Snowbound in Sumner

Hello, All.
Once again, the snow put a damper on the end of the year in the Puyallup School District. We closed Wed-Fri, and now I'm kind of stuck at home. Normally I like this, but for some reason, this year it isn't fun. Could be because my 'friend' Randy is in Arizona, my best buddy lives miles away, and I have no money! Oh well, life goes on.
On a positive note, I am still loving my job as a high school librarian! I'm so surprised and happy about that.
Hope to read some more posts by some of you. You're all probably as busy as I have been. Talk to you soon. Claire

Greetings From Jerry

Greetings my friends. So sorry that it's taken me so long to join back in and say hello. Life has been crazy & hectic as usual - but also quite good. The summer ended on a couple of wonderful notes after my "good friend" finally passed, allowing me to get off of medication and return to a "normal??" mental state. Hawaii was absolutely wonderful, relaxing, beautiful, etc. etc. Our sons wedding was great fun - & then it was back to work. It's been an interesting year - many more administrative issues, pains, red-tape, garbage, etc. etc. this year than in some past years - but it appears that things may be starting to smooth back out a bit. The last few weeks have been all about Follett Destiny. Our district is upgrading our Circ/Cat system. I was made the lead librarian on the project so have been working hard on all the arrangements, communicating back and forth between the company, trainers, technicians, all the other librarians, etc. Tomorrow we finish up our second day of on-site training and then we go "live" with Destiny on Monday. We are all so excited. I knew it was a cool system - but after today's training and learning even more of what it can do - am very excited to get going with it. Looking back on some past posts I see that Emily already gave you links to some of my new stuff. The most important one for you is my Delicious site with all of my bookmarks:
http://delicious.com/jdredge

I am working at getting in all of my links from all of my CWU classes and getting them organized. I have completed entering all the Web 2.0 links - but am still working on links for some of the Information Literacy, Questioning stuff - and then things from my Production Class. My plan is to continue to keep this updated and keep adding stuff as I find new cool sites. So, keep checking it out if you're interested. Even though I haven't contributed much here - I am seriously enjoying checking in every once and awhile and reading about your various exploits. It's always fun to see how my "kids" are doing. Continued good luck to all of you & many rich blessings - Jerry

Praxis Test Results!!!

I checked my score online today and I'm pleased to say that I passed with a 740. What a relief, though really I don't see myself using that particular endorsement in the near future. What is the process for getting it added to my certificate? I've completely forgotten the presentation we had this summer about it.

Jerry's new Web 2.0 Sites

Hey All!
We had a Central Washington Meeting in Ellensburg yesterday and Jerry showed us a couple of great wikis and other sites that are great for working with web 2.0 information. I have really enjoyed it.

The sites are:
Central Washington Library Lessons Wiki (built for library lessons by Jerry)
http://centralwalibrarylessons.wikispaces.com/
Jerry's Bookmarks on Web 2.0 Resources
http://delicious.com/jdredge
Jerry's Website
http://www.jalldredge.com/

There is already some great lessons for students k-12. Have fun!
emauk me if one of the links does not work. Emily

Does anyone know how to visit the Scholastic warehouse to buy books? And other News...

I've been informed that I've got over $6,000 (yup, thousand!!) to spend at Scholastic. The warehouse is in Portland. I have about 5 empty shelves, so I could really go to town, particularly with paperback series that the school doesn't have. No Magic Schoolbus! Sheesh.

Anyone have experience with this?

In other news, I'm happily settled into a rented house in Vancouver. Our wedding was absolutely great, even though it was on the HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR (almost 106 in Yakima that day). It was an evening wedding, and as soon as the sun set it cooled nicely and fun was had by all. The band turned out to be delightful, with a banjo and mandolin and everything! If you're familiar with Nickel Creek, you'd know the kind of sound. We sang two songs: Simple Gifts and For the Beauty of the Earth. There were twinkle lights everywhere, and the frogs were singing in the pond, and I couldn't have wished for anything lovelier. If you are on Facebook, you can visit and see more pictures.

The job is great--I've got an unusual schedule that I really like. Other schools in my district are so slammed with back-to-back classes that they're using itinerant teachers in the library. My school, on the other hand, is on an 8-day specialist rotation. I see the kids for longer (48 min) but I only see them for 6 of the 8 days. So...two days per rotation I have the library to myself and I can work on collaboration projects, management, and planning! Next week those days will be Tues and Wed...I hope to visit Portland's warehouse on Wed.

