Vegas Baby

Had a great trip, it was great to see our new cousin and spend time with Mom/Grandma.  It was also a treat to stay at New York New York.  What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas right Mom. 

Charter School

Happy to report Ethan got into Cielo Vista Charter School.  It was a lottery and he was one of the lucky ones picked.  We think it will be a good school, same schedule as Landau (July, Nov. and March off).  They might have bigger class sizes too but at least Cielo Vista isn't loosing their good teachers.  The Assistant Principal is a friend of mine and I really think Ethan is going to do well.  The differences between the charter school and traditional school is parent involvement, curriculum, and staffing.  Charter schools require parents to volunteer, the curriculum is picked by the teaching staff and the teachers are picked by the principal, not the district.  The principal is excellent and one of the teachers just received "teacher of the year" for the entire county of Riverside.  Once Ethan is in he doesn't have to go through the lottery system again, but he must follow their rules or he can be moved.  Now we can breath a sigh of relief, until it's Zac's turn to start school.

Taekwondo

Big E loves it.  

Buck night

Can't beat this deal

No more class

Posted yesterday but got lost in cyberspace.  My class in no more next yr. because there just isn't enough kids to continue. I currently have 9 students which is pretty normal for a class like mine.  They want to have at least 15 in the small group special day classes to soften some of the blow from the lack of budget. They gave me the option to move to another school or stay at Landau and teach a Special Day class for kinder's (and make a good friend go to another school).  I choose to stay mostly because of the location and my attachment to the school.  Budgets are really having a negative impact on all aspects of public education in CA.  All classes will have 30+ students, we are loosing 8 teachers and possibly a secretary, all aids are loosing hrs. and benefits, and the teachers lucky enough to have jobs are dreading the next school yr.  Not sure it will be much better at a Charter School for Ethan, since they are also subject to the cuts, larger class sizes and grim future.  We should find out by the end of the month if Ethan gets into a Charter school, if not yours truly will be right next door. 

Ouch

While riding my bike to school today I took a toe cleat to the back of the foot.  Tried to bandage it up but it won't stop bleeding.  Not much pain but it looks pretty nasty.  Even my special group of boys in class said ouch Mr. Shorts that looks ugly.  What's the old adage, wounds heel and chicks dig scars. 

Cousins

Great to watch Mason and Zac play, they even shared their toys.  Looking forward to Sunriver and a week of the Cousins playing while parents relax (ya right).

Zacman

The title says it all

Pink fire engines visit school

Too cool

Pink Heals

The engines have been signed by cancer survivors and their friends and family throughout the country

Great way to start the day

Thanks babe, very cool to wake up to.

Early Mothers Day for Grandma's

Carol and Jesse come to the desert to Celebrate Ethan's B-Day

White Shirt Grandma reading to the boys

Ethan scored some great presents

Zac playing with Ethan's new toys

Had a nice lunch and Ethan opened the rest of his B-Day presents.