It is 4:45 a.m. on a dark Saturday morning. I have friends who regularly arise at this hour. Honestly, it is too early for me. But, awake by 4 o’clock, my thoughts began to spin in my head. Eventually, I got up, relieved my bladder full of the water I drank before bed and wrote…
Yesterday, we drove 75 miles down the Great River Road from West – Central Wisconsin to North – Eastern Iowa. My husband and I had a dual purpose to our trip. Firstly, I needed to deliver some pieces to a gallery in the town of McGregor where I am on consignment as a jewelry designer/artist….
Have you ever been spelunking? How about cave exploring? They are one in the same! Major newspapers have recently written and posted articles about an ordeal a young college student in Indiana had while spelunking. Reading these articles prompted me to post on this subject, having been spelunking several times in my life. My first…
This past week was the first of many senior meetings for us. We were filled in on what our student needs to be doing to get ready for his time after high school and in selecting a college. We have been through all this before, as we have an older son. However, it has been…
By 6:50 a.m. this morning, they were gone. My two students were off to the high school for another year. One was excited, and one was reluctant but glad it was the beginning of the end of high school for him. He is ready for something more. On the first of this month, I wrote…
September is here. It is a time of transition, once again. Already, some schools are back in session, or soon will be after the Labor Day holiday. With two sons still in high school, I have wishes for both of them, as well as for myself, for this upcoming year. What I wish for my…
Fall is in the air! Can you feel it? I can. The fall soccer season has started with two games this past week, one against a nearby rival last night, ending in a tie. The afternoon was warm but by 7 p.m., when the varsity team started to play, it was rapidly getting cooler. We…
Of course, this is facetious, for I am not a principal or even a teacher for that matter, but there have been times in recent years I have had to act as one. Recent duties have brought this forward in my mind once again. Yesterday, I had to assist my youngest son on turning in…
Earlier this week we received the packet of information that comes from our school district regarding registration for the upcoming school year. Now that I have two high schoolers (soon to be a sophomore and a senior), a single packet arrives with the materials. You can imagine what is inside – school photo forms, parking…
Ten things I have learned by being a student advocate for two decades: 1. You will feel a sense of power and/or relief when positive change is made. Do not let this feeling of accomplishment let you rest on your laurels. 2. You will be frustrated or even angry when the needs of those for…