1-24-08 - Making Limeade from Lemons

The week of semester finals… administrators typically love this week because there is little or no disciplinary issues.  It is hard to make stupid decisions when there is a two hundred question final under your nose!  It is the perfect time for me to begin my least favorite time of the year… TESTING SEASON!  For three days, I had been counting fingers and toes to ensure that all testing/instructional minutes were equal so that I didn’t violate any state mandate or union rule. 

 

I managed to stick my head out from my “Pammy Pity Party” long enough for one of our Campus Supervisors to inform me that he had just been given the names of a couple of kids who had drugs.   Drugs?  During final week… no way!  So… since I was buried up to our eyeballs in data and testing schedules, I asked my colleague if she could help me out.  I couldn’t ask for better support system than my co- Assistant Principals… they know when I need a hug and when I need a swift kick in the pants!

 

When I had finally hammered out a final draft from “Revision H,” my colleague had finished searching one of the boys.  She found no drugs, but $170 in his pocket.  She knew that he did not have a job and most kids don’t carry this amount of cash in their pockets… unfortunately, there wasn’t anything she could do, even though we knew that he had probably obtained the money selling drugs.  I did call his probation officer and request a drug test.

 

She also had located the other student, Diego (remember him from earlier journals.)   Now my colleague has many talents, one of which is being able to calmly handle this young man without hanging him up on the ceiling by his toenails!  I do not possess this ability!  This is one of the most incorrigible young men I have encountered in my career!  She had searched and found marijuana paraphernalia and was about to suspend him when I noticed our Marine Recruiter in the Registrar’s office.  This special young man had once been a lot like Diego and with some firm guidance by his school counselor he was able to turn his life around and learn to serve others.  I whispered in his ear that Diego was in the office and that we knew he was interested in the Marines. 

 

What transpired after that was truly amazing.   This young Sergeant shared his story with Diego and offered to spend a couple of days with him during his suspension in order to show him he could have fun another way.  My clever colleague agreed to reduce his suspension if he would take him up on the offer.  Diego agreed. 

 

In just a few minutes I witnessed this hardened teenager soften to the Marine that took enough time to invest in his life.  I had given up on this lad weeks ago, dismissing him as another candidate for juvenile hall, but my colleague saw the potential in him.  Only time will tell if he will truly make a change, but somehow I feel that she was able to make Limeade out of the Lemons that this day had thrown to her and society will reap the benefits of her efforts.

 

1-18-08 – “Brown Kids”

There should be some law prohibiting the natural aging process… for some reason I can’t understand why I can not do the same things I did when I was 20 years old.  For instance “getting into shape”… the jury is still out as to exactly what “shape” this is, but lets just say I am trying to rid myself of the flab that has accumulated from many years of a desk job.  I have now (at least for a week) dedicated myself to eating right and exercising to improve the overall quality of my life… Ok now I sound like a Slim Fast ad!  Anyway I woke up this morning with a stabbing pain in my lower back.  You know the kind, that gently reminds you that you are not a kid any more and physical activity can now be painful!  (Didn’t I spin around on my toes when I was 18)?  I bonded a bit too quickly with the elliptical machine last night and now my muscles were telling me about it.

 

I already dreaded coming to work; Debbie had taken the day off to go on a field trip with her youngest and now I would have to actually take care of myself!!  One of these daunting tasks included talking to the district about hiring campus supervisors.  Now my loving secretary, Debbie, had yelled at me the day before because I had emailed them requesting a new security officer… you see, when I email, she has to actually talk to them!  And… these conversations are never a couple minutes; and they usually transpire into at least ten phone calls!   So without my Debbie, I was forced to deal with them myself!!  She did call in a sub-secretary for me that I probably scared off, but did manage to come back after lunch!  I did a little discipline… was forced to move more than I typically like to… which produced giggles amongst the clerical staff when I attempted to walk with my sore “rumpus maximus”!

 

All was well in the land of Royal, until five minutes before the final bell.  Anytime you see a principal run (in our cases walk quickly) with a radio in their hand, you know it can’t be good.  My first mistake was to look up… he pointed to the door and said “Let’s go.”   Obviously this man forgot that I was in pain… but I limped behind him with giggles following me from the office staff.

 

Now one thing that impressed me about California schools is the sheer size of the campuses… lockers are on the outside of buildings and there is a lot of “green” areas for the students to hang out.  This also means a lot of areas to supervise.  Most schools have purchased golf carts to assist their “out of shape” school administrators to get across campus quickly.   I jumped in the cart… ok it was more like a “hop”  and off he went.  I asked, “And just where are we going”?  He said he had just gotten a call from a parent that a large group of Hispanics were gathered at our Hudspeth gate and they thought there was going to be a fight.   Now these stereotypes bother me… if they are “brown kids” they must be in a gang, if they are “yellow kids” they must be going to study, if they are “black kids” they are going to rob and steal, and let’s not forget about those “white kids” who have actually formed a white supremacist gang and are wandering around town beating up the  “brown” kids.  Nevertheless, off we went.

