5 Pennies - Day 219 Recovered

1. Wrote a 'Get Well' card
            So there is a teacher at my school that recently had a minor surgery done in the past week. I must admit that I have not been the nicest person to this teacher in the past few years, but I am trying to improve on myself by being kinder towards others. If the 5 Pennies have taught me anything, it is this - be kind towards others. Regardless if you like it or not. Regardless if you believe that they deserve it or not. Just be kind. Anyway, I sent her a 'Get Well' card wishing a speedy recovery.

2. Wrote a 'Good Luck' note
             So the orchestra teacher and a few of his students have a special concert coming up this weekend. He has been working for this event the past several weeks and I know that it is going to be nice. It is great that he would take his free time to work additional hours in helping his and other teachers' students. I just wanted to wish him good luck.

3. Wrote some 'Good Job' notes to various staff members
              Wow - we have had a busy week at school recently. I just wanted to show other teachers how much I appreciate the extra time, energy, & focus that they have displayed on various activities.
           - These 'Good Job' notes go to our popcorn making team.
                         There is a group of staff members that for the past day have been making popcorn for a special reward activity for those students that have displayed good behavior.
           - There are two staff members in particular that helped organized a special student/staff Volleyball game for those students again who have displayed good behavior.
               These extra incentives for the students do make a difference & it is all put together normally by the same corp of teachers. They rarely get thanked and often get headaches from the stress of the activities - but I just wanted them to know how much I appreciate all of their hard work.

4. Collected breakfast lunch cards
              I wasn't for sure if the usual staff member was absent or accidentally forgot to collect these items. Anyway, they were laying all scattered about on a cafeteria table. I didn't want them to get lost before needed them the next day. So I just simply collected them together and returned them to the original staff member's mailbox. Easy to do.

5. Bought school supplies & food for shelter bank
            I took these items back to the church to submit in the correct areas. Again, easy to do.

5 Pennies - Day 218 Recovered

1. Made scones for various people

         So I had an evening music meeting tonight with other parents that support my program. I decided that to show my appreciation thus far this school year, I would make them some blueberry scones. It is an easy recipe to put together and make. They were very appreciative. Also, my dearest friend has been going through some personal things both health and emotionally. I just wanted to do something nice for them. Their favorite is chocolate chip scones. So a batch of them was easy to make as well. However, I rationed the scones in individual bags so that they could enjoy them for breakfast throughout the entire week - not just gorge on them the first day :-)

           The funny thing is that when I brought them in, others have started to make request for other types - cinnamon & cranberry/orange.

           Good homemade food is like hugging the heart & stomach at the same time. 

2. Made special food for other teacher's curriculum

             So there are 2 ELA teachers at my school that have been teaching a unit about the Holocaust. Since I can make traditional Latkes & Challah bread, I offered to make them for their students. At first I thought that I would only be service like 40-50 kids. I must admit that I was a bit overwhelmed when they told me that I would need to make enough to serve over 100! I never made this much before! I really doubted if I had enough of time and ingredients to serve this many. I really didn't want to disappoint anyone. So I became a baking fool! In the end I made 12 loaves of Challah bread & over 100 Latkes. I went to the local 'megamart' and also bought cups of applesauce & different jellies (along with cutlery & plates). The next day at school I delivered everything and the teachers were really appreciative - they even had some of their students personally say thank you. It was nice to share this opportunity with them.

3. Moved a table for morning duty

              So the attendance woman normally sits at a particular spot so that the students can get the required paperwork taken care of prior to the beginning of the school day starting. I noticed this morning that her usual table was missing. So I looked around for it some and found it in the gym - must have been used for a weekend basketball game. So easily enough I picked it up and moved it into the spot for the attendance secretary - even before she came in - so that everything was ready for her.

4. Helped hung up cards for another teacher

               So in a prior penny posting I talked about how there is a teacher at my school that is fighting a really bad illness and that her teaching partner decided to have all of the students and staff make cards for her. Well, today was the day that everything got posted up on the mural design. Its a welcome back design that stretches from one side of the gym to the other. Its a very simple thing, but completely brilliant and very heart warming. So I just wanted to help in hanging some of the cards up too.

5. Gave extra food to the soup kitchen

              While I was buying the ingredients for the bread & Lakes, I bought some extra Mac 'n' Cheese for the local soup kitchen. Its January and cold - the time that the kitchens need help the most.

