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Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 18

Show & Tell Tuesday....High School



A few of my favorite blogger moms, Andrea,  Shay & Erika, always do a Tuesday series called "Show & Tell" and they have a different topic to discuss every week.  Anyone can join and post the topic on their blog.  I have never done it until today, but thought this week's topic looked fun...and hilarious too!

What were you like in HIGH SCHOOL?

Classic over-the-shoulder Senior pic.  Devin calls my bangs "wings" 

 I graduated from Danville High School in 2000.  I grew up in Danville (a small town in the west side of Indianapolis) and attended school there Kindergarten-High School.  My mom was a Special Education teacher in the district, and Danville is the type of town where everyone knew everyone.  I graduated with about 130 students - so pretty small!  I loved high school & still keep in contact with friends through Facebook & even went to college with my best friend from high school, which was pretty neat!

I don't think we went tanning enough??

I was a good student and hardly remember having much homework.  All of us girls would meet in the cafeteria before school and do our homework together in the mornings, and I don't remember having to do a lot at night.  I loved to read (and still do) and would always have a book in my hand as well.

However, my life in high school was CONSUMED by this:  cheerleading.  I grew up participating in dance, gymnastics and cheerleading so was hopeful I would make the team my freshmen year.  I made Junior Varsity as a freshman and then cheered for Varsity Sophomore-Senior year.  I was super close to the girls I cheered with (one of their moms even made all of our uniforms...now that is talent!)  Cheerleading was the thing to do in my county, and competition cheerleading in the summer was even bigger.  The summer competition squad was another separate team to try-out for, and I made it my freshmen year.  #toetouch #herkie  We competed in numerous competitions all over the state, and even out of state as well.  But the big win for us was taking the county trophy that summer and beating out a squad that had won for years.  Of course now it seems trivial, but we thought we were on top of the WORLD when they announced us as winners!  My husband went to a rival high school just a few miles away (we didn't know each other though) & was actually at that competition watching his high school's squad perform.  #webeatthem #sorelosers  It is crazy to think he was in the audience that night!  


big winners.  
Cheerleading took up a ton of my time, and we would often have practice before school and after school as well.  My first cheerleading coach, Michelle, was the meanest toughest person I have ever met.  Like Jillian Michaels times 1,000 tough.  She was married to a Colts player and had been a Pro cheerleader herself.  You could always bet on about half of the squad either bleeding from falls, or crying by the end of every practice.  But, we were dang good.  Of course Friday nights were spent cheering on the sidelines of football and basketball games...although I still know very little about either sport.  I blame it on not being able to see over the players!  Our football team made it to state my Senior year, which was a huge deal.  I still remember my last high school football game, which was in the RCA Dome for the State title, and wondering if I would cheer for football ever again.  (I ended up cheering in college too - so yay!  Not my last game).  Unfortunately we were killed in the State game #catholicschoolsrecruit so we went home pretty sad.  

Top Right "flyer" 

On my way down.  

Our "before we lost State" smiles.  
Other than cheerleading, I was involved in FCA (Fellowship Of Christian Athletes) & Student Council.  My senior year Danville hosted the State Student Council Convention.  Otherwise known as  a ton of work.  Basically any student council in the state could register, and it was a weekend-long convention/retreat where councils learned about different types of school leadership, did team building activities and just had fun.  We had almost 1,000 students registered for the convention and the theme was "W.O.W."...or We Own The World.  I was in charge of host families for the convention, which meant I had to find hundreds of families in our community to each host several students for the weekend.    They had to be willing to pick their students up Friday night, feed them dinner and breakfast on Saturday and then transport them back to school on Saturday and repeat that night.  It was a TON of work and I remember being excused during numerous classes that Fall so I could work on organizing all of the host families.   Aaaaaaand, I may or may not have chosen the cute boys (each registration packet came with a school picture) to stay at my house.  OOPS!  

I wore my W.O.W shirt OUT.  Just ask Devin.  I just threw it out a few months ago.  
I didn't have much time for an after school job in high school, but I did work at a local car dealership on Saturdays.  I made coffee, answered phones, made appointments for salesmen, and processed new paperwork when vehicles were purchased on Saturdays.  I still can't believe they allowed a high school student to do paperwork like that, but oh well!  It was a great job and I loved the guys I worked with.  This was the time before cell phones, Facebook & texting, so all of us just talked and goofed off during the day.  Some of the salesmen even came to my wedding!  The best part of that job though, was choosing any car to go pick up lunch.  I always chose well.  ;)

Most likely the first & last time I will ever drive a BMW convertible.  

My sales buddies always made me stop by for prom pictures.  

I also worked several class periods during the school day as an office helper and then graded papers for my biology teacher.  I'm not sure how I was able to manage missing several class periods in order to do that, but no one seemed to mind?  The typewriter I used in my office job was pretty sweet too.  

The office workers.  
High School prom.  Ahhh those were the days.  Prom just isn't the same anymore, from what I hear, and like half of the juniors/seniors don't even go I guess!  I went twice my Junior year and once my Senior year.  My junior year I went with a friend, and then again with a guy I worked with who went to another school.  That was a disaster though, and I think I burned those pictures.  My senior year I went with another friend, but I had just started dating my most serious boyfriend (haha, serious boyfriend), Kyle.  I was head.over.heels for him.  Sadly, he had already told someone else he would go to prom with them, so I went with a close guy friend.  BUT, Kyle redeemed himself by calling me one night and telling me to put my prom dress on because he was at my front door.  We took his dad's convertible and went out that night.  Ummm, boyfriend points.  Too bad we broke up right before I left for college & I cried myself to sleep for days.  I remember my dad telling me to get a hold of myself, I was graduating soon, and would find "The One" while in college.  I guess he was right.  ;)  The highlight of my senior Prom was my corsage though.  It was the talk of the night.  It had tiny little lights in it & lit up the dance floor when the lights were off.  Too bad the battery pack it was attached to was so heavy & made me have carpal tunnel by the end of the night.  #beautyispain

I doodled his last name as mine daily.  

