker than me! Anyway, he wasn't big enough tilt the cooler and get a cup. So I stood to the side and tilted it for him. After a gulp and with a red mustache the kid said thank you.

2. Sent a 'Get Well' card to another teacher

           One of my fitness partners at school had a shoulder surgery the other day. I really worry about him because this is the 3rd surgery in the past 4 years. He is really concerned about his health too. So just a simple card to say that I was thinking about him and wishing him well.

3. Held the Laundry door open for another person

          So I was walking home from Church today because it was a fairly nice day and wanted the extra exercise. Anyway, I noticed that there was a man coming from his car with a big laundry basket and 2 duffle bags worth of dirty clothes. He was heading towards the corner laundry, but I knew that he would have to put something down in order to open the door. I simple went over and held the door for him to walk through without stopping. He looked back and motioned for me to come through too, but I waved goodbye and left him with a puzzled face.

4. Taught a Yoga class at church

            One of the best things that has happened at Church this summer is that they have started a fitness discussion group after service. Each week there is a particular topic that is discussed such as diet, Zumba, and faith. This week it was my turn to lead the discussion - Prayer through Yoga/Stretch. Only a few people stayed, but the ones that did really appreciated my time.

5. Helped an elderly man with a shopping bag

           I was at the grocery store picking up a few fresh fruits and vegetables. As I was headed towards the check out I noticed an elderly man getting frustrate with a produce bag. He couldn't get the silly thing open. From being older, I observed that his hands trembled and the fine motor skills weren't as sharp as they use to be. I leaned over, opened a bag, and handed it to him with a smile. 

5 Pennies - Day 256 Recovered

1. Took pictures for another family
            I took my son to a medium size amusement park today. He had such a blast and I am so glad that I was able to give him this opportunity for fun. On our way into the park, I noticed that another family were lining their 5 kids together, trying to take a picture of them. I remember that there are very few pictures of my mom and my brothers/me all together at a special event. Normally, my mom would be the designated camera lady for the activity. So I decided to take a picture of this family all together & including both of the parents - which they were very grateful for the offer.

2. Gave change to a person for a paper
             As I was walking my dog the other morning, I noticed that there was a woman squatted down rummaging through the grass. Unique as this sight may be, I decided to ask her if she needed help with something. She looked up and told me that she dropped the last quarter that she needed to buy a newspaper. Instantly I knew that I had some spare change in my small bag that I carry about when I walk my dog. It was easy to give, but she seemed so relieved.

3. Made baked goods for Dentist Fundraiser
              I really like my Dentist and his company. Not only are they extremely nice/friendly and have wonderful care there, but they are very active in doing community activities. Tomorrow morning's activity is the annual car wash & bake sale where all of the proceeds will go to the local Breast Cancer Awareness organization. I am very connected to this organization through many different people and believe that they do amazing work during this type of hardship. So to help my Dentist's cause, I decided to make several bake goods for them to sell: Chocolate/Vanilla Cake Pops, Chocolate/Vanilla 'pink' cupcakes, and Cranberry Scones.

4. Wrote 'Thank You' Postcards for my Mission Trip supporters
                Two people in particular helped me finance my Mission Trip this summer and I am very grateful. To show my thanks while I was down in Tennessee, I bought various types of post cards from the different areas that I was stationed in. The organist at the church that I go to received one that had a picture of the Great Smoky Mountains - she helped me purchase craft materials for the Boys & Girls club. The bank representative received one that had a picture of a Tennessee flag - she helped me refinance my Mission Trip money. Special thanks to both for all of their help!

*A few days later, I received a card in the mail from my bank representative in thanking me for the 'Thank You' card. She was so appreciative that I thought of her during this experience. Cool!

5. Wrote a 'Get Well' card to another teacher
           This particular teacher is relatively new to our staff, but he works so hard with the at risk students and the transition program. Earlier this week, I found out that he had a major surgery on his eye. He was able to move around, but yet he had to still go slow with several things until he fully gain all of his vision back. I felt compelled to at least write him a 'Get Well' card in reference to his operation, but I also included a gift card to a restaurant - something to treat him and his family or to use when time & strength is limited.

5 Pennies - Day 255 Recovered

1. Wrote 'Thank You' note to waitress
          So I treated my son to his current favorite restaurant today for lunch. Despite the name of the establishment, the servers are rarely Friendly and helpful. However, today was different. I don't know if my son brought with him his extra charm ability or what, but the waitress that we had today was so great. She would talk directly to him as if he is much older that his 5 years of living and even helped him order a lactose free sundae - which in the past has been refused to be done by previous servers. She was really great with me, but I'm more impressed with how she handled my son so respectfully. So when it was time to pay for the bill, I wrote her a special note of saying thank you. Then on my way out I accidentally bumped into the manager and told him how wonderful of a waitress she was. He immediately said, "Oh your the customer that wrote her a note! She's been showing everyone that note. She even made a copy of it to take home!" Cute!!!

2. Gave water to another person on Mission Trip
                So I spent some time in the upper Eastern region of Tennessee on a mission trip. It was a beautiful experience because I really like service work and helping others. Although some projects had few people interactions, I knew that what I was doing was going to benefit someone else tomorrow. Anyway, one of the people that was on the mission trip with me ran out of the water that she brought along with her. Although the water in the region that we were working in was perfectly fine & healthy to drink, there was still something different about the taste. Prior to leaving for this trip, I packed an entire case of bottled water in my Jeep. I had plenty and she needed some.  So everyday I gave her a bottle - easy to do :-)
                                            

3. Bought a Beatles Magazine for another Mission Trip person
                So I went on this Mission Trip completely by myself - I knew no one and didn't know anything about the area that I worked in. Basically, I felt like I was being called to work and knew that I was going to be ok. Within the group that I worked with on various projects there was another teenager that loved the Beatles. It was really great to have a common interest with this other person that I only met for about 5 minutes, yet we talked about this band as if we shared them for several years. Later in the day I was at a store helping other customers when I looked over at the counter and saw a Beatles music magazine on sale. The front copy had a picture of her favorite Beatle - Paul - and knew instantly that I needed to get it for her. She was so surprised and thrilled with the gesture!