5 Pennies - Day 217 Recovered

1. Gave extra desserts to a school faculty social party
            I couldn't go to the party, but still wanted to contribute towards the event. So I gave the head of the faculty social committee two pies towards the activity for others to enjoy. I wish that I had time to bake something, but the nights this week have been very busy. However, the pies that I bought did look very good. FYI - Apple Crumb & Reduced Sugar Cherry

2. Gave the mail carrier brownies
             It snowed some this morning & its pure cold outside. I just wanted to treat them to something nice since they have to work on a Saturday and during this yucky winter day. One of my favorite lines that I heard recently comes from the Charlie Brown series character of Sally - "I'm not built for Winter." Yes, I agree!

3. Sent a "Condolence" card
           So one of the nicest lunch ladies had a daughter that recently passed away a few days ago. The daughter had been sick for awhile, but still the pain of it all really upset this woman. Anyway, I just wanted to contribute some money that another staff member collected and personally write a condolence card. My son wanted to help too, so he colored a picture for her as well. I'm trying to raise a good boy.

4. Wrote a "Good Job" note to another teacher
           So we have a teacher at school that is fighting a really bad illness. She is a beloved teacher to the faculty and students at the school. Throughout this entire journey, she has shown great bravery and strength. So her partner teacher wanted to do something nice for her when she returns back to school this up coming week. He has been organizing the entire student body and faculty members to design special get well cards and decorating her teaching area. Such a brilliant and heart engaging idea. I just had to say good job and gave him a special eraser.

5. Designed a card
             Yes, I was so moved by his act of kindness that I designed a card for his get well project for her.

5 Pennies - Day 216 Recovered

1. Brought in brownies for other staff members

              So my son and I had off on Monday and I decided that it was a perfect time to apply his math skills to a useful activities. The result = three batches of brownies: 2 medium size pans for other staff members at work and a small pan for him to eat if he has good days at school and eats a good dinner. Anyway, one of the pan of brownies was placed in the front office area for everyone who works there to enjoy. The other pan of brownies was placed in the custodial area. We have a few new people that have recently joined our staff. The school looks very clean, the new people work very hard, and they seem mostly pleasant to work with. Its a different change, but I just wanted them to feel welcomed.

2. Gave another teacher a special writing pad

               So the French teacher has been having some health problems lately. She only works part time at the school and then part time at another school, so I really don't know much about her. So while I was shopping this weekend I noticed that there was this writing pad in the dollar bind that was decorated with all different types of French sayings and a picture of the Eiffel Tower. Instantly I though of her and knew that this would cheer her up. So before school this morning I placed in on her desk with a notes saying to have a good day. The interesting thing about this story is that at our morning teacher meeting she announced that she was retiring from teaching this June. So the writing pad was sort of like a congrats gift too.

3. Gave a special cookie to another teacher

                So one of the teachers that I work close with has recently had to take care of her dog from a crucial surgery. To me my dog is my dog, really more like a being that was gotten for my son. Trust me, I take care of my dog and make sure that he is feed, walked, clean, & healthy. But in full honesty, my dog is just that - a dog. However, to this other teacher her dog is her child. So she has been very worried about this issue for quite some time. So while I was at the grocery store this weekend I saw these heart shaped cookies. The one had the saying on it, "You Rock" - which is something I say to her all the time after a successful student activity. So I got it for her and placed it in her teacher mailbox to brighten her day.

4. Sent two congrats cards for various people 

                    The one woman from church just became a grandmother yesterday day to a healthy baby girl - Maddison. Everyone in the family is so excited!

                    The other card went to a former administrated that worked at my school a few years ago. His wife just had their baby this past weekend.

                     Congrats to all!

5. Got a booster seat for another family

                   So my son and I were at a restaurant getting ready to eat when I noticed that another family was looking for a booster seat for their young daughter. They had their hands full of jackets and keeping her pacified. I knew exactly where the seat was kept and easily got them one. Simple thing to do.

5 Pennies - Day 215 Recovered

1. Took supplies to church for their mission project

                I talked to the woman who is in charge of youth service projects at church about how we are doing the school supplies activity in a few weeks and she loved it! So she is having the church collect for a local elementary school. This is great news so that more students can learn better with the proper tools. The only problem that I foresee is that I need to sponsor both activities. So today I bought more scissors for both church & school :-)

2. Bought Hot Chocolate & snacks for a local homeless man

                 So I was driving towards a local supermarket and noticed that there was a homeless man on the corner leading into the parking lot. It was so cold outside that I immediately knew what to get him. So I made a brief detour from the travels of the supermarket to go to the convenience store and buy some things for him. Then after this shopping trip I pulled over towards where he was standing and gave him a cup of Hot Chocolate and 2 king size packs of peanut butter crackers. You would have never seen a man so thrilled with so little.

