Band Camp

This one time...at band camp...

Yes, August has brought the inevitable...Band Camp. Because our school used to be on three tracks, year round, this is a new idea...well, hasn't been around for at least 15 years. Last year, we only had 7 people, so we used the whole week to recruit as students came on campus to register for the new traditional school schedules. This year, I started the summer with a roster of 32. Seven showed up for camp this Monday and have continued to come every day. We have only added three more for a total of 10. I nearly cried. We had called everyone several times and 17 had confirmed with at least 5 maybes.

Tet moment of truth for me was Monday morning for about 5 minutes. The students were outside, it was supposed to get up into the 100s every day this week, and I had a choice to make. Do I spend 40 unpaid hours teaching 7 students? When I wasn't on contract? Or do I cancel it and wait for school to start, when the rest of the students would show up? I really thought hard. But I knew the answer. I had 7 teenagers in front of me who loved music, had nothing else to do, and needed to be taught. As always, I realized it was my privilege to teach them, and that the results would only make things easier on me when school began. I took a deep breath, let it go, smiled and walked outside to do my job.

"Welcome to Band Camp 2010! Let's go to the field."

Vacation

All teachers need vacation. Sometimes we have to force ourselves to take them and stop moving because our minds are always racing with thoughts and ideas for our students and classrooms. I force myself to slow down by visiting family. It reconnects me and I still get to fulfill my altruistic desires. It is also cheap...important for teachers. If I could afford it, would I take a vacation on a luxury river-cruise in Europe, or at a beach resort in Baja? Probably not. I love my family too much, and I can only handle so much down time. With my family, I am not a teacher or a conductor. I am just me, and therefore, I am on vacation.

This vacation I chose to spend in Australia visiting my aunt and uncle. I haven't been in almost 20 years, and it feels great. It is winter here, so there is little motivation to be out and about swimming and sight-seeing. My teacher-friend and I are happy in front of the woodstove with our laptops, watching bad TV and eating too much icecream. I have time and yummy ingredients to cook so everyone has enjoyed my lasagna, cheesecake, scones, leg of lamb and various breakfast eggs. Australia is full of fresh foods and even the packaged foods are delicious.

I am still planning, of course. I am writing this blog about being a teacher, and I am trying to learn the computer program for writing marching band drill that I bought. My friend has not stopped planning and working this entire time. She has been ordering things, calling school personnel, and even writing lesson plans. So much for two teachers on vacation. We go halfway around the world, but modern technology does not allow us to pull the plug on our constant desire to improve each year for our students.