*Oh & by the way - John's my favorite...

                     

4. Helped another teacher put supplies into her car
            So on this Mission Trip we had this activity that was called Random Acts of Kindness - instantly I was attracted to this idea :-) Basically, we were to go out into the various communities and help anyone with anything that they needed. At the store that I mentioned above, I noticed that a woman was pushing a cart filled with school supplies to her car. Something about how she walked made me observe her longer and soon I realized that she had a broken foot and was wearing a walking boot. I soon found myself talking to her about what grade she taught and helping her with her supplies. She told me that she taught 2nd grade at an underprivileged school that many of her students showed up without supplies - that's why she was buying an over abundance out of her own pocket. Being a teacher, I've done so many similar things to help my students too. Its amazing how much money teachers spend of their own in order to help their students, classroom, and school without even thinking about recouping this amount. Soon our talk was over and offered to push her cart back to the store. The cool thing was that even though I didn't know this woman, or her name, I still felt such a strong connection with her that helping her didn't feel the slight bit awkward.

5. Gave my extra snacks away
              Again on my Mission Trip, I met such an interesting person. His jokes and humor was refreshing in times of stillness, but in return I never met someone that prayed so openly and passionately. Sometimes when people pray around me it feels cumbersome and odd, but he was different. It was such a feeling of being calm and at ease. It was truly a wonderful experience that I will never forget. Anyway, I quickly found out that he liked the snack food of Cheetos during our first packed lunch meals. Being a health and nutrition based person, I rarely eat junk food and when I offered the first bag to him - he enjoyed it so much. So for the rest of the week, I always made sure that I picked a bag lunch that had this snack and passed it to him. In a way it was my way to say thank you for being such an amazing person. The power of Cheetos!!!

5 Pennies - Day 254 Recovered

1. Made treats for workout partners

          I have a few people that I work out with at school during the regular school year. They are really great to be with. Even though we all have different fitness goals and as much as they say I motivate them, they really motivate me to show up time and time again. Like I can't not show - they are depending on me. So its the end of the school year and summer vacation is just a day away. I wanted to make them something special to have at home for breakfast in the morning. I love making scones for the mere fact that they are rarely found in any bakery locally and I have become really good at them. Each one likes a different flavor :-) The good thing is that I portioned out the scones into individual baggies so that they won't eat them all in one setting.

2. Made extra food for staff picnic

            All I was responsible for was to bring drinks, but I felt that I needed to contribute more than just that. I was in the baking mood so I made this special cold veggie/noodle salad for everyone to enjoy. The funny thing is that as much as I worry about there not being enough of food for the entire school staff to eat, we always have more than enough at the end of the day.

3. Wrote a 'Get Well' card to a student

           A few days before school left out, one of my flute students went into the hospital for a scheduled intense back surgery. She told me before going that she was really nervous about everything and would be laying around most of the summer. She seemed really sad about everything and worried that her friends would forget her. So I decided that every so often this summer I would write her a 'Get Well' card to brighten her day. Her mom emailed a few days ago saying that the surgery went very well and despite the pain that her daughter was in, it should fix a lot of health problems in the long run.

4. Wrote a 'Thank You' card to a sales woman

             My cell phone has be breaking for awhile - must have been all of the times that I dropped it while walking my dog. I know that this sounds like a middle school excuse, but it is totally true! Anyway, I needed to get it replaced but I know nothing about cell phones. In fact, much of the new technology intimidates me a bit more than what I would like it to. The sales woman at the cell phone store was really patient with me in helping me choose a device that I knew that I could operate and use. I was so thankful that she helped me and didn't take advantage of my ignorance in the various devices, so I simply wrote her a 'Thank You' card. When I went to deliver it, she was talking to another customer, so I just laid it beside the displayed phone that I ended up buying.

5. Returned a left behind pair of shoes

             My son has been taking swim lessons since he was 6 months old. He has been doing a really great job lately and is almost ready to pass onto the next level :-) Anyway, I noticed that a kid in the previous class left her sandals under the one observation bench. So when her and her mom came in to scope the area out, I went up and gave her the shoes that she was looking for. With a big beautiful toothy smile she said thank you and was on her way.

5 Pennies - Day 253 Recovered

*Sorry that I haven't posted anything recently, time just slipped away.


1. Bought my mom a new pair of shoes
            Like I've said in earlier postings, my mom is a very humble and stubborn woman. Rarely does she ever buy herself anything nice because she wants her money to be spent on others. Anyway, she has been having some problems at work that are really bothering her emotionally. Although I can not solve these problems, I felt that I needed to do something else nice for her. I have a pair of sports sandals that are extremely comfortable and that she has often said that she would really like a pair. So that is what exactly I did. I went to the sports store and bought her a pair. Something to enjoy. The world somehow feels better when you take care of your feet.

2. Made a special snack for teacher meeting
           So it is summer time now and regularly meeting for various school related programs have taken a brief hiatus. However, today some of us met to discuss future advisory program for the up coming school year. Just to make this gather a bit sweeter, I made 'Monkey Bread' for everyone to enjoy!

It is extremely easy to make! Here's the recipe:
 http://allrecipes.com/recipe/monkey-bread-i/detail.aspx

3. Made special scones for staff member
              So the one teacher that works for my mother at her child care center is Greek and gave me a wonderful traditional recipe for Baklava. In return, I made her favorite Cranberry Orange scones. I really like making scones and have developed several different flavors.

This is a really simple basic recipe that I use before I add the different flavors such as Blueberry, lemon, cinnamon, chocolate chip, butterscotch, coffee, etc:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/scones/

4. Made Church Staff Baklava
             We just finished our Vacation Bible School week that focused on the story of Daniel and Babylon. Next year's adventure takes us to Greece. Just to treat the church staff for all of their work that they put into pulling this program together, I decided to make them Baklava - maybe as added inspiration for next year. I wish that I could share the full recipe, but since it is a family traditional - I can't. Sorry :-(

But here's a pic-

5. Listened to previous band students performances
             Two of my previous band students played their instruments at a special Church service today. I am so proud of both of them because they are amazing musicians and have grown so much in their musical abilities. The one is graduating from high school this year and is moving onto college, but she is not majoring in music :-( The other one will be a Senior in the fall and is looking at attending a music college with aspirations of being a music teacher! It was a great performance!

