Gleaning Facebook: Retirement

Congratulations on retirement!

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From Kendra Harris:

I posted this on your blog, but as a first time poster I wasn't sure it would stick. lol So I wanted to be sure you saw this. In honor of your retirement announcement:

I remember being part of your first gifted group at Pepperell Elementary loooooonnnggg ago. I remember you having the wooden pictures that disguised other words (seemed like one was "Jesus"?) and playing chess. I think that was maybe second grade or so? 

Then I remember in middle school having you again. I will never forget "Jabberwocky" or you having the poem about my infinitely messy closet published --

"In my bedroom closet lies,

an eggbeater, two pieces of pie.. 

" something something, "

and a broken tennis shoe. 

My Mom always says 

'Get rid of that junk!'

'But Mom', I reply, 

with a tear in my eye, 

'Not my dear old lamp 

and beloved trunk'. 

But the argument always ends

with a grin, 

and this, my friends,

is the end!)"!

I also wont' forget 20 Questions, having to spell Armuchee for extra points, or in elementary school you having us make pinhole cameras and take our own pictures. 

Good memories! I appreciate all you have done and all that you do. You are a wonderful person and friend and I know they will miss you next year! Much love and God's blessings!

Moving On...

It has been unofficial for a few weeks now, but as of today it is official. This is the last month of my teaching career. I will retire at the end of May.

(There is no rhyme or reason to the placement of pictures below. I just chose a pretty random group of pics from my facebook albums that illustrate my teaching career and inserted 'em wherever they landed.)

It is the toughest decision I have made in a long time. 

I am looking forward to retirement in many ways, but I can’t help but feel sad that I will not greet those two dozen eager little faces next fall. I won’t get to introduce them to Penny and Nick and Ben. I won’t get to walk them across the desktops in our simulation of the ancient discovery of America by Asians across Beringia. I won’t get to lead them on the “Long Trail” ...

... through our school woods or lead them in examining those seventy-odd apples they bring that first week.

 

 I won’t get to teach them those silly songs: “Cut the Cake” and “Evaporation” or teach them to sing Jefferson’s wonderful words “We Hold These Truths...”. I won’t tell them about my ‘Possum friend, ‘Delphis, nor will I give them their first recital of Jabberwocky. 

I have always loved that first week as I get to know them and vice versa. There will be no timid “brown bag reports” from the Castle this fall.

I can’t complain about my final group of homeroom younguns. I have a precious group who made me look awfully good for 2012-2013 as they “excelled” as a group on all five parts of the “The Test That Shall Not Be Named” with not a single failing score. And all three of my  groups managed to improve over their third grade scores by more than 20 points in science and about that much in social studies -- the best growth in Floyd County.

I first joined Floyd County Schools in 1971. I had already taught two years in Putnam County, West Virginia. After two years at McHenry teaching fifth grade, I accepted the additional $400 per year to be assistant principal there, while I continued my classroom duties for four more years. I transferred to Pepperell for one year as a sixth grade teacher before I began my eleven years teaching in the gifted program. What fun I had there as I got to invent my own curriculum along with a close knit group of wonderful teachers.

In 1988 I left teaching for eleven years to chase a dream in private enterprise. 

Then in 1999 I recognized education as my true calling and answered Anita Stewart’s invitation to interview at Armuchee. It has been joy to serve the children of Armuchee for the last fourteen years. 

I have been privileged to work with some of the finest teachers and administrators in the country at this remarkable school. The environmental emphasis at Armuchee fit perfectly with my own educational philosophy, and the environmental education program here helped me develop and refine my philosophy and methods. Together we have created an excellent atmosphere of learning for the children and collegiality among the staff and faculty. I am very proud of what we have wrought at Armuchee during the last decade plus. I will always carry warm memories of the students, parents, teachers, administrators, and other staff members with whom I have worked. 

Despite the current anti-public education climate in Georgia, I hope my cohorts will continue the tradition of environmental education at Armuchee. High stakes testing is not the final indication of educational success, but I must point out that while using environmental methods we have achieved testing results that compare very favorably with those of other schools. Learning in the context of the real world around us really does stick.

I look forward to the opportunity to do occasional volunteer storytelling and nature activities at Armuchee. Those twenty-five beautiful acres and the folks who have peopled them will always be near my heart.