We started WCCPBA books today and between The End and Chester the overwhelming favorite is Chester. He's such a stinker cat!

Hope everyone is well!

hello from the 'Couve! I love love love being a librarian! More later...

Congrats, Laurel!

I'm happy for you, and you will be a great, gifted teacher of the gifted! Keep us posted on the year. I love my new position. I have never really loved going to work. I do this year. What a concept! Hope all goes well for you Praxis takers. That's today, right? Or was it last week???? Talk to you soon. claire

Gainfully employed (pending some phone calls)

Well it's almost official. I am the newest 5th grade Challenge (aka gifted) teacher at Terrace Park School in the Edmonds School District. I was offered the job late this afternoon, and once the required reference checks come through and they make sure that I am highly qualified it will be officially official. It's been a roundabout process starting on the first day of school when the original teacher was offered a position in the school district where her children go to school. The first day of school I basically job shadowed her, and day two I was on my own with 29 very unique students. I actually knew most of them when I stepped in the door because I'd subbed for their classes a lot last year (and I did my library practicum at this same school). Since then I've been the long-term sub while they went through the hiring process. I've dealt with a parent unhappy with their child's math placement (which it turns out I was right about), and the same parent unhappy about the fact that we were reading "The Giver". I'm predicting more interesting conversations with this parent. I've also conducted a curriculum night with little real knowledge of the curriculum (last night actually). But the parents have been largely very supportive, and they are a highly involved lot. I've got a lot of work cut out for me this year, but it's continuing, and the principal and the entire staff are sooo supportive, I don't think I could have handled the last few weeks without them. I've got to aquire a classroom library, figure out the CBA's, differentiate for multiply gifted students and all sorts of fun stuff. I'm super excited!

Yahoo!!!

I got my Praxis results yesterday and I passed. This is such a huge load off my shoulders. Good luck to you all!!! ~ Alyson

Refund

I'm curious what you are asking to be reimbursed. Is it the summer health fee like last year? I called the Laura gal yesterday and she wasn't able to help me. Is Jack Baker the guy to contact to get this started?

Meetings start tomorrow and I'm anxious about them. I spent most of last week setting up my new classroom and getting rid of a TON of stuff that was left behind. Good luck all in the next few weeks.

Alyson

September Praxis

Hey all,
I was wondering what book to purchase to practice for it. which books did you buy and which one would you recommend? Thank you Emily

Got the passport- kids are coming home!

Hi All,

We got Ellen's passport and this time is says she's a girl!  Yea!  I am leaving Sept 4th to bring them home.  We will finally be all together on Sept. 9th!  I think my over-the-top use of the exclamation point says exactly how I feel about it!!!!! Wa-hoo!

Amy

Thanks for The Recommedation

Claire Checking In

Hi All.
Life after CWU been full of adventure. Bargaining was the main event. We pulled several all nighters (until 5:30 AM)The following day, I drove my 21 year old son to Kirkland to have his tonsils out, and then play mama nurse. He will be laid up for7-10 days. What fun on the hottest days of the century! Fortunately his dad has AC at house. I signed the papers for my new house on the 8th, and moved on the 12th (Well, People Movers moved me) That was a gift from my sister and her husband. Very generous. I'm mostly settled, but there is lots to do back at the apartment. I haven't stepped foot in my library yet (Karen, you have freaked me out!) and today I am taxi driver to my 81 year old mother for doctor's appointments. I'm trying to keep calm. It will all work out. I am looking forward to a rest. When will it happen? Amy, I'm so happy to hear you had time to spend with your children, and I hope it all works out soon for you. It must be impossibly frustrating. Laurel, your brother is going to grow up and find out for himself if he made the right choice. It's a tough one. I just watched Stop Loss. I don't recommend it for your family.
Hope all is well with everyone. Regarding the refund: mine was supposedly mailed around the 5th or so...I haven't received it yet. Crossing my fingers. I miss you all. Let' have a get together sometime. It was an awesome summer. See you soon. Claire

Amy Here

*** Update*** Got the passport this morning, but it has Ellen listed as a MALE, so back in it goes.  No idea how long that'll take.  Sigh.

Hi All,

Well, you survived and you're finished!  Yea!  I bet that feels great!  As for me, I have been given an "In Progress" for the last 2 classes and will be finishing the coursework over the school year. Gratefully, I don't have to get started right away.  I have been given permission to "get settled" with our new kids before I begin, so I am very thankful for that blessing.