 

5 Pennies - Day 252 Recovered

1. Wrote a 'Welcome Back Card' to another teacher
              Yeah, this particular teacher has been having some issues with her legs and back, thus resulting in some surgeries and at home care. However, today she came back and was in really good spirits. It was so nice to have her back in the building and the kids were excited too. The least that I could do was to write her a 'Welcome Back' card to expressing my sincerity.

2. Bought candy for other music teachers
               I'm so proud of my school's music department. All performing music ensembles did so well at the regional festivals that each were invited to perform at the state festival! This has never been accomplished in my school's history and no other school in my county has all three programs attending. So to do something nice to show my appreciation and support to my fellow music teachers, I bought them each a medium box of chocolates and attached a 'Good Luck' note.

3. Gave an extra box to another teacher
             I know what you are thinking, oh this is lame (which is my son's favorite catch phrase now!) But really it isn't. Here's the story.
             A few weeks ago I happily received a pair of shoes from a friend. These shoes seemed like any other shoe to the regular person, but really they are special because the are TOMS. This company is so brilliant in its philosophy because for every pair of shoes that they sell, they make and give a pair of shoes to anywhere in the world. There are several villages in Africa and Argentina that won't allow the children go to school because they don't have shoes! Essentially, this company is providing the opportunity of education for kids! WOW!!!
              To read more- http://www.toms.com/
              Anyway, I didn't know what to do with the shoe box that the pair came in. It seemed to special and important to just throw away or even to recycle. So I put the box on the shelf in the corner of my office until I could find another use. This morning another teacher came to me asking if I had a medium size box so that she could mail something to another student. Immediately, I thought of this TOMS box and gave it to her. She proceeded to tell me that she found an old phone in the lost and found but the battery didn't work so she didn't know who it belonged to. She took it home and gave it to her teenage son who proceeded to dissect the item, replace the battery, and put it back together. Soon it was working and she found out that the phone belonged to a previous student from last year who actually moved away this school year to another state. She was looking for a particular size box to mail the phone and a note back to this student and family.
                I just knew that this box was meant for something special and to keep on giving.



*If you want to read an really interesting book, "Start Something that Matters," by Blake Mycoskie.

4. Gave flowers to another teacher
                  I was in desperate need to borrow another teacher's classroom because the auditorium was being used for a special presentation. To show my appreciation for letting me use their space, I gave some flowers to this teacher. Easy to do :-)

5. Gave water to student
                 We were outside performing in a parade this weekend and boy was it hot! I was in my staff shirt and jeans marched along with my 150 students throughout the local community. Although the kids performed very well, there was a part of me that felt incredibly guilty because all I did was just walked alongside of them while they played their instruments and marched. So when another parent handed me an ice cold bottle of water towards the end of the parade, I couldn't just drink it alongside of the kids. As soon as the kids were done, I gave it to a percussionist who seemed to need it the most. The best thing was that there was another parent a few steps away that filled their trunk with ice and water, enough for the entire marching band and then some.

5 Pennies - Day 251 Recovered

1. Bought homeless woman lunch
           My son and I were riding home from shopping for a few items at the mall. On the corner diagonal from the outgoing intersection of the mall, there she stood in the warm sun. From the tired look on her face made it seem that either she was standing there for awhile, drained from undernourishment, or exhausted from the every day struggles of her life. My son pointed her out first, which made me smile because we both had the same idea even before expressing it. I pulled into the local McDonalds and bought some items for her. We walked back, hand in hand, ready to share a penny together. She said thank you and in a brief understandable nod we departed. Mostly in life I am an 'anti-McD's' - however, today Ronald and I are friends.





2. Went to students' baseball game
                Its Spring time and many of my male band students are involved in the various outside activities. I have a set of triplet boy students in my 8th grade band class, each playing a different instrument, but all are so great in their own way. Two of the brothers play on the same baseball team and both eagerly asked me to come and watch their game. I brought my son along too so that he can see this type of sport, although he was more interested in eating french fries and a hot dog. Its ok though because he is doing well in his swimming classes.

3. Bought more shelter items
                We are in between service projects at church since lent is well over and Vacation Bible School is only on the horizon. However, the one on going project is buying various items for the different local shelters. A few days ago it was hygiene things for the women's shelter, today it is shampoo and deodorant for the male shelter. I've spent the past two Thanksgivings in working in homeless shelters and have been opened to this type of need. What we take as granted for dollar/travel items - these can be used by those that are constantly traveling due to no home.

4. Attended a student art show
                 Not only are outside sports activities are in bloom, but several performance based and fine arts programs are giving special showcases. A total of 35 students participated in contributing work towards this spring art show that was held at the city's park gallery. I have nearly all of the participating students within my band program, so it was great to see another side of them. In addition, several previous students that I had in the past school years but are not high school students contributed. It was really great to see how they have matured in their crafts. Finally, it was a great way to show support towards my fellow two art teachers that do a wonderful job with their programs within my school. My son loved the showcase too.

5. Wrote a "Thinking of You" card to another teacher
            This teacher has had a rough past year or so. Tragically her mother passed away on a trip and then she becomes pregnant but with complications. Now that the baby was born, it has been months of  different diagnosis and doctors. I'm constantly praying that things will settle down for her so that she can breathe and enjoy. I just wanted to write a simple note of encouragement and add a small giftcard so she can pick up a quick meal.

5 Pennies - Day 250 Recovered

1. Bought hygiene items for local shelter
           There's a local shelter that is entirely devoted to helping women and their children move out of an abusive relationship. People that run these types of programs really amaze me. They must have patience and courage stronger than any type of metal, as well as, caring and compassionate hearts warmer than any fire. As my son puts it, "Seriously!" Anyway, the organizers are always asking for some hygiene products for the clients that are in need. Shavers, cream, soaps, shampoo, etc. Simple items that can be bought anywhere and donated with ease.

