"The Pentultimate Supper..."

Dateline: My Classroom...in the normal state of chaos hours before children arrive.

My favorite back to school memory involves Jeffrey.

Jeffrey was one of those kids who drove me crazy in the time I had him in my classroom. 

Now my district, in suburban Los Angeles County, is one of those that traditionally starts right after Labor Day Monday, with 2 prep days on Tuesday/Wednesday, and the start of school on Thursday.  The two prep days are for teachers to have their start of school meetings, along with classroom prep prior to the first day.  No students need worry about coming to school.

Except Jeffrey. 

This particular Tuesday morning of this particular year, Jeffrey's 6th grade year, I was walking out to my car in the parking lot, loading and unloading the usual detritus that goes between garage and classroom over the summer months.  There was Jeffrey walking his bike towards the bike rack. 

"Jeffrey, what are you doing here?"

"Oh, hi Mr. Ruiz.  It's the first day of school..." (voice trailed off as it began to dawn upon him that something was amiss)

"Ah, no.  That's on Thursday.  Teacher's are prepping for the next couple of days."

"But my mom....Arrgggh!"

It's been like that as the school year has begun to kick into gear--not quite ready, yet moving forward with the realization that another year is upon us and it's time to focus, whether we want to do so or not.  I don't know if Jeffrey's story properly illustrates what this blog is for.  And I can't rightly admit to regularly intending to post on it now that I've finally taken the plunge towards trying to publish something on-line.  Given that this year represents a career crossroads for me, perhaps having some sort of outlet, even if little read, will enable me the chance to better reflect on the challenges I am facing, both self-inflicted and job-related, as I move through the school year. 

So as I tell me daughter before every freeway trip, "here we go..."