Starting Over is Scary

The Week from Hell

Emily mentioned that I never write about work. So here was work this week. I think this has been one of the longest weeks of my life. First of all, Monday. This was the press release...
**Important Announcement**
A few minutes prior to dismissal time today (Monday, April 23, 2007) at ______ Elementary, two kindergarten students told Principal ____ that they saw a man with a weapon run into the woods. Principal ____ put the building into lock-down and the police were notified. The district then followed police procedure and, as the person may have run into the woods which could effect the athletic fields at __________, __________ and the high school, those fields were cleared, the students were brought into those buildings and they were also placed under lock-down. The police did a thorough search of the area, determined that everything was clear, and the students were allowed back on the fields and the _______ students were dismissed 15 minutes late.

I wish it really were that simple. The stress during that was amazing. And it wasn't 15 minutes late...it was 45. Try sitting in a small office with freaked out parents and everyone locked up on the floors and no one knowing what really is going on. Then add state and local police running around and parents banging on outside doors to get inside. Then add news coverage. It was too much. I hope to never have to do it again. The rest of the week was filled with a knockoff Tiger Championship ring scam (one of my students) another student stabbing a classmate with a pencil and getting 5 day suspension, diarrhea, late buses, screaming parents and kids all worked up and rain! Oh and by the way, the district expects the building to be completely emptied on the last day of school. Yep, move everything out of your room while you still have students. I mean everything. They are painting and carpeting the entire building as well as a few other improvements over the summer. AHHHH... Then today, one of the teachers who is 20 weeks pregnant was not feeling "right" and we had to call 911 for the second time in one week to get an ambulance to take her to the hospital. So these kids who are on edge anyway get to see a teacher wheeled out on a stretcher, with monitors, to an ambulance. I think I need therapy.

Let me remind you that I work in a small town, white bread, everyone knows everyone, elementary school. Not some big, inner city, rough area. We need some time off to recover.

posted by Erin @ 10:17 PM