2. Bought a pair of scissors for another teacher
           I had to talk to the Physical Education teachers about a scheduling problem the other day and needed their advice. In the process of doing this, they were cutting out these new passes that they created to give to the students to earn extra gym time during their lunch. The boy students really get involved with this type of initiative. I overheard the one gym teacher say that she wish that she had better scissors that would make cleaner cuts. So that afternoon, I bought a pair of scissors - pink, so she knew that it was hers.



3. Gave an Earth Day friendly bag to another teacher
              So I went to Target after church yesterday to pick up some items that I can only find there. Anyway in order to celebrate 'Earth Day', the greeter at the front of the store was handing out these simple little Earth Day friendly tote bags. By mistake she gave two of them to me because they were stuck together, which I didn't realize until I was at the cashier and started to put my bought items into it. On the way out, I approached her to hand back the 'extra' tote. She chuckled to herself, told me to give it to someone else, and wished me a Happy Earth Day. Instantly, I thought of the one science teacher that loves her eco-friendly after school club. This morning at work, I placed the tote bag in her school mail box with a note that said, "Happy Belated Earth Day!"

4. Made treats for after school meeting
                 Its our usual monthly meeting that discusses topics of discipline concerns and programming to promote a more positive school environment. This is a great committee to be involved with because through the data you can really see how something is working and how you are making a difference. Anyway as much as after school meetings sound fun, I decided to reward our committee's efforts by making some homemade scones of several flavors: Chocolate Chip, Cranberry, Blueberry, Butterscotch, and Cinnamon. Its a really simple recipe that I have had great success several times. I just wanted to do something positive for others that are doing something positive for the students.

Try it and enjoy!
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/scones/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=scones&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page

5. Made treats for the Talent Show
                Buckeyes was next on my baking list. Again, another simple item to make that very few people don't. However, I can not give you the recipe for this because I use a traditional family set of directions and ingredients. The positive to this is that my snacks for the Talent Show helped earn some extra money for the Breast Cancer Awareness cause.

I would like to figure out a way to change the filling so that I can dye them pink though???

5 Pennies - Day 249 Recovered

1. Gave extra $ for gifts
            In a few days it will be 'Administrative Assistant Day' - which basically means Secretary's Day in the PC way. I have three very lovely and hard working secretaries in my school. Each make my job so much easier beyond the day to day work. They are my front line in handling parents- the very few nice, but more forgetful and upset. And they do this for all of the staff members. They are beyond phone call messages, copying paperwork, organizing attendance lists, rearranging schedules, etc. They really are great people that deserve more than just a single day to say thank you. Anyway, another teacher on my team didn't have that much money to give towards the thank you presents. So I paid for myself and then gave some extra money to cover for the amount that she still owed. It was easy to do.

2. Bought Secretaries extra presents
              So I left school yesterday feeling just ok about my extra contribution. Like I know that I helped another teacher out with the cost, but I still didn't feel that I have expressed my gratitude enough to these staff members. So I stopped off at a grocery store on the way home and bought three cards and three simple gift cards. I wrote a message to each secretary explaining my appreciation for each of their hard work and folded the gift card inside. This morning I placed the notes in each of their mailboxes. By far this simple gesture does not capture my gratitude either, but I feel a bit better with the personal notes of thanks.

3. Participation in Community Service Walk
             Yeah, the March of Dimes Walk is here! My son and I love to participate in this walk because it is at a park location. We walk and then I let him play a little, then we walk some more and then I let him play a little, and so on. We have really no one that we are walking/sponsoring for, but instead just give to the general fund accounts. It's always a nice activity.

4. Wrote a 'Get Well' card
               One of my band student's mother is undergoing another round of Breast Cancer treatments. She explained to me that the medicine is a crippling two-day procedure, but it has been doing the job that it needs to do in order to continue her health.  She is a marvelous lady that constantly supports her daughter's musical interests - the least that I could do is to send a card to support her.

5. Wrote a 'Congrats' card
               One of the male teacher wife's had a baby this past weekend. Although he has two older children already, he has been waiting in anticipation for this new arrival for quite some time. Earlier this school year we had conflicting ideas about an issue, but putting that aside, I just wanted to say congratulations and wish him/his family well.

5 Pennies - Day 248 Recovered

Its been a while since I've posted anything, sorry about that.
But here's the continuation of my adventure...

1. Bought a special snack for another person
           So I was at a special ceremony in honoring another fellow teacher for his achievements throughout the school year. This ceremony was accompanied by a fancy dinner including dessert of a lemon cheese cake type of thing. The woman that sat by me (my principal's wife) talked about how much she loves desserts but has to watch her calorie intake because she wants to maintain a healthy weight. She then continued to talk about her favorite snack that she absolutely loves were chocolate covered pretzels. I always like hearing things like this and try to keep them in mine when I am out and about in grocery shopping. So yesterday along with my regular groceries I bought her a box of reduced calorie mini chocolate covered pretzels snack bags. I gave this to my principal along with a note for his wife in thanking her for a wonderful conversation.

2. Sent an "In Sympathy" card
             Another person that goes to the church that I attend recently lost her brother due to Brain Cancer. He has been struggling with this disease for at least the past 6 months and he put up a good fight. I just wanted to extend my thoughtful prayers to her and her family.

3. Gave another teacher sticky notes
             I was helping another teacher organize her materials for the end of the school year clean up ritual, when I heard her say that she wish that she had a packet of sticky notes. I had some extra packets in my office, so I simply just got a few and gave them to her. Easy to do.

4. Bought a princess crown for another teacher
            So at this special ceremony that I mentioned in penny 1 of this entry, another teacher in a nearby school was voted as the Teacher of the Year within the county/school system that I teach in. I was so happy for her because she is a great teacher and I happened to have taught both of her kids in my music classes in previous school years. The first thing that she joked about was trading her new car for a fancy tiara, which made me start to think - they have these types of play items at local dollar stores in the kid section. So the next day I went to the store, bought one, and put it in the school mail with her name and school on it. Simple - now its official :-)

5. Bought items for mission project
            In the winter time, we are often using chap stick due to the dry air. However, it is just as important to use this item year round as well. One of the church's on going mission projects is to collect simple hygiene items for the local homeless shelters. Today I bought/gave several tubes of lip balm for this project.

