Foresight and Foundations

Tom describes himself as a “low-life foreman” on the foundation work at the new school site. Tanned, lanky, and leather-skinned he told me we were really lucky that we had chosen to go ahead on “shelling in” the cafeteria. In moving ahead with it, they had discovered that the load of the additional roofing was greater than one of the planned footings in the commons would have been able to support. The change in design has been made and it is all okay now, but wouldn’t have been if we had decided to add the kitchen later.

Tom also told me that there was a lot of “overkill” on this project. I asked him why all the forms were being built under the shower rooms. He grinned and said, “See, that’s exactly what I’m talking about. Normally, you’d just pour thicker slab under each stall, but your architect is putting in a footing and foundation under every single stall. I’m not saying that’s bad: ‘When in doubt, build it stout. Don’t cheapen it out.’”

Tom thinks our design shows the cautious planning of a woman. He's wrong, but I'm glad he noticed the care in our plan. (PS, if you want to see photos of the building project, click the link in the sidebar.)

Pills For Your Paynes

Today, fifth- and sixth-grade teacher Mrs. Payne reports that at recess, a second-grader ran up to her on the playground and said, “I’m a pill! You’re a Payne. Pills get rid of pains!” Hmm... was he being a pill or a pain?

Ethan and the Scary Railing

Ethan loves movement. He's in first grade and can hardly sit still. After school he used to slide down a railing on the school's front steps. For safety reasons I've asked him many times not to. Now he's taken to looking wistfully at the railing as children stream by headed for their rides.

Ethan's a good guard. If another child dares to slide down the railing, Ethan makes sure I hear about it. I restore justice and Ethan is glumly content.

Two days ago, terrorists flew jets into the World Trade Center. Now the school sports yellow ribbons tied on everything: bushes, door handles, backpacks... even Ethan's railing has several.
Ethan notices them for the first time and asks, "Why are there yellow ribbons on the railing?"

"Well, Ethan, the ribbons are for those people who died last Tuesday," I answer.

Ethan’s eyes grow wide and a wrinkle creases his brow. "They died sliding down the railing?!"

What's With These Kids?

It’s my third day as principal at Rogers. I am amazed by the courtesy the students show in the hallways and at doorways. I'm used to urban kids. I’m also surprised at the size of many students’ vocabularies.

I play music in the halls as students enter the school each morning. Today I’m playing some peppy music and I stop a third grader to ask, “What does this music make you think of?”

She thinks briefly and offers, “Gershwin?”

Later in the day, I drop in on our librarian’s first meeting with one of the first-and second-grade classrooms. They’re all huddled around Mrs. Bailey who sits in a rocking chair showing them an atlas.

“Then I traveled over here to Colorado,” she says tracing the route on the atlas. Just weeks ago, Mrs. Bailey and I and all the other teachers attended a huge teachers convention in Dallas. Being new at the school, I’m still newsworthy, so she continues, “Then I traveled all the way down to Texas, and who do you think I saw?” She glances up and smiles at me over the sea of raised hands.

She calls on a second-grade boy who blurts out, “An illustrator?”

The Very First Day

Kids are great. Little kids on their first day of school can be hilarious!

I’m listening to the happy hubbub of incoming parents and out-flowing kids as they mingle after the very first day of the brand new school year. This is also my very first day as principal at Clara E. Rogers Elementary School.

One mom asks, “Did you like kindergarten today?”

“Oh yes! Can we come back here sometime?”

“Honey, you’re in school now. You’ll be coming here everyday.”

“NO WAY!!” he happily screams.

Another mom sees a friend's child leaving the school. She can’t believe he is now old enough to be a school kid. “Hey!” she exclaims, “You’re going to school now?!”

“Nope,” he responds matter-of-factly, “Been there. Going home now.”