If you have followed my regular blog, then you know a lot about my time in Africa.  I was there for 17 days and was prepared to stay longer to finish the process and bring the kids home, but we have one passport that was supposed to come "tomorrow" the entire I time I was there.  I finally had to set a date where if it came in time I would stay and if not, I would come home.  I have now been home one week and it still hasn't come.

It was wonderful getting to spend so much time with my kids and I went prepared to take custody if I felt they seemed terrified to be there, but with the new guard working there, they really seemed ok with being at Eban House.  They are truly wonderful children and want so much to be a part of our family.  They really try so hard to please, but of course, have to test some.  Overall though, I am MUCH relieved to have met them and I know that our 17 days together gave us a very nice beginning to our relationship.  

Leaving them was one of the hardest things I've had to do, but I just had to be fair to my kids back home and also be reasonable about the fact that we are moving.  Because I am home I can get our new space prepared for them... still it kills me that we are so close and just plain stuck without the passport (it was issued 2 weeks ago and has been sitting on the director's desk waiting for his signature the whole time- he is on his way out, so he has no motivation to come to work or to actually do his job when he does come in).  There are 2 other families in the same passport boat with us, ironically the 2 families have the 2 other girls that were witness to the attack.

I really appreciate your prayers and support.  This was, and is, one of the most challenging times in my life.  If you read this, and are the praying type, I sure wouldn't mind some help with that passport!

Hasta,

Amy

CWU Reimbrusement

I, too, emailed Jack Baker twice. I put (2nd attempt) in my subject line; and I got a personal yet terse response, that he doesn't answer his emails, but if I would simply check my Safari account I would see that I had been reimbursed. Well I did check my Safari account and finding the bottom line of any of my activity in there was impossible.

I called the cashier's office, and they told me they could see that I did have approximately 200+ balance. I than made arrangements to have a check sent to me from that office. Which is what you can do too, because I asked about all of you, and they told me. You need to speak with Laura at: 509-963-3546.

My new quest is to get the same reimbursement for last year's fees. Why not? Really we should not have to do this work. I will need to make a new email to Jack Baker, and do the simple check of my Safari account. Except for this time I might mention to Jack Baker that there is nothing simple about Safari. I encourage you all to try as well. I will get back to you all about my successes.

Refunds

I have emailed Jack Baker twice requesting a refund, but have not gotten a response. I want a check, not university credit. I don't plan on taking classes anytime soon. I have been busy in the library but not very productive. I have spent most of my time cleaning, organizing, and spinning my wheels. I realize how little I really know about running a library program. Now I'm hoping for some really excellent para ed help to get me started! More later...
Karen

suggestions?

I just got this e-mail back about fees being waived:

Laurel, I have requested the fees listed below be waived for you, your student account will be credited, I do not have the ability to reimburse in another way. Jack

Jack A. Baker
Assistant to the Vice President
for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Chief Conduct Officer

Anyone get a response like this? Does this mean I have to take more classes or could I get a check? Anyone know?

mixed homecomings

Hello all! I'm back on the west side after a quick jaunt to Spokane to hang out with my parents and brother. As you may know my brother is going to a be a senior at Notre Dame this year and while he's enjoyed it, it was not a decision my parents fully supported. He's majoring in Political Science with an emphasis in Arabic and Peace Studies, and to everyone who knows him, he's a really bright going somewhere going to do something kind of person. Which is why it is so totally unthinkable to the majority of us that he is determined to join the Marine Corps Officer training program (or whatever it's called) when he graduates. It's really frustrating to my family because he doesn't seem to get that it's not the kind of organization where you do more humanitarian good than anything else. It's a strange low-self-esteem thing he's got going on, the need to be a "hero" by whatever means (and he thinks the Marine route is the best for some reason). From my family who tends to be the more peace activist stance it's just so strange. So that is what most of my family time revolved around and it's left me out of sorts.

Now that I am back at my own house (and doing a LOT of cleaning) I'm back on the job hunt. Well, I was until I heard about this. I guess August won't really be my month. I suppose subbing it will be again this year. Until mid September I guess I'll have to find something to do, maybe work at the public library (if they haven't frozen hiring too).

Friday!!

