Website Moved

Our official school website has been moved over to the Intranet (discovered earlier today by checking school e-mail)...

Summer Setting Update

(Posted while listening to Pandora streaming John Mayer radio station)

Top Ten Family Activities: Summer 09

-Moonight Classic Bike Tour (Rapids Player and Referee team costume contest entry)
-Pirate's Cove: 360 off low dive
-Rockies Game: Garrett Atkins mit autograph/catch of pregame warm-up ball
-Rapids Game: Rapids def. NY Red Bulls; watching fireworks from our backs on the FIELD!
-Princess Ballerina balancing on two-wheeled scooter by herself at Copper Mountain (TIE Conference)
-Racing Boondocks Go Carts
-Fishing for the first time after we camped/rode our bikes/slept under the trees and stars at Cherry Creek Reservoir
-Donning purple "milker" for free food at Chick-Fil-A
-Reading constellation stories to kids with an illuminated planetarium toy at bedtime
-Examining road kill/"stink bugs"/ants/"rolley pollies"/worms on the way to the "Dirt Hill" and the "Tunnel"

LUNCH ON FRIDAY

Okay Friends,

How is lunch this Friday? Lori and I can do it...can anyone else?

Catch a wave and I’m sitting on top of the world ♬

I am back from 10 days in Manhattan Beach, CA, vacation with my family. We stayed in my Manhattan Beach son’s girlfriend, Amber’s apartment, rooming with Dozer (Satan cat) and Camo (lovey cat) within a few steps, although very steep steps, from the sand. My Denver son, Kenny and Amber (so gracious of her!) joined the frat brothers (my beach son Walker, Matty & Alex) and Smokey (my grand-dog) at their Manhattan Beach Blvd home. Getting to the ocean, at least once per year, is a required prescription for me to be fully healthy. My happy place.

I went with a list of things I had not yet done in LA and wanted to do. I approached the beginning of the vacation eager to tackle my list in traditional Team Shiflet style, trying to take in as much as possible, as quickly as possible. Team Shiflet mode

came to a screeching halt, the second (early) evening sitting by the surf, when the five us were reminded of how beautiful life is! The waves rushed the shore spraying gentle drops on our skin, the soft breezes calmed our souls, and I think that each of us realized at that time, down time with the family is truly a precious gift.

Kenny, Bob and I did get to the LA Farmer’s Market, although on a day that hit 101 degrees inland. A divine lunch at a fabulous Greek restaurant, al fresco, was the highlight (try Ulysses Greek Voyage if you ever make it to downtown LA). We struck up a delightful conversation with the owner, Peter. He is soon going to Philadelphia to start another restaurant. Peter treated us to the freshest and best baklava at the end of our meal. The heated stroll through the market was tolerable as much of it is covered, and we each topped off the experience with a bottle of icey cold Orangina. Do we have that here? It is my new favorite soft drink.

Another warm day we spent at Redondo Beach at the pier and boardwalk. I had my hot dog on a stick and a fresh churro. I even indulged in a cold Fat Tire draft at Naja’s, where they boast over 80 beers on draft. I know, Fat Tire...the boys got more exciting drafts (I am not a big beer drinker). Probably the highlight of this adventure was talking with the three LA Breakers, 3rd Gen, as they set up for their performance.

These young men were very nice and phenomenally, athletically talented young men (not gang bangers as they humorously reminded the crowd).

We savoured lots of great food: Peruvian, Cuban, fresh King crab legs and shrimp, Father’s Office hamburgers (the best by far in the nation), awesome grilled marinated chicken, lamb kabobs and corn on the cob (thanks to Grillmaster Alex). I taught Amber how to make Sangria....she caught on quickly and has learned to make it stretch (and increase its “potentcy”).

There is a saying that “you are only as happy as your saddest child”. Both of my sons are happy right now. I am so very very happy. We were able to celebrate Kenny and Walker’s 27th birthday together at Father’s Office with some of their best friends. My boys have good friends, these friends will be friends for life. Life is so good when your children are loved and happy.

I caught my wave on vacation and I am still sitting on top of the world!
PS: By the way, Dozer is not really Satan..he is just moody...he talks (purrs) to you and wants you to love him, when you pet him you have to listen carefully....his mood can change in a split second (listen to the kitty!) and he becomes NASTY! He is still adorable, and slept by my feet. Camo is very affectionate, she is the momma cat, what else would one expect?

HI ALL

Hello Everyone,

Well, we made it back from Vegas alive!!! HaHa....It was very hot but we still managed to lay out at the pool everyday!

I just wanted to see if anyone would be up for a lunch next week? I think Lori is in too. We can do anyday next week! I would really love to get together and see one another before school starts and I know most of us will be working in our classrooms the first week of August...well...at least I will (and probably Sue too!!!)

Talk to you soon!!!

Janae

Hi everyone!