5 Pennies - Day 247 Recovered

1. Gave money to a student for a community service project
             So one of my band students is doing the 'Bowl For Kids Sake' project this weekend. I remember being her age and doing the same thing on a Saturday morning in March. Its a pretty cool activity in which all of the money collected will be given to local early childhood education systems and supportive programs. I'm a horrible bowler, but I knew that when I participated in this activity I was helping others more than just trying to earn a high score. Now that I'm funding one of my students, it still feels pretty cool.

2. Wrote various staff members 'Thank You' notes
              So much has been going on at my school! Between various college visitation field trips and special career visitors, a lot of good work has been done by my fellow staff members. Although it was simple, a 'Thank You' note went to those that worked on these various events.

3. Made Posters for the Talent Show
              Every spring we have this really great Talent Show that features a whole variety of acts from our student body - singers, dancers, gymnastics, instrumentalists, karate, baton twirlers, and this year a really cool jump roper! Anyway, all of the collected proceeds this year will go to a local organization that supports Breast Cancer Awareness. The students themselves shows this organization this year to feature and sponsor in various activities/events. I'm so glad that they did because I am tied to this through family & friends that have fought and survived. Anyway, we ran out of time to have professional posters made and needed something to start the advertising of the show. So last night I took 6 sheets of poster paper and drew like there was no tomorrow. Sharpie markers - strong stuff. I was happy to make these posters because I knew that it was supporting a good thing.

4. Bought snacks for a morning meeting
             All is well in talking about reading achievement and test scores when your belly is full of morning breakfast treats.

5. Wrote 'Thank You' note to two staff members that covered my class
              I had to step out of my regular band class twice this week in order to help with various activities in other areas of my school - welcome visitors and a morning band field trip. Did I mention that we had a lot of busy things going on at my school - Phew!!! Anyway, two other teachers were kind enough to give up their planning period to cover my classes while I was working somewhere else. I know that they could have used the time elsewhere doing their own things, so I made sure that a note was given to them expressing my appreciation along with some candy.

5 Pennies - Day 246 Recovered

1. Took a picture for a couple at the zoo

                   It was so nice over Spring Break - the weather was truly amazing! So the one day I took my son to our favorite zoo about an hour from where we live. Its a great little zoo and we normally go in the summer time. However since it wasn't burning hot and newly opened for the season, we actually got to see some of the newer animals and babies. My son loved the alligators, giraffes, and flamingos, but his favorite were the baby monkeys! Anyway, there was a young couple that were leisurely walking through the exhibits and every once and a while would take a picture of each other - solo. After observing this a few times, I finally went up to them and asked if they would like me to take a picture of both of them. They were so thrilled because they rarely have a picture where they're both together. It was a really nice moment. The funny thing is that they smoothed each other's hair similar to the tigers taking care of their cubs in the exhibit :-)

2. Bought another staff member special candy

                 So I overheard another staff member talking about how they are looking forward to the summer time because he and his wife will be visiting Sweden. Wow! He has been really nice recently by buying all of the other staff members ice cream. So I figured that he deserved someone being nice back to him. I was at the supermarket and it hit me - "Go to the candy isle and get 'Swedish Fish." These funny little things crack me up.

3. Sent my Angel a card

                   I don't have much contact with my Angel client, but I do hope that she is doing ok this Easter Season. Sent her a card letting her know that I was thinking only good thoughts for her. Its a great program through the local Breast Cancer Awareness division, where you become a writer to someone who is going through various treatments. Anyway, happy spring!

4. Let another car turn in front

                     I was finishing up at the mall and my son and I were getting ready to go home. We were coming out of the parking area when I noticed that there was another car trying to make a left turn, but couldn't because she couldn't see if the other lane was free. So I paused in front of her and waited till I saw the free lane, quickly I waved her across. It was just a few minutes of my time to help her  - who knows how long she was sitting there.

5. Helped and talked to an elderly neighbor

                    This afternoon I was giving my dog a good long walk around the neighborhood. On days that are nice outside I tend to walk him at least 1.5 miles - he takes a brief nap afterwards, but then is ready for another. Anyway, I noticed that up from my house an elderly lady was pacing on the sidewalk. She seemed to be upset so when I approached her I asked if she needed anything. She was upset that the other neighbor did something to her sidewalk and it made her lawn looked ruin. I didn't even noticed the sidewalk, but quickly pointed out that her flower bed around her door was extremely pretty. She smiled and thanked me for the the compliment. I guess the sidewalk didn't mean that much after seeing something good.

Here's a cool song from Mercy Me-

The Generous Mr. Lovewell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCgLiZY5FQ8

5 Pennies - Day 245 Recovered

1. Made cupcakes for son's Easter class party

                  So my son had the day off from school today and wanted to go back to his preschool from last year because his former teacher invited him to their class' Easter Party. So last night Sean and I went and made chocolate cupcakes. I dyed the frosting green and he decorated each of them with jelly beans. He really likes to cook because there is so much math involved. I made an extra one for him as his dessert for eating a good dinner and helping me. The least that I could do for this class since his former teacher invited him.

2. Made a special dessert for birthday party

                  So one of my mom's friends turned 50 today and had a family/friend birthday party at her house. I was still in the cooking mood from my son's cupcakes, so I decided to try something new. Since it is the season of spring I made these things that I call "Bird's nests." Basically it is cocoa rice crispy treats molded in a cupcake holder with bird eggs candies inside put together by fluff. They were quickly consumed by the guests!

3. Donated Easter Eggs to hide

                   So my son was invited this weekend to an Easter Egg hunt at a friend's church. Prior to going we dipped some eggs and filled up some plastic ones so that there were enough of eggs to hide & find. We ended up donated a dozen of painted eggs (with green, purple, and pink fingers) and 40 plastic eggs. Thank goodness that we did this - there were 75 kids there!!!

