Past Week

Well, the first back from break was very quiet. Last Monday it seemed like everyone in the school had a Christmas break hangover. As the week went on, I was glad to be back to work. I think I'll be presented with many more challenges as the year goes on, but I'm prepared to really make the most of these next 7 months. I want to leave knowing I gave it my all. As part of that I've been working a lot harder to talk to the teachers so they can give me feedback as well as speaking to parents. The more communication I have with parents and teachers, the easier it will be for me to figure out how to deal with certain situations that arise and finding the best way to help the students.

This past weekend I had some visitors in St. Louis, when my brother Pete and Matt Paprocki made it down to St. Louis on Thursday night. They got a chance to meet some of my students and sit down and talk with them as well as see the school in action. We also took the Budweiser brewery tour and I fulfilled a life-long dream of becoming a brewmaster, granted it's only honorary, but I have a certificate to prove it. (Matt also was awarded an honorary brewmaster's certificate.) They also got a chance to meet some of the teachers at the school and some of my friends from AmeriCorps later on that evening. It was a lot of fun, perhaps even too much fun, but I think they enjoyed their time here and it was nice to have people come to see me. If anyone else is thinking about coming let me know, I'll be happy to accomodate anyone and there's plenty of room. If you happen to be in town for a school day I'd be happy to show you around the school and introduce you to some of my students. I know my students would be excited to meet more of my family and friends from home.

I hope everything is going well for everyone else and everyone has a great week.