Beginning Our Internship: News 8/20/07-8/30/07

I thought you'd all get a kick out of reading what we've done over the last week or so. I compiled your e-mails and put them here:

Aug 20

I thought about you as I left my house at 6:30 Friday and again this morning. I wished that I was among friends instead of facing the fear that I was going to be an assistant principal, and that they would find out that I was an imposter. By the way Brian, our office was so full of junk that it took them two days to unload it--and there is more in the cupboards.
I was handed a bunch of keys that I think weigh 2 pounds, a walkie-talkie, and a nametag. Registration started at 7:30 for those not sending theirs in. I was the greeter and line facilitator--not a bad job for someone who was lost 3 times on Friday!
It was a great day.

Annette

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Aug 20
How was everyone's first day? Mine was swell. I really didn't do that much, but it already felt overwhelming. Anyone else feel as underqualified and inadequate as me? Oh well, good luck and take care. See ya in two weeks. – Brian

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Aug 20
Hey all,
My first day was spent putting Faculty Handbooks together. My principal kept apologizing, butI told her I didn't mind. It is so strange to be in this position rather than putting up bulletin boards and getting ready to teach. I already have great stories to tell about my principal's first year (last year). She had the most incredible year-very difficult and not her fault at all.
I miss you all. Hope your two weeks fly by (or go slowly-as you wish). See you all on the 5th!

-Carolyn

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Aug 20

Okay guys I am having serious treat with-drawls! I arrived this morning at 7:15am and got home 7:30pm, surprise, surprise it was back to school night. It was long but all went well.

Good luck, Brent

P.S. Jennifer can you arrange for us to send teats to each of our schools by 10:00am each day?

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Aug 20

Hello all!

It was so nice to come home and read about how many of your first days went! I worked all day Friday, as well as today. When I say "work", I mean I tried very hard to look like I knew what I was doing. I don't think I succeeded very well!

I worked the football game on Friday night. Cottonwood played Brighton. I, of course, was assigned to the field behind the Cottonwood team. It was fun to be down on the field and Cottonwood's players, cheerleaders, and drill team couldn't have been nicer. My daughter goes to Brighton so I felt like a bit of a turncoat, though.

Today for our opening faculty meeting, they had a speaker come in for a couple of hours and gave an uplifting message, sort of like Cliff would, except it was without any "Groovy, Baby," references.

Afterward, the faculty loaded onto two school buses and we took a tour of the school boundaries so that the faculty could see firsthand how diverse the population is that attends Cottonwood.

After our bus tour (1 hour!), we all went to Golden Corral for lunch, compliments of the school! All in all, a great day, even though I still don't have a clue what I'm doing!

Let's continue to keep each other informed! I miss everyone and am excited to hear firsthand how everyone is doing.

Love,
Terri

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Aug 21
Hey everyone,
It was good to hear from some of you. Today was the first day of class at our school. Between standing hall duty before school, after school, both lunches and during class breaks, it didn't leave much time left. It felt a little strange not having to get my lessons together and teach. But all in all, it's going pretty well as I try to get to know everyone. The best part was that I didn't have to snarf down lunch in 20 minutes, the administrators obviously take a little more time.
Well, good luck to all.
- Roger

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Aug 21
Dear lil lambkin,
When you have started your internship, please drop me a quick e-mail message telling me how all is going. I would like to know about your start and your first few days.
See you soon.
Joe

………

Dear Joe,

My start was great. I met somebody famous: http://byulpp22.blogspot.com/2007/08/first-day-of-interning-i-met-someone.html

Would you mind reminding our mentors that we don't officially start until September 5? I would love a little break with my family, but don't want to appear the lazy slacker.

Thanks for all you do,
Tim

………

Timmy

Two things: No surprise that you made a fool of yourself with that Jeramiah dude and it is too late to appear less than a lazy slacker. Hope the rest of the year goes better.

Joe Matthews
306 MCKB
McKay School of Education
Educational Leadership and Foundations
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602

Telephone 801-422-6388

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Aug 22

Hey Homies, I miss you all like the deserts miss the rain.

Does anyone have a list of our school assignments for the year? I'm thinking I should contact my first school, but I can't remember which one it is. I don't want to call my second or third assigned school, mistakenly assuming they're my first and talking to them as if they were. That would probably make me look pretty stupid. So if you have that info., and could forward it to me, I'd appreciate it.

All my love,

Aaron

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Aug 27

LPP!

Though I was not home, Carolyn dropped off the gift from LPP for my family. THANK YOU! It means so much to me that you would all be so thoughtful. You guys are the best.