4. Made cookies for the Easter party

                   In addition to donating eggs, my son and I quickly made those pre-cut out frozen cookies. He choose to bake the ones that had the baby chick coming out of the egg since we were going to an egg party. Like OCD mother, like OCD son :-)

5. Wrote a 'Get Well' card to another teacher

                   Recently the French teacher had back surgery and so I just wanted to wish her speedy health and a Happy Easter!

5 Pennies - Day 244 Recovered

1. Made Easter treats for students

             My band students have been working so hard lately. Yes they may drive me crazy, but overall they are a good bunch of kids. Anyway, we recently went to an important regional Large Band festival. My students were excited about being there and performing, but I was concerned about the comments from the judges. The kids did so well in their performance! The judges gave the kids an accurate read of both positive comments and things to work on to improve. Overall, the band received the highest score and an invite to the State Festival! Its the first time the band has achieved this and you can tell that by talking to any of the band students - they are just so excited! Anyway I wanted to do something nice for them to show my appreciation, so I made up over 250 plastic Easter eggs filled with candy. The running jokes of the day were, "You guys 'crack' me up!"; "I think that you guys are 'egg'-straudinary!"; and "You did such an 'egg-cellent' job!" My students know that I love puns and have a silly humor sometimes. Really, the kids were amazing! And really - I'm so proud of them!

2. Wrote a 'Sympathy' card to another teacher

              This particular teacher is a fantastically hard science teacher. She is fair and firm, but really wants the best from her students and will not except anything less. I keep telling my students that yes she is hard, but she will make you so prepared for high school science! Anyway, recently her grandmother passed away and I just wanted to write a sympathy card saying that I was thinking good thoughts about her and her family.

3. Bought a special breakfast for team teachers

                At our last team meeting, we sort of had a celebratory meeting in that the entire music department did so well at the regional festivals. In addition, the team leader of our group was nominated and recently became a finalist for the county's teacher of the year. Lots of things to celebrate with out professional success. So I bought a whole bunch of different variety of foods for everyone else to enjoy. Knowing that I made other people happy and full was a nice moment.

4. Donated money from personal fundraiser

               So at the winter and spring holidays my family makes special candies, cookies, and such. This is a traditional and the recipes were passed down through my mother side of the family. While my mother makes homemade potato soap, my specialty is a particular candy called "Buckeyes," which essentially is a peanut butter ball dipped in chocolate. Anyway, I made a whole bunch and donated all of the proceeds to the Japan Red Cross Relief fund because it was right after they had their massive earthquake. This year I donated all of the proceeds to a local breast cancer awareness organization. I wish that I would have sold more though.

5. Pulled a prank on secretary

               Ok, so this may not seem so much as a penny, but please let me explain. Every so often this secretary and I pull pranks on each other, just for fun. She really is a sweet lady that has such a humorous side to her. Last year she sent me an 'Evil Leprechaun' in the mail to my house. It was a great surprise to receive :-) Anyway, I wanted to do something for her for Easter. So I bought a kitty pan and filled full of honey puff cereal to make it look like kitty litter. Then I bought a mixture of chocolate covered anything and through them haphazardly throughout the pan. It was a riot to look at. I topped it off with a kitty litter shovel. She laughed about it all day long :-)

5 Pennies - Day 243 Recovered

1. Complimented another person for losing weight at church

                So my son's Godfather at church has been on a fitness program since Thanksgiving this year. At first he was losing a lot of weight and felt really great about himself. Then he started to level off some and the frustration sort of started to seep in. However, he has continued to go to his morning training sessions and continued with his diet/portion control. The other day at church was the first time in several years that I noticed he had his shirt tucked in. He normally wears it our so it just drapes over him, but now that he had it tucked in you could really tell that he was losing weight. I just had to give him the compliment. He told me that he was starting to feel like giving up because he didn't see any difference this past month, but that I noticed really made him feel better about making healthier choices.

2. Cleaned up a snack mess

                 White powdered mini donuts are a miraculous thing. No matter how cautious or careful you are, somehow the sugar just goes everywhere. Anyway, a child was sitting at the snack table with my son eating one of these donuts when it decided to roll out of her hands and onto the floor. It seriously looked like a crime when FBI agents are finger-proofing a room. The child picked up the dropped donut and threw it away before heading to Sunday School, but the traces of the accident still remained. I easily got a broom and swept up the 'evidence.' When my OCD is a blessing.

3. Made a Cinnamon Coffee Cake for front office

             The administrators of my building seemed to be having a rough spring lately. The secretaries have been fielding constant calls about the closing of school during the Spring Break. There seems to be more sickness going around than normal and the Nurses just seem to be working harder. I just wanted to do something nice prior to Easter Break for the Front Office staff to let them know that they are very much appreciated.

4. Sent a Birthday card to another teacher

                I don't know about you, but I love getting cards in the mail - especially if it isn't about bills or owing money. I remember being a kid and always awaiting my birthday to received cards. It made me feel special. Still this 30 something loves receiving the 'love notes.' So another staff member will be celebrating her birthday over the Spring Break. I just felt that it would be nice to send her a card so that she knew that she was being thought of. Easy to do..

5. Wrote a 'Welcome Note' to another staff member

                The French teacher will be out for the next couple of weeks and in replacement we have a long term substitute. I remember being a LTS; actually it is how I got started in the school that 10 years down the road I am still a teacher of. For me it was very nerve racking because I didn't know the students or the routines. I actually started about this time too. By the time that I understood who was who and what was what it was just about the last day of school. At least this welcome note is a small way for me to say hi to this new staff member.

5 Pennies - Day 242 Recovered

1. Gave Secretaries and Nurses Flowers

             We have a really great front office staff that in some ways I believe they hide their superhero caps from me. Maybe they can't leap tall buildings in a single bound, but they work extremely hard every day to make our school a better place. Regardless if it is handling the phone calls of nasty parents, taking care of a kid that is throwing up, or the mounds of paperwork that is needed to be completed for daily business; these staff members are amazing and do their jobs so well. I just wanted to treat them with something special to let them know how much I appreciate having them at school. It is the beginning of Spring and the best part is when flowers are just first starting to bloom. Oh how I miss this during the Winter time. So each received a small bundle of flowers.