 

When we arrived at the east side of campus… there were no kids, of any color.  Then we received a call that six Latinos were walking in front of the school… that must be them, so off we sped, hitting all the bumps, to the north side, only to find a couple of my truants who had decided to begin the long weekend a hour early.  But… there were no gangs roaming about the campus.  About that time, three black and whites (police units) pulled into the lot.  I guess the same over zealous parent had phoned them as well.  I am teased about my love for the “Po Po” but by this time my behind had taken all the speed bumps it could handle… so got out of the cart, walked to the officers car, and demanded he “move his junk” to the trunk because I needed rescued! 

 

I rode with SVPD around town to all the “hot spots” our kiddos like to fight, but there was no sign of planned group activities anywhere.  All we saw was vacant parks because all the kids wanted to get home to begin the long weekend, as did their school administrators!

 

The moral of this story is “brown kids” have friends too.  When they are standing around talking it doesn’t mean that they are plotting to fight somewhere.  If you see a group of kids (of any race) who are dressed alike throwing gang signs that is probably the time to get concerned.  There is no reason to assume that just because a kid is a certain race they will be involved in an illegal activity.  Kids just want to be with their friends.  Before you frantically call the school or the police department please make sure you have a good reason.  It could be you are keeping them from doing something important like helping a school administrator with a sore rump.

1-12-08 -- Attack of the Nerds

The socialization of adolescence has long fascinated me.  Walk into any American high school and you too can watch “the herd” in action.  Teenagers are by nature pack animals and the best place for observation is the average high school.  Teenagers wander about looking for their “kind,” then they begin some introductory dance to prove their worthiness for the chosen herd. 

 

For example, walk along with any “jock herd” and you will hear conversations of televised or high school athletic events… those with knowledge of sports will be accepted.  Those who can actually perform these rituals with become the alpha-leaders.  The alpha-leaders of this pack are very demonstrative, as they seem to either physically or verbally “pick on” the weakest of the herd to prove their prowess.  Although insignificant, the weaklings remain with the camp for the popularity and respect it brings with the female of the species. 

 

One can also observe similar behavior within the “Goth” group.  Members of this pack fight fordominance  (i.e. respect) by wearing pants that are four sizes too small with as many holes and patches as their parents/school permits and they often demonstrate a significant knowledge of the latest alternative bands.  Males of this subgenus often wear make up.  This group often sports Mohawk haircuts, pink, purple or blue hair with dark black eyeliner and nail polish. This group will scare the “beegeeber” out of the average senior citizen walking down the street, but by nature this is a peaceful group who generally avoids confrontation. 

 

Lest I leave anyone out of this mix, there are “skaters” “gangsters” “posers” “cheerleaders” “leadership group” and of course last but not least, the“brainiacs.”  The “brainiacs” or “nerds” have been around for generations.  This is the subgenus that is often victimized by all the other herds while in school, but will humiliate all of their counter-groups at their tenth high school reunion with their expensive cars and six figure salaries. 

 

One of my favorite high school events is to watch these kids is the “Super Bowl” for Brainiacs commonly referred to as Academic Decathlon.  I am unsure of the origin of this event, but I am quite sure some well-meaning teacher came up withthe name to add credibility to the nerd event.  I personally felt this was such a worthwhile event for kids that I offered to sponsor it myself to keep it were dying at our school.  Luckily, a young dynamo teacher rescued me.  Nicole and her team brought several gold metal back to RHS her first year as sponsor like the incredible teacher that she replaced.

 

Brandy has competed in Aca Deca for two years.  Brandy often floats between several herds at our school, this is possible, because she lights up any room she enters.  When I walked into the waiting room (school cafeteria) to offer some moral support to our competitors in the individual speech event, Brandy ran up with a big hug for me.  And demonstrating maturity beyond her years, thanked me for taking time to support them.  

 

Brandy then looked up to me and exclaimed… “The Nerds are Attacking Me.”  After laughing for a while I replied… “Brandy, think about it.”  Here she was competing in a “Nerd Convention.”  She giggled and said, “Oh yeah, I forgot where I was for a minute.”  She went on to explain some well meaning young man approached her to get a phone number for his friend.  When she explained that she had a boyfriend, this young man gave some sobbing story of how his friend’s family was mean to him and insisted that she at least wave to him before she left.  Way to go Nerds… work that sympathy!   Of course she gave him a wave and got the “Heck out of Dodge.” 