Gleaning Facebook: The Last Camp

Home again, home again, jiggedy jog. My fourteenth year to accompany fourth-graders on a spring trip to camp ended today. What a joyful but bittersweet time. Someone has said that no man does anything for the last time without a twinge of regret. I will miss these annual trips. It is wonderful to watch these children gain confidence, develop friendships, learn teamwork, and overcome fears and insecurities in canoes and skits and zip lines and darks caverns and hikes and stream stomps and...

A fence lizard. From Wikipedia: 

The eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) is a medium-sized species of lizard found along forest edges, rock piles, and rotting logs or stumps in the eastern United States. It is sometimes referred to as the prairie lizard, fence swift, gray lizard, or pine lizard.

Before embarking in their canoes, the campers get a training session on the concrete at the river's edge. (West Fork of the Little River atop Lookout Mountain.)

Learning to canoe. (West Fork of the Little River atop Lookout Mountain.)

The rhododendron is just beginning to bloom.

The zipline has been a highlight of camp for a dozen years.

I have watched kids exercise amazing courage in facing a thirty foot climb up a tree and the plunge down the zipline from that tiny platform perch.

More rhododendron.

This was our eighth consecutive year at this camp. Before that we visited Lookout Mountain Camp (3 years), Misty Mountain Camp (2 years) and Camp Adahi (1 year).

Adam Hammond, a wildlife biologist with the DNR, and a volunteer guide on our Nature Trail the last two years, attended with his son and set the current record for most frequent parent chaperone. He has chaperoned the trip for each of his four children.

Jason Coffman, fourth reading teacher and certified nut celebrates living through the plunge.

Children gather on the deck before each meal. (From the dining hall window.)

Skit night is a big hit every year. The same old skits I enjoyed as a camperat Camp Glisson in the fifties and sixties still get big laughs. My partner for the Echo Skit this year excelled. Way to go Alyssa! Your sentimental reporter managed pretty well. My T-Shirt Reveal resulted in a little bit of eye mist, but that was the only tiny choke up during an emotional three days.

On Thursday evening after the Underground Railroad simulation I stopped by the cabin to find I'd been visited by my serious-minded fellow professionals. I immediately named the lead culprit... as Jefferson pointed out, some truths are self evident.

I'll get you Stacy. (And Andrea. And Dennise. And Peggy. And Jason.)

As usual Foursquare was a big free-time obsession with campers and chaperones.

The meetings on the deck gave campers an opportunity to show off their learning as they awaited their turns to hit the lunch line.

Neal. the new camp chef, had big shoes to fill as Johnny's replacement, but he managed it -- the best camp food on the mountain.

Listen to the Little River: 
Go with the flow. 
Keep things in balance.
No boulder can stop you. 
Not all who wander are lost. Joy in the journey. 
Immerse yourself in nature. 
An active mind, like swift water, stays fresh.

The Fire Circle surrounded by the girls' cabins.

By Friday the dads were warring on the Foursquare court.

A great game, foursquare. The smallest kid and the biggest dad, everyone can enjoy playing.

The Mountain Laurel is late this year, but there were a few blooms.

Sweet Shrub.

Anyone know this one?
Jaki Day
Yellow Jasmine?

I love the Bigleaf Magnolia. And it was in bloom!

I have discovered something new at camp each year. This year it was "The Hook". This trail has some great stones and caverns.

Maple-leafed Viburnum

Solomon's Plume

Gleaning Facebook: Mother's Ballad

Mama 

Mama Baird in her kitchen at 45 Hazel Street, Porterdale, Georgia

Ieula Ann Dick Baird, ("Mama Baird") probably at about the time of her marriage in 1903

Mama Baird

The following is my mother's tribute to her mother, my "Mama Baird" of the Mothers Day:

Happy Mother's Day 2013

Happy Mother’s Day! We are all either the son or the daughter of a mother. So in that capacity all of us fit into a Mother’s Day Celebration!

As a Mother myself, I have had a difficult time with some comments I have heard on Mother's Day, They make us all …all mothers “angels.” One would get the idea that to become a mother is to become a saint. We all know there are loving, hard working, good mothers and there are also selfish and neglectful and not so good mothers. Most of us as mothers find our place somewhere in between.

But there is something about motherhood that tends to bring out the best in us. In spite of the seemingly endless nausea and misery of pregnancy and pain of childbirth, the incredible love that we have for that helpless and amazingly beautiful baby when it is finally born is awesome. Our love for our children is amazing.