Hey all,
I would hope that one of our professors would have told you were I was on Friday......but I never know. I had what turns out to be the worst case of either the stomach flu or food poisoning. I am not sure which, but today is the first day back to being some what normal. I hope you all have a great first day of freedom.........I have to take the test in Leona's class tomorrow. I have a feeling it is not going to be fun........Well, I will sent this in a super blast e-mail out later, I am going back to working on getting ready for a quiet four day escape from Ellensburg. Emily

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince teaser

Saw this today and thought... hmm, used to be a book, maybe library campers would like to see this too.

http://www.youtube.com/user/harrypotterhbp?ob=4

Real world copyright infringement

I thought that this article was timely considering our copyright area of study lately. Could be really useful to show to students to teach about copyright and plagiarism.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20080730/en_celeb_eo/db2d1b138b87_4569_90c1_4310934d617d

Amy's other Ghana blog

Amy gave an update to her travels on her main Ghana blog. For those of you who haven't poked around to get at it here is the link! Ghana Adopt Three.

Follow Your Heart

Amy,
You are so right to do what YOUR heart tells you. The other moms maybe can't or don't choose to and that's okay for them. Don't let it make you feel anything negative at all. You are probably running on adrenaline, so take time to rest and take care of yourself. I am awed by what your are doing and taking on. Take care and we are all pulling for you.

Off to Africa

I know you probably all know that I am leaving tomorrow.  I don't feel very mentally strong right now, but I am praying.  There is a lot to finish up tonight and I have to be at the airport here in Wenatchee at 5am.  I am feeling so awful about leaving Luke and Jonah for such a long time and I haven't prepared them properly.  How could I in such a short amount of time? But they have an amazing father, my mom is here, and we have friends that are ready to jump in and help.  It will be hard, but hopefully they will do all right.

I've caused quite a stir with the other 2 moms that now feel they aren't doing what they should by not going to their daughters that were involved.  I have no thoughts other than I am doing what I feel I must and it is up to them to follow their hearts.  It kind of bums me out that one of them was insinuating that my thinking my children need me is naive- they are with their aunties whom they know and trust and she doubts they'll lean on me.  Truthfully it doesn't matter if they do or if they don't feel they "need" me, but they will know that I am there and I love them.  :)  I'm sure she was trying to make herself feel better, but it was icky to hear (and I can't whine about it on my regular blog!  She reads that one! Ha!).  

I appreciate the support everyone has offered and besides the overwhelming feeling of wanting to vomit, I feel like this is the right decision.  It is impossible for me to not go when I know what they experienced.  Even with the aunties (who are traumatized themselves), there are 32 kids there.  I look forward to being another person to love every one of those kiddos (mine especially).  I plan to spend a lot of time there during the day (with the 4 of us leaving well before dark each night) because this is their family- they have full cousins there and best friends whom they adore.  We will not be severing those ties, especially because we'll be there at least 6 weeks.

All prayers are welcome and I will try to update my regular blog often (although Internet is spotty over there).  My blog address is: http://ghanaadoptthree.blogspot.com  And thanks for talking about what my options are with Leona today.  Mr. Britto told her we could work something out, maybe an independent study???  Anyway, school shmool!  I am going to be hugging my kids on Wednesday!

Amy,

We heard you're flying out tomorrow, just know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Lori said you would try to update us on this blog, so we hope you can. We'll be thinking of you. In 24 hours or so you will have your children in your arms. They are so lucky to have you for their mom.

Love the countdown clock!

Love the new look

It looks great, Amy. Thanks for setting it up. I have the memory of a gnat, so I don't know how much info I'll be able to add to the "empty your brain here" spot. I would like to have something left in my noggin' after the test, so I'm not sure I'll empty it. I took a practice praxis and passsed. That's promising and good enough for me. See you all in class. Claire

Article you should read!!

This is article about a privacy case in a Public Library, but felt it was something we should all hear and know about.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/07/19/national/a104017D48.DTL&feed=rss.business

Hope you like the new look...

I really liked Carrie's picture (I know I wasn't the only one), so with a little cropping & photoshop magic it is now the blog's header.  :)  Got the template from pyzam.com and the ticker from tickerfactory.com.  I hope y'all like it.  :)

~Amy

Thank you Amalama!

What a great idea!
Lori Scott

Stay in touch

'member that old phone commercial that said to stay in touch? The new way to keep connected. Thanks for setting this up Amy. I look forward to hearing about your African adventures, and from the rest of you!

We're half way home. Lori M

Thanks, Amy.

PRAXIS : empty your brain here immediately after testing!!

Tell about questions that stumped you, questions you knew, and general impressions. Thanks!!