Can you see the twinkle lights?  
High School was a fun time for me, and I have a lot of great memories from those four years.  I tell Devin all the time that kids are just different now.  I don't remember kids being mean or bullying others like they do now.  I'm sure it definitely happened, but I wasn't a part of it.  I remember at graduation wondering how college could ever top High School.  Boy, was I wrong.  I loved high school, but not the same kind of love that was given to college.  Maybe that will be another Tuesday topic soon!

Class of 2000

What were you like in High School?!  I would love to hear your stories! 





  


Tuesday, January 28

Take a look...

It's in a book...Reading Rainboooooow!


If you were a child of the 80s-90s then you remember this popular PBS show starring the ever-famous LeVar Burton.  A children's story was narrated throughout the series with a lesson usually discussed at the end.  This show helped foster my love for books & sadly has been replaced by shows like the rude & annoying Spongebob Squarepants...I hope I don't ever have to subject Dane to that show.  Bleh.  I do hope to subject Dane to A LOT of books, and early.  Devin & I have already started the bedtime story routine, one that both of us were a part of growing up.  I want him to love reading as much as his mama.  Now, his daddy - well I would like to have words with whoever taught him comprehension strategies.  As in he has none.  But, he does do the dishes...and all of the laundry.

Back to books.  I love them.  From the elementary years with my nose in The Boxcar Children, to The Babysitter's Club (who didn't want to be JUST like Stacy??), to being obsessed with Twilight & The Hunger Games, to crying through a memoir or a biography, I love them all.  Lately I have seen people list their Top 10 favorite books on facebook, so I thought that would transfer to a fun blog post.  I don't have as much time to read now, but if I have an extra 15 minutes here & there, that is probably what you will find me doing.  So, in no particular order...

* Bloom by Kelle Hampton: easily creeping up to my favorite book of all time.
* Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen: just magical.
* Columbine by Dave Cullen: a whole new perspective on this tragedy.
* The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks: it's a given.
* Twilight/The Hunger Games series: haters can hate, but long live Katniss & Bella.
* Love The One You're With by Emily Giffin: fiction, but makes you remember the reason why you chose The One.
* Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: recent fave, & swooning over Ben Affleck as the mysterious Nick.
* The Power of a Positive Mom by Karol Ladd: I recently read this & the whole book is pretty much highlighted. Really its full of good advice on how to be a positive person...not just a positive mom.
* My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult: My first Picoult book & the only fictional story that actually made my heart ache.
* The Help by Kathryn Stockett: very few movies are as good as the book & this one is close.

Books that are on my list to read:
Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman
Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Divergent series by Veronica Roth (just because I'm a teeny bopper at heart)

What are some of your favorites?  What should I add to my list?

"Everyone is a reader...some just haven't found their favorite book yet." ~ unknown

Thursday, August 9

mrs. carter...& my home away from home tour.

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher. Well, for a short time - a dolphin trainer/marine biologist too. Just like every other little girl in America. But, that was only for a short time, folks. When my friends were out riding their bikes, I was making my brother play school. I couldn't have ridden a bike anyway...I didn't learn how to until 6th grade (another post for another day). When my friends were getting Barbie Dreamhouses for Christmas, I was getting a real teacher desk and gradebook. The obsession started early.

This pretty lady is my mom. She is on her 33rd or 34th year (sorry Mom, can't remember the exact year) of teaching special education. Um, can you say - free ticket into Heaven? Now, I know that can't happen, but if it did she would be first in line. She is an AMAZING teacher. And, hopefully the teacher genes passed on to me.

When I was first hired, I couldn't believe that I was in charge of teaching these little 5 year olds how to read, write, spell and count. And not pick their nose. I remember crying when my room was finished and ready for my very first class. I told my mom that I already loved them so much. And, I still do. My first class walked down the aisle in my wedding and they will forever have a place in my heart. It's been almost seven years now, and they are in junior high. Don't forget about good 'ol Mrs. Carter, kids!


I truly believe teaching is what I was meant to do. For life. I'm really good at bossing people around, so this profession is perfect for me. And Donald Trump - just kidding. His hair would scare them away!

I love...
* hearing my students in the beginning stages of reading. Their faces literally light up.
* hugs that only reach up to your knees.
* notes & cards & drawings...times infinite. I wish I could keep them all.

* my team. kindergarten rules, everyone else drools. we have so much fun together & it's great to work with people who care about their students just as much as you do. it's also great when they come dressed as gangsta's for your birthday party.

* my kids' parents. also fabulous. Anything I ask, need, want...done.
A fabulous Carter Mom secretly had my entire class over to her home to stamp their feet on this banner for me. It was my good luck charm before running 13.1 miles.
Maybe if I had 200 banners I would have come in 1st place. Doubt it.

* the dull moments. Oh wait, there aren't any. Whether someone is asking me to ride the bus home with them, or tying themselves to a chair with their shoelaces, there is always something exciting or hilarious going on.
* unconditional love. It doesn't matter what I'm wearing, how my hair looks, or the type of day I'm having, my kids love me. And, I love them. I want them to succeed, strive to be better people, and of course - learn everything there is to learn.

Come on a little tour of Mrs. Carter's classroom with me. It's all ready for a new group of buckaroos.








I know there are a lot of things going on in the world of education right now...good & bad. But, as long as I keep doing what I know is right for my students then everything will be just fine.
Hip Hip Hooray for teachers...and summer breaks. :)
~ abs

I'll be back soon for a post dedicated to this playa. Holla back, y'all.