Fin

There are seven and a half days remaining in the school year, and the usual problems of the last week apply: how do we keep the kids engaged in such a way that they don't break stuff, that they don't hurt each other, and that we can still feel as though we are providing some sort of benefit to their overall educations. Grades closed yesterday, a full four days before they are due in the office. They have to be in early, of course, so the certificates can be printed for honor roll and such. Funny thing, though, we're having our third quarter honor roll assembly this afternoon...

Tomorrow I'm out, with the rescheduled State Class C track meet going on at 2, I'd be able to teach one uninterrupted class before having to leave. This seemed silly, so I'm taking the whole day.

Last night was the high school spring sports banquet, and tonight is the middle school athletic banquet for the entire year. At these times I become quite disgusted, and think to myself: "Isn't the celebration actually being able to participate in these sports? Isn't sports the celebration itself?" Apparently not.

Competing at the track meet tomorrow will be a number of our seniors who have made the choice not to attend the candlelight service (whatever that signifies) at the high school. This past Sunday night was the senior banquet, and Thursday night is class night. Friday, mercifully, is graduation, and we'll have all the high school nonsense out of the way, just in time for more middle school nonsense.

Next Tuesday is our barbecue/Flag Day/model rocket day, Wednesday is the 6th & 7th grade final assembly, and Thursday, the final day of the school year, is the 8th grade final assembly. We 7th grade-types will be playing kickball.

So here's the thing: why do we do this to ourselves? Couldn't we celebrate the end of the year with a little more sanity, and a little less chaos? Do we need to have events on EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE FINAL TWO WEEKS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR? It seems to me we've become far too extrinsic in our rewards system.

All of a sudden I have the attitude of Ebenezer Scrooge and the attention span of Andy Rooney. This is what the end of the year does to me. But have no fear, when the year is done I'll have a whole 68 days to get over it.