Erma Bombeck is quoted, “The easiest part of being a mother is giving birth. The hardest part is showing up on the job every day." And I might add it is showing up 24/7.

Most of us as adults have an emotional attachment and love for our mother. In cases where the mother has such personal problems as to neglect, abuse or abandon the child there is always unbelievable sorrow.

Just the thought of "mother" brings about great emotion in many of us. I remember one Saturday before Mothers Day when I was sitting in the sanctuary with our church music director. We were discussing the music for the next day and got into conversation about some of the old Mother's Day hymns. She mentioned two old gospel songs, "That Silver Haired Mother of Mine" and "If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again." We both choked up.

It seems to me that mother love is more nearly like God's love...unselfish love...agape love, than any other human love. Mother seems to see possibilities in us that other people seem not to notice. Just as God sees possibilities in us that we do not see in ourselves and others fail to see.

My daughter, Deborah Lewis wrote a book in 1990, later put out in paperback which I think is the best on the subject; "Motherhood Stress." On the cover of "Motherhood Stress" is a woman stretched out across two mountain peaks, with children walking across her, and the sub title is "Finding Encouragement in the Ultimate Helping Profession." Motherhood is the ultimate helping profession and parents are encouraged to realize the importance of the job.

I was in my early fifties when my mother died at age 88. Even though I had a husband and seven children, I will never forget the sense of loneliness and loss I felt to realize my mother was no longer in my world.

Until the last few days of her life in a hospital, she lived in her own home and took care of herself.

My mother had a philosophy of life not to worry about things that “could not be helped” and to take each day as a new beginning. In honor of my mother, Eula Ann Dick Baird (3-6-1885 - 12-7-1973) I wrote a ballad in 1985.

A BALLAD FOR MY MOTHER 

1.  

My mother grew old. . . had lines etched in her face

Worked hard all her life. . . with uncommon grace

She lived by the Bible. . . Each day and each mile.

She taught me her secret. . . of life with a smile. 

Refrain:  

She said. . . Today is the first day. Of the rest of your life.

Don't borrow trouble, With yesterday’s strife.

Take time. . . Smell the flowers.

It makes life worth while

Then pick up each new day.

With love and a smile!

2.  

Widowed while young. . . Mama worked in a mill.

Washed on a scrub-board. . . Brought wood up a hill.

She sang as she labored… to stay out of debt ,

She taught me a lesson. . . I'll never forget.

Refrain:  

She said. . . Today is the first day. Of the rest of your life.

Don't borrow trouble, With yesterday’s strife.

Take time. . . smell the flowers.

It makes life worth while .

Pick up each new day With love and a smile!

3.  

One day I said, Mama,. . . Your life has been hard .

You've buried two babies. . . Out in the church yard.

You've known all the heartache of struggling for bread,

She smiled through her tears and these words she said:

Refrain:  

She said. . . Today is the first day, Of the rest of your life.

Don't borrow trouble, With yesterday’s strife.

Take time. . . smell the flowers.

It makes life worth while.

Pick up each new day. With love and a smile!

 4

Her old fashioned teacakes? We ate the last crumb!

Her old fashioned flowers? She had a green thumb!

She lived by the Bible. . . Each day and each mile.

She taught me her secret. . . of life with a smile.

- Ruth Baird Shaw

Gleaning Facebook: The Outpost

Looking upstream from "The Outpost". The group of benches we call "The Outpost" were constructed as an Eagle Project by Nicholas Gilstrap at the southern corner of our school property.

 

Gleaning Facebook: Rome High Chorus Concert

Sheila and I ran ito my former student Kendra Harris at Kroger yesterday morning and she mentioned that Avery and the choral students at Rome High School would have their final concert of the year that night. She invited us and as old RHS chorus/theater parents we were quick to say we'd try to make it. And we did. Lillian met us there. We got there in time for the first song, but not in time for a seat.

Standing room only at a high school choral concert?!

The program opened with "Premium Blend" the RHS a cappella ensemble. One phrase into their performance and we understood why the place was sold out. What creativity. What precision. And there was Kadison Beaver (Jenifer Beaver's son) on percussion, but not the usual percussion. His was vocal percussion. What fun. And it was arranged by two of the students, as were two other songs.

Then the RHS Chorus took the stage with songs including a nice rendition of the old rock & roll standby, "Why do fools fall in love".