 

The story that followed was even more amusing… she said the previous night she was in the car with her mother when a car of boys pulled along side of them and held up a laminated sign with the message “You are cute” and with a Smiley Face.    It flattered her mother, who rolled down the window only to hear “Not you, the other one.”   Ladies don’t you love these moments!!!!   Like the young teacher who called me “Mom” last month!!!   I can’t wait to finish his yearly evaluation!!  Brandy said they all had a big laugh and drove on their way.

 

These stories alone were worth the drive to the competition, although as I left I was a bit concerned what would be the topic of her speeches.  Either way, with the awesome group of kids thathave invested their time to represent our school, I am certain that once again we will earn our share of gold metals.

 

1-7-08 -- Welcome Back!

I love coming back to work after vacations, it is like starting the school year all over again.   I must admit I felt sort of silly last night, because I couldn’t sleep.  It doesn’t matter how long I am in the school “biz” I always feel like a kindergartener on the first day of school when we return from breaks.  My clothes were laid out, everything including that stupid elliptical machine (yes, New Year’s Resolution) was set up and ready for the morning alarm.  The only problem was I couldn’t sleep!!!  I planned the day to a detail, but still couldn’t fall asleep!  I laid there for an hour or so listening to the rain hit the window and the Shih Tzus snore, but still couldn’t turn that brain of mine “Off.”  Finally I got up poured myself a half glass of Chardonnay, watched a rerun of the Simpsons and finally dozed off to Gem Fest on QVC. 

 

Well, the alarm went off at 5:30 am… I hit the snooze again fifteen minutes later… Hit the alarm again at 6:00 am, I rolled over and thought, I’ll work out tonight when normal people are conscious…hit it once again at 6:15… did I mention I don’t like mornings?  I finally drug my behind out of bed at 6:30 and immediately headed in the direction of the coffee maker.  I drank a cup of joe, got kisses from the pups and finally got ready forwork.  When I walked in our Lead Campus Supervisor began giggling… these folks know me too well, and somehow she knew what I had gone through to get there on time… or perhaps it was my sprint to the coffee machine.

 

The first day back after vacation is always fun… kinda like a family reunion without all the dysfunctional relatives.  

 

All was well with the Royal Family until  the sassiest of all the Campus Supervisors rushed into my office exasperated.  “THEY WON’T LEAVE” !  Of course my mind started to fill in the blank with several different names, but finally I asked “ Who won’t leave”?   She replied, Brenda and her mother.   Now you may remember “Brenda” from a previous blog.  Since that journal she has been incarcerated for probation violations.  Now since schools are greedy and demand so much money from the state, we are notified to “Drop” a student when they are lodged in juvenile hall so that we don’t“double dip” and both get funding for that child.  Seems to me that schools should be paid by the state for attempting to rehabilitate these juvenile delinquents, but the trained monkeys in Sacramento haven’t called to ask my opinion yet!

 

I knew this was a job for a “heavy weight” and since I missed the date with the elliptical this morning, I was just the gal for the job!   I marched to the front desk where Brenda’s mother was DEMANDING that we enroll her daughter in school.  I attempted to explain to her that since custody of Brenda was not longer with her sister who resided in our district, she would have to enroll her daughter in the city that she lived.  Of course this was not what she wanted to hear.  I suggested she appeal her case to the district and there in front of parents, students, staff and God above she pointed out the monitoring device on her daughter’s leg.  My heart broke for Brenda… AGAIN!  She demanded that she could not take Brenda to the district or “her beeper” would go off.

 

I had just sat down at my desk when  I heard a voice more exasperated than the last, “THEY STILL WON’T LEAVE”!!   Now irritated, I found Brenda and her mother in the Attendance Office pleading their case!  I once again explained the residency rule to no avail, I finally pointed to the door and said, “You need to leave… I can not help you here.”  She finally left when I said the magical words, “I do not have the authority to do what you are asking me to do without district approval.” 

 

Before they left I made a call to her probation officer “over the hill” from Simi who sounded on the phone just as exasperated explained that he had already explained to them they must attend school in the district she resides.  

 

They finally went to the district where they were told that she would need to enroll in the school district which she lived... didn't I just say that? 

 

I became saddened as I thought of this child who had been bounced from foster home to foster home, from school to school.  Now we were doing this too.  As I discussed the situation with a co-worker later that afternoon, she made a heart wrenching remark, “I think we were making a difference with her.”  Unfortunately, it was too little, too late.  Our efforts had not kept her out of juvenile hall and in her sister’s custody. 

 

This is the hardest part of this job… knowing when to just let go.