Last Day

      Today is the last student day of the 2011/2012 school year.  In the wee hours of the morning here, I can reflect briefly on the significance of this fact.  My school underwent remarkable change this year, transitioning from a 6-8 campus to a K - 8 campus and doubling our population in the process.  We also started the year with a new office manager, a new principal and 8 new (to us) teachers. We had 220 new kids (and sets of parents) to embrace.  Needless to say, the year was jam packed with tension and novelty.  In fact, I can't even remember the individual days.  They are crowded behind the challenges and demands, peeking out from behind the headaches and pleasures of being a guidance counselor.

      Yes, it is the last student day.  Another year of my life spent in education wraps up today.  I have lived all my life on the academic calendar - as a student and then as an educator/counselor.  I know many people think those of us who work the academic calendar are wimps because, oh my gosh! we get three months off every summer! To be sure, if you work the academic calendar, you do have more time off than many others in the work world.  My office will be closed for six weeks this summer, and yes, the office is closed for two weeks in December and another week in the spring.  That's a total of nine weeks along with a handful of Federal holidays.  Not quite the three months in the summer that much of the world thinks I have, heh?

     So, yes, I have about ten weeks off in a year.  Do I have to remind you that my salary reflects that?  I am not whining about poorly paid educators.  I am only reminding you that I pay for that time off.  I started teaching in 1978 and have a Masters degree and two teaching credentials.  I am at the top of the salary schedule and make a  little over $60,000 / year.  My 27 year old son has a Masters degree in environmental planning.  His starting salary for full time work is in the $60,000 range.  Hmmmmmm.....

      So cheers to another school year and another year of my life.  Although I will still be in the office for a couple  more weeks, the pace will be more manageable and I will be breathing more frequently.  I hope to be posting more frequently as well.

     Goodbye, school year!
     Hello, summertime!