3. Took shopping cart back to the supermarket for another person

             It was easy to do - I was headed in anyway.

4. Bought women's study group a snack

               At the church there is a group of women that meet every Sunday night to talk about the importance of Females within the Bible and religious activities. So I bought them a healthy snack to enjoy at their meeting tonight.

5. Helped pay for another person's groceries

                So I was at the check out station ready to pay for my groceries when the person in front of me was finishing up. Unfortunately, his debit card was refusing to work and he only had so much cash on him. Even though he was owing 75 cents, he couldn't leave the register station with his food. Panic instantly came onto his face. I dug into my coat pocket and fished for the change. It was easy to do. Never a man was so thankful.

5 Pennies - Day 214 - Recovered

1. Helped another student copy paperwork for another teacher

               I was using the copier to work on the Spring Concert music for the kids and a student came into the teacher work room. Knowing that I was going to take forever and a day - I paused on my work and helped him make his for his teacher. Then afterwards, finished some of my work. It was just a 2 minute detour, but it saved the other teacher several teaching minutes.

2. Helped chaperoned the student dance

              6th grade dance was today after school. It is so funny to watch them because there is very little dancing involved. A lot of running around, jumping up and down, loud music, and standing about. I just stood around and watch - just to make sure that everyone was safe.

3. Wrote 'Great Job' notes to other teachers-

               The teacher supervisors did a really nice job in putting together a wonderful event for the kids this afternoon. I know how hard it is to put together a performance - so kudos to them! Also included a piece of candy with the note.

4. Laminated and cut out an art project for another teacher-

               So while I was copying my Spring Concert music this evening, I noticed that some art cubes that needed to be laminated. So I decided to multi-task and get both jobs done at the same time. Well, my OCD mind couldn't stop there. So after I was finished laminating them, I cut them out and delivered them to her classroom. She was already gone from the day, but she'll get them on Tuesday morning.

5. Cleaned up the coffee area at a store

                So on my way home from school after the dances, I stopped off. I needed just a quick pick me up to get myself home - so just a simple cup of coffee would do. The one clerk was rushing around to refill & brew new pots of coffee. She accidentally spilled some used beans, but then was called over to the cashier area before she had a chance to clean it up. Oddly enough, 3 other customers stepped around the mess. So I just grabbed some napkins, scooped things up, and wiped things down. Again, my OCD comes into play to save the day :-)

5 Pennies - Day 213 - Recovered

1. Brought in homemade scones for various staff members

                      So I have found a new interest in baking. Using your hands to cook can be a real stress release activity. Anyway, I don't eat much in regards to sweets and such - so I decided to take the homemade scones that I made this weekend into school to share with others. Good thing too. One teacher was hosting a special student ceremony, another teacher was remembering the passing of his parents, the secretaries have been working very hard at various parental needs, and my best friend just returned back from a trip. Comfort food for all.

2. Shared my lunch with another teacher

                       He noticed that I was eating a homemade turkey sandwich - with real turkey. I wasn't going to eat it all - so I gave him half. I had grapes to eat too.

3. Nominated a teacher for a special reward

                      This particular teacher really deserved it. He does so many special things throughout the school day - but what he does outside of school is amazing too. I just want others to see how wonderful he is. This nomination really meant a lot to him and I was glad to be apart of it. We talked a little about this earlier today. He said that it really was a special thing. He also told me that he was having a rough day due to some past personal family problems - but that this nomination really made him feel special.

4. Wrote thank you notes to other teachers

                        So I needed to move my afternoon classes to different locations today due to a special student ceremony being held in my regular teaching area. Three teachers were very kind in letting me borrow their space so that I could still conduct class as regularly as I could. So the best thing that I knew how to do was to write each of them a personal thank you note with an attached piece of candy.

5. Helped another parent put away their child's swimming items

                My son was about to go for his swimming lesson tonight as I noticed another parent trying to pacify their 4 year old daughter who was getting out of the pool, as well as, carry the 6 month old son & cargo. I remember those days when it didn't seem that I had enough of hands to keep my son and myself together and moving. So I just easily stepped in and helped the daughter put away her swimming devices so that left the mother to handle the baby. She was thankful for the extra help & and I was happy to give.