2. Bought a snack for a student

             So my Jazz Band students played at a special charity basket ball game the other night - which by the way was for Breast Cancer Awareness. In addition, my kids were really good about setting up, performing, and tearing down. The one didn't have a chance to get some money from his mom to buy some snacks. He has always been such a great student in my class and during this ensemble. So I reached into my pocket and gave him a few dollars. You would have thought that I handed him a winning lottery ticket! The sweetest thing is that when I gave him the money and after saying thank you, he asked if I wanted anything. He's such a good kid. The next thing I know is that he had a cupcake and icing all over his face. Although he is 13, it immediately reminded me of my 5 year old son :-)

3. Wrote another staff member a "Great Job" note

              It needed to be said. The main organizer of the charity basketball game needed the laud and admiration for all of his hard work. It was such a great event!

4. Attended a special student concert

              There is this special Saturday mornings music program that several of my band students have been attending for the past month or so. This past weekend was their showcase performance. Although I was tired from the extra performance that I have been giving myself, I knew that it was important to my students since they begged me to attend. It was a really nice event and my students were really happy to see me. I was also able to talk to several of their parents to learn more about this weekly activity. I am hoping to 'enlist' several other students for this activity next year.

5. Wrote 'Thank You' notes to other staff members

              Recently my band students went to a regional festival in where they performed three pieces and were critically assessed. We have been working on these three pieces for the past 1 1/2 months and the students were really eager to share their final product. Prior to this particular performance, I had my supervisor and another music teacher come in to evaluate and work with my students. Their comments really helped the students put the final touches on their songs before this important event. So much that the students performed at the highest level and were invited to perform at the State Festival. I just had to share my appreciation to these staff members for taking time out of their busy schedules to work with my students. I am so grateful for their expertise.

5 Pennies - Day 241 Recovered

1. Bought Easter Candy for the church

              As the Easter season approaches, the church that I attend have sent out help signals for bags of Easter Candy. The kind that is small enough to fit in one of those plastic egg shells. Sean loves Easter Egg hunting, but will be attending a friends church party instead of going to our regular church. Anyway, I know that this is a popular event and the downtown neighborhood kids all come out for it - both young and old. So while I was buying Easter Candy for Sean's other party, I picked up an extra bag for this need as well. Besides, who can resist bite size chocolates and jelly beans?

2. Held up music for another performer

            So we were right in the middle of performing a song during service today, when the music stand of the keyboardist decided not to cooperate. Needless to say she was using her hands to play and couldn't adjust the stand/music. So as the music was about to fall over I simply grabbed it, held it up, and kept singing - sort of like a balancing act. Like they say - the show must go on.

3. Got another child a snack

             So my son and this other child in the church were assigned 'jobs' after the service today. The children's educational group is doing a fundraiser where they are selling coloring sheets of chickens for $1. All the money will go to purchase real chickens to help feed the hungry in depleting countries. It was conversation time, which really means snack time for my son and the rest of the children in the service. So I got my son a few snacks as he continued to advertise and sell the chickens. When I gave him the small plate of a few snack pretzels and 1/2 cup of juice, his partner asked her mom for some snack too. Noticing that the other mother didn't hear, I simply went over and got her a small plate of pretzels and a cup of juice too. It was easy to do since they were collecting money to feed others.

4. Bought Pink Gloves for special activity

              So in the midst of doing grocery shopping I noticed this display stand of simple gardening gloves. Instantly I saw the pink ones and thought about this special activity that we are going to have later this week. It is a special Student/Staff Basketball game that all of the proceeds will sponsor the local Breast Cancer Awareness division. There will also be some silent auction items and raffles that will be taken place throughout the game. These simple pink gardening gloves were a perfect addition to this event.

5. Bought snacks for morning meeting

             Morning meetings are rough for everyone, but are more manageable for everyone when there is food involved. So as our Student Assessment Specialist carried on with the meeting and described plans for future exams, we were able to focus with having both mental and physical nourishment. Besides, who doesn't like a muffin?  

5 Pennies - Day 240 Recovered

1. Gave money to a teacher for a community service activity

                This particular teacher is doing the Relay for Life event in a few weeks with her kids. I love hearing about these types of things - involving the family to make a difference in the world. 

2. Reprieved another staff member from student

                This particular staff member is in charge of the in school disciplined students - so needless to say that in my opinion she has one of the toughest jobs in the school. Lately she has been having repeat offenders in her area that have decided to be more disruptive than usual. She is quickly getting burned out from these students. So to give her a break, I 'borrowed' a student from her and had him do his work in my office. Although it was only a 30 minute reprieve, it gave her a chance to calm down and the rest of the students in her area to focus in peace. Instantly her mood changed.

3. Wrote a 'Thank You' note to supervisor

                 A few months ago I asked my supervisor if he could purchase me a full size keyboard for the music office so that I can use it as a practice studio with my students. I never heard back from him and just thought that it was wishful thinking. Yesterday I was called to the front office with 2 big packages waiting for me! The first big package was the keyboard & the second was a stand to place it upon. I drug the boxes back to the music office and dove into them like it was Christmas morning! Everything is up and put together - so cool! I just had to write him a note in expressing my appreciation.

4. Sent an angel card

                I sent my angel card this morning to my patient. Just a simple note saying that I was thinking about her and hoping that she was having a good day.

5. Bought a special cookie for postal worker

               It was raining this morning as I went to the supermarket for my weekly ritual of buying groceries. I saw these cool Easter cookies and instantly thought of different people that I know of that deserve a special treat. Instantly I wanted to give it to someone who had to work out in the rain today. I remembered as I was driving into the parking lot that there was one of those corner workers - the one that is dressed in silly outfits advertising their company and they wave to you as you drive past. So I bought the cookie with them in mind. However, when I drove away from the grocery store I noticed that the corner person wasn't there anymore. Maybe they were on a break or decided that they were not going to stand out in the rain anymore. So then I thought about other people that I knew that had to work today in the rain. Like fate would have it, I drove past the mail office and knew that my postal worker would appreciate the simple gesture. As soon as I arrived at home, I clipped the special treat to the mail box.