I love this blog--I think it's great we can stay in touch this way! I finally got moved in to my new apartment in Denver, and I love it. I love my new neighborhood and it's really close to all my favorite restaurants and shops...My Aikido (martial arts) class is going well, and I'm starting to get the hang of it. As for my job situation, nothing else has come up, so I will probably be subbing in Littleton this coming year when I am not teaching at Hopkins. I would really love to get together for Happy Hour with all of you, so if you do get something planned, would you email me and let me know when and where? My email is paigefr@gmail.com. As for the unpacking, I have yet to start, but at least I will have some extra days of the week to work on it. I am kind of looking forward to a new school year, but am all about enjoying the rest of summer as it goes by so quickly! I hope everyone is having a great summer and I hope to see you all soon! Paige

Back from California

Hi there-It is so fun to get caught up on the summer scoop. I was out in San Diego watching my favorite ball player for 4 days and it was so awesome to see him play for the San Diego Waves! Then Morgan and I flew up to Sacramento for a week with my parents. They belong to a great club so we worked out every morning and then spent the day at the pool....really tough and lots of fun visiting friends and spending time at home.
I have been at school a lot to unpack boxes-only a few hours at a time though. I have a few more boxes to do, and then I have to figure out what to do with my room-----but I have to check with teammates to figure out the Ralph Moody scoop!
Enjoy every sunny day-it is going by too fast-
Ellen

Hello from South Dakota!

Hi Everyone!
I am finally a "follower" of FARTS! It is great to read what everyone has been up to- I feel like Ames is still alive in spirit. I am having a great time in South Dakota- visiting friends and family, reading lots, and actually having time to relax. My mom and I went to New York City last week (I attended the Teachers College Reading Summer Institute and she went to a different conference). We had a great time playing in my new home, saw West Side Story and Wicked (amazing) on Broadway by scoring cheap tickets on the days of the shows. I am starting to pack things for NYC as I move in 2 and 1r m/2 weeks! (yes, I just finished unpacking and now it is time to repack things- the little bit that I am taking). I have also started reading for my classes this fall- they sent our booklist and it is not exactly beach reading :)

Keep enjoying the summer- it is flying right by us! And I want to know when the first FAC in NYC will be?

Sara

Also, the Reading and Writing Summer Institutes that TC puts on each summer are AMAZING! Think about attending next summer- you all would love it and fit right in! And I may be teaching at it by then :) Here is the link: http://rwproject.tc.columbia.edu/default.aspx?pageid=1171

Any word on Sean?

Hey Everybody!

Just wondering if anyone has talked to Sean or know how he's doing? Last I heard was from Deb S. that he is off Oxygen, very tired, and sleeps a lot. I think she said he's on his fourth week of Cemo Therapy.

I hope all is well in your lives and you are finding time to relax and enjoy the summer a little.

Smiles and hugs to all!

Debbie

Hey guys!

Finally had time to figure this out. Thanks, Doris for pulling this all together. It's great to read all of your posts - already missin' you guys! And the halls of Ames.

Larry's home is finally on the market - WAHOO! After working on it for a year, the sign went up in the yard on Tuesday. I I feel like I've given birth, Larry says he's pulled the trigger. Ah the differences between men and women.

Sounds like everyone is busy going to conferences and institutes. I've been doing my thing at ESY - the 16th is the end. And then we're headed to Massachusetts and Rhode Island until the end of the month. Now that will be fun!!!!

I'd love to do an FAC (not necessarily on Friday this week) if we can all pull it together. Sounded like Deb had something in the works.

One more thing, I heard a rumor that Nancy K. got a job out of state. Has anyone else heard anything? Think I will give her a call this week.

Take care everyone. Hope to see you all soon - somewhere, sometime!
b.

Former Staff Member Sightings

Our former Computer Lab Teacher Twittered that she was accepted into the Google Teacher Academy earlier today. I will keep an eye on the delicious account for anyone who'd like some Google-based ideas.

Unpacking

I wanted to let you all know that I asked Mary Haney to talk to Mike Owens about giving us additional pay for unpacking and setting up our new rooms. She talked to him and he will bring it up to the transition committee on Monday. She is going to let me know Monday afternoon. It seems only fair that the district should be paying us for some of the time we're spending this summer!

Also, for Lori---I have been over to Franklin and we are able to work in our rooms, but not today. I spent two full days this week but hardly made a dent in my room. (Lori, they're stripping and waxing the rooms and hallways today. They started at the end of the hallway and I assume they are working their way toward the main hallway. I noticed they delivered a white board skin to your room. I need to give you a call to talk about a couple things pertaining to setting up. I'll give you a call today (Friday).

Talk to you all later. We should meet up for happy hour, maybe next week sometime. We could go to a restaurant at Aspen Grove or somewhere else. Let me know and I'd be glad to email people!

Debbie

Classroom Prep Update

-Cleaning/discarding/organizing former teacher's materials: Check
-Unpack 65 boxes of Mr.-R.-In-A-Box: Check
-Shift collection of Lit. Library materials (25 boxes) to new Lit. Library location: Check
-Clean existing/new furniture: Check
-Literacy Institute: Check
-Powering Up Class: Check
-TIE Conference Session One: Check
-TIE Conference Session Two: Check
-Twitter Account (wiki focus): Check
-NECC Remote Broadcast: Check

Connecting/powering up classroom technology is next.