Thursday, February 15, 2007

Snow Days

What do I do on snow days? Well, that depends on whether I am already at school when the call comes through that we are closed or if I am at home.

Yesterday I got up at regular time and got ready for school. We were scheduled for a two-hour delay, but all the time I was thinking: "there is no way we are having school today." Just before we left, I checked online one more time and saw the Garden Spot school district was closed. We usually do whatever they do. I quickly made the decision to stay home. I was glad because about a half hour later the call came through that we were also closed. I spent the day doing laundry, a bit of computer designing for the print shop, blowing snow in the driveway, and school work that I had brought with me the day before in anticipation of a day off.

Today we were again supposed to have a two-hour delay. I checked the local school district again just before walking out the door and it was still a two-hour delay. I decided to come along. Mary drove to Conestoga and then I came back to the school to wait for others to show up. I guess I will be waiting because about a half hour after I was here, I got the call that I will have the building to myself today. So what am I going to do? I spent the first hour catching up on my Bible reading. I have some papers to grade. There is a book I would like to finish reading. I could change a bulletin board (although the winter scene I have up now seems appropriate), I could always take a nap, and I brought healthy size bags of pretzels and grapes for breaking boredom. Somehow, I think the day will quickly pass in solitude.

Monday was scheduled for a snow make-up day. We hadn't had any snow days before yesterday, but now it is evident we will have school on Monday and the Monday after Easter.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Out in the Cold

Yesterday morning it was 16 degrees at 6:15 A.M. I was dropped off at the back door of my classroom. I had a box, a bag, my purse and my lunch on the step outside the door. I reached into my coat pocket for my trusty little key.

But, alas! My key did not open my door. I tried several times to no avail. I tried all the other outside doors to the school to no avail. I was locked out in the cold.

After about three tries at most locks, I called another teacher who called another teacher. He came and unlocked the front door for me. What a relief! What a blessing to have a colleague who will leave the warmth of his house to unlock a door.

I felt the effects of my being in the cold for 20 minutes without proper attire for such weather until about lunch time. I feel the effects of the gratefulness today.