5 Pennies - Day 239 Recovered

1. Bought craft supplies for another teacher 

              There is this crafty ELA teacher in my building that had this brilliant idea of making these special pens to use in the main office for when parents/visitors come in to sign in. Actually it all started when this particular teacher over heard one of the secretaries comment on how the front book pens are always taken by accident. So this teacher had an idea that if she made special pens, then people would know that it belongs with the school. Anyway, she did some research and found a really cool craft to make with pens in a special design. She showed me the end results - I must say that they are so cool looking. A day later she sent a school email out asking for pens - instantly I knew that I needed to buy her pens to help her finish her work. So last evening I bought her two different types. This morning I felt compelled to also write her a note saying that her idea is "Out of this World" - it was accompanied by a space shuttle eraser.

2. Bought chocolate treats for the Guidance Office

               So this week wraps up our state assessment - yeah! I know that the guidance office has been working really over time to make sure that everything ran smoothly and is still continuing to make sure that all of the makes were done with the students who were absent. I can't imagine how much work it takes to make sure that all 800 students take all four days of state assessments. They deserve a lot of credit for the time and energy that they put into this. I just needed to tell them how much I appreciated their hard work - what better way they individual small boxes of chocolates!

3. Helped another student who was having a bad day

                 So as I was walking back to my teaching area, I noticed that one of my students was storming out of her classroom. Clearly she was upset and this wasn't like her at all. Not to pry into her business, I went over and asked if she just wanted a 5 minute break in my music office to calm down. With big alligator tears on her cheeks she shook her head yes and went to my office. I told her teacher that she was with me for a little while to calm down and pull herself back together. In my office I offered her some M&M's (her favorite) as I prepared for my next class. Soon it was time for me to teach and I asked her that if she stayed, just let me know when she was going back to class. Within minutes of me teaching she poked her head in my classroom & waved goodbye with a thumbs up. She really is a good kid. Sometimes we all just need an area to fall apart and then to put ourselves back together. I'm glad that I was able to provide this to her. I really don't know what happened, but at least she left my area being whole again.

4. Covered another class for a teacher 

              This particular teacher wanted to go on a field trip with her students, but she teaches two different grade levels. So I offered to cover her one class so that she could join in the fun with the other grade level. In the meantime I learned about friction & gravity - cool ehh?

5. Wrote a 'Good Job' note to another teacher 

               The technology teacher at my school put together this cool video for our school's website to welcome visitors. It has all of these pictures of the different teachers/students/areas of our school. She also had her students design many of the layouts as a class project. The final product is really interesting to watch. In addition, she is currently having her students make brief videos to show when new students enter our school. How could I resist in writing a 'good job' note to this teacher & her creative ideas?

5 Pennies - Day 238 Recovered

1. Helped put away swimming devices

               So my son is just about to pass his level of swimming classes - testing out of Eels and entering into Rays. He has really gotten much better since we switched coaches and facilities. He does have a long way to go before being completely comfortable and safe in water, but lately he has been swimming without any flotation devices. In fact this recent swim lesson the coach took off the 'floaties' from all of the students. Towards the end of class, I simply went over to gather them up and put them away. Easy to do so that the kids wouldn't be tripping over them while getting out of the pool.

2. Gave students a smiley pencil

              I love being a teacher. And on most days I like being a teacher. Then there are those few days that I scratch my head and ask myself the frustrating question of "Why did I become a teacher?" These days are often few and in between, but today one hit me as 4 waves of upset parents lapped on me. I know that I shouldn't take things personal, but the words of these parents were as vicious as an emotion tsunami. So by the afternoon crept in and after school approached, I was beyond exhausted in my teaching. Then two brave band students stayed after school for extra help on a music piece. They recently performed at the regional small ensemble festival and earned a high enough score to be invited to participate at the State level. As tired as I was, I just couldn't say no to helping these students. I am glad that I didn't. "Why did I become a teacher?" These two students showed me why. They so badly want to improve on their skills and instruments - not to please me, but to please themselves. Just working with them made me feel a lot better. I had to give them a 'thank you' gesture - a smiley pencil because they brought happiness to my afternoon.

3. Volunteer at a College Event

               There is a staff member in my school that is in charge of disciplined contained students. However, more importantly she is also in charge of promoting a college/career based atmosphere. She is apart of this county committee that has been working together to host an event night so that parents/families can learn more about college and financial need. She's an amazing person and just hearing her talk about this event, I wanted to help her somehow. So I asked if she needed any volunteers at the welcome table. Gladly she accepted the offer and tonight I was able to help welcome over 600 people to this event. It was a fantastic turn out! I wish that there was something like this when I was about to go to school. I'm sure my mom would have been grateful for the extra information.

4. Encouraged a disabled walker

                 This weekend I participated in a St. Patrick's Day Run/Walk. It was a 5k for those who ran it - and yes, I was crazy enough to be one of those people. Anyway, on my second lap of run and just about completely out of breathe I saw a young boy moving along with his walker. Here I was internally complaining about running the 5k and wanting to give up at any second, while a few paces ahead of me this young guy had the bravery to keep going despite his unsteady walking skills. I instantly ran up along side of him and cheered him on, "Keep up the good work - you're almost done." At least this was my intention - what actually came out was something similar between gasp of much needed air. He was so wonderful to watch.

*For those that want to know - I finished the race at 32:03. This is my personal best and I have shaved off over 12 min. since my first race :-)

5. Helped an older woman with her grocery basket

                 I was in the U-Scan line at the grocery store waiting my turned. I noticed that ahead of me was an older woman shuffling her basket along as we both inched our way to the cash register. It was a very interesting sight to see because this woman was dressed from hat to heel in a red polished dress suit kicking this green plastic basket around. I wondered why she would do something like this. Anyway, I simply went over and picked up the basket and put it at the self scan registered so that it would be easier for her to scan the groceries without bending over. She then turned to me and thanked me for my gesture. I told her no problem and she proceeded to tell me that her sugar is low and she just needed to purchase some food to eat in her car so that she could drive home. It was so low that she just didn't have the strength to hold the basket and wait in line. In a way I felt bad for her circumstance, but in another way I was glad that I could help her.