Next up the Men's Ensemble wowed us with four numbers. My favorite was "Lambscapes" a four-movement tongue-in-cheek, hilarious set of classical spoofs of "Mary had a little lamb"

Next up was the Women's Ensemble. They started off with the old Leadbelly song, "Bring me a little water Silvie". Gorgeous.

The one disappointment of the evening was the fact that the RHS State Champion Boys' Quartet only sang one song, "Hello, Mary Lou". Their harmonies, timing, interplay was perfection and a whole lot of fun.

The mixed emsemble was next and like the quartet left us wanting more as they sang only one number - the unofficial South African anthem, "Tshotsholoza". I especially enjoyed the enthusiastic and joyful counterpoint to the larger choir sung by Nick Ehmann.

The combined choirs filled the stage and circled the audience in song with the beautiful "In Remembrance" and then a Cuban folk song.

The Chorale finished the program with four outstanding pieces. I especially enjoyed "Jai Ho!" which featured a dance by Juhi Varshney attired in a colorful Indian costume. But the grand finale was a moving tribute to the senior class, "We Stand Strong", composed by one of the performers, James Douglas.

RHS choral director Jennifer Williams could have had no sweeter send off as she passes the direction of the Rome choral program to other hands. I'm glad that Lillian, who benefitted from Mrs. Williams skills, was there for her final concert at Rome.

The Rome City Schools choral program has grown into a state of accomplishment that some colleges would be pleased to have. These wonderful performances owe a lot to Mrs. Williams, but the students were well prepared for high school chorus by an outstanding middle school program led by Susan Allen Campbell.

Bravo Rome High!

Comments

Cara Loelle Reichel First of all - it seems like Kroger is the hottest gossip spot in Rome. Second of all -- how nice to hear this!

Angela Flannigan McRee So glad you were able to make it. I have awesome students in that concert every year, and it's always on a Thursday night while I am in lessons!!!!! I was hoping she would move it this year, but no. So glad you loved it. on another note, I did run into 3 friends at Kroger this afternoon....too funny!

Adaïr AIis I'm so sad I missed it. I love their concerts! They have grown so much since Lillian and I were there! Its amazing.

Jenifer Beaver Thank you for this and for noticing my son. It was jaw dropping for sure. There were seats next to me on the front:) "Bring Me A Little Water Silvie" made me cry.

Margaret Geer Roland Thanks for such a great review!

Kendra L Harris Thank you guys so much for coming! I am continually in awe of our kids and Jennifer (Williams).. I have never, ever heard such amazing music come from a high school choir. I told someone once, sure you can take chorus in school.. but at Rome, through the direction of Mrs. Williams, this chorus takes you to places you never would have dreamed. 

We have SO many talented, amazing kids... it is truly mind boggling... and over the years, as Chorus Booster Club President, Co Pres and so forth, and after going on countless trips with our wonderful kids (most recently this past weekend to Washington, DC and Virginia, where they performed on the lawn of the World War 2 Memorial and won best overall in a "Music in the Parks" competition).. I have come to truly love these kids and Mrs. Williams. 

Aside from the utmost respect I have for ALL of them, I stand amazed not only at the true talent we have at our school.. just sheer, raw talent..but also at the lengths to which Jennifer takes them. Sure, you can recognize talent in a student. You can try to encourage them. But jennifer has seJlflessly devoted her life, and her time, to making these kids be the very best possible. It's funny because she doesn't understand why people think she is so great.. she is just "doing her job"... right. I cannot explain it.. never have been able to.. but Jennifer Williams has this certain sort of power to bring out the best in everyone that she comes into contact with.. and we love her so very much for that and so very much more. 

I thank you, again for coming. And thanks for helping me make Jennifer's sendoff a huge success.

------------------

From Kendra Harris's Facebook:

Oh WOW. I can't believe that's over. Last night was a HUGE success... greater than I had even imagined! Thank you SO much to all those who came out and supported Rome High Chorus in our final concert for the year... and to support the always amazing, always stellar Jennifer Williams! I think we "sent her off" with a bang!

Thanks again everyone! And a special thanks to Stefanie Kersey Cash and Terrell Shaw for coming out! I hope you guys enjoyed it! I couldn't be more proud of these kids! (Well, one in particular)! I am still boo hoooing today.

Comment:

Sheila Matthews Shaw

The concert was fabulous! I loved it!