Life is fun at Hunter. Today is the first day with kids, and it’s been hallway monitoring and getting kids to class and all that fun stuff.

Anyway, we've had two safe-school violations today, lots of dress code violations, and other fun watch-dog-type-stuff.

Remember to drop everyone a line when you have a chance; the connection means the world to me (and I believe everyone else).

Christian Rauch

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Aug 29

Hi Everybody,

We need some stories, or some "firsts" of things that are happening at your schools!

I think I may have a first - Second day of school, I end up with a young man in handcuffs in my office. Poor kid was written up for illegal substance abuse, and criminal mischief and had his permit to attend our school revoked.

Any other "firsts" out there and is mine a first?

Hope all is going well, I love my internship and the people I'm working with. Enjoy the holiday, the real work is about to begin.

Barb

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Aug 30

Dear cohort friends,
While peeking longingly in teachers' classrooms on the first day, I did have the grand experience of feeling the power of a walkie talkie and getting kids to class. But once again, in this small task, I felt the opportunity to touch kids' lives. I saw a sad looking little Hispanic girl sitting on a bench in the hallway about five minutes after class had started. I just went over and sat beside her and asked where she thought she should be. She started to tear up and said, "I am just so tired. I had a baby six days ago and gave him up for adoption." Taken back, I expressed my concern for her and my gratitude for her being at school. I then asked her if I could just walk with her to class if we took it slow. She obliged and as I patted her shoulder and sent her in, I realized that opportunities to touch lives often come when we least expect them.

I missed one day for my husband's surgery - next day –got a phone all from a desperate daughter in New York who lost her wallet. No money and no ID and alone! Later that night police officer came to her dorm and said he wanted to meet the luckiest girl in New York City - someone had turned in her wallet with all contents intact!

With this frantic life, I am still trying to be a good intern. Pleasant Grove is in the midst of construction chaos and handling it all with such administrative class. The construction crew hit a gas line and we had an all school evacuation on Tuesday. With the whole student body outside, black clouds loomed in and started a downpour.

I then got to go meet with Tommy and other interns and assistant principals at a district meeting. Having been through a downpour, I was not looking my best! I was put over the task of orchestrating the emotional move of six teachers to new classrooms because of the district's need for two of our portables which caused a domino effect. Because I could relate to the trauma of having to move the classroom so painstakingly prepared on the second day of school, this was a good job for me. I thought it would be nice to bring them boxes, so I went on an early morning Wal-Mart run and loaded up my husband's pick-up. I am not comfortable driving that beast anyway, so when I saw the flashing lights behind me on the freeway . . . What a nice police officer. He said instead of fining me $500 for littering boxes, he was going to help me tie them down. I am now creating lists of kids who need to retake the UBSCT with accommodations and organizing the hiring of a new office secretary - fun.

Hope all is well in the internship world with all of you. The staff at PG is great!

Good luck, Brenda

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Aug 30

Rachel and I were both at an Alpine District AYP meeting today and heard the words "confidence interval." I was so proud that I knew what they were talking about! Okay - Rachel knew and I barely knew - but still.

Brenda

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Aug 30

Hi Everyone,

I've also had an eventful week! I'm loving the high school experience. There's never a dull moment here. I've also been in on a drug bust, pregnant teen crisis, bullying, and lots of sluffing.
But what I'm really good at is picking up garbage in the halls after lunch. I've got that assignment down perfectly!

Let's continue to exchange stories until we can all talk in person!

Love,
Terri

First day of interning: I met someone famous

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Today was the first day of my first internship at Brighton High School. Yes, probably just like you, my principal gave me a ton of new assignments. Yada yada yada; bla bla bla.

BUT! Did you get to meet a celebrity on your first day? I did.

His name is Stan Ellsworth, and he played Jeremiah Johnson in the movie Church Ball. I got to help him register his daughter. And he looks (and acts) exactly how is in the movie. Dude, it was awesome!!!

I went up to him and, without even introducing myself, said, “I just want you to know that I loved that movie you were in!” I pretty much made a fool of myself, but who cares. He was very nice about it all.

(Tim)

Recent pics

Treat Schedule, September to February

Leadership Scriptures

These are the scriptures that our cohort submitted for their leadership qualities:

D&C 112:10:
Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.

This one has meaning to me because I think one of the most important leadership qualities a leader needs to possess is humility. Also the promise of the lord of leading the humble by the hand and giving answers to prayer has been important to me in my life.

(submitted by Nick)

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DC 121: 39, 41-46:
39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.

41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—

43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;

44 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.

45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.

(submitted by Courtney)

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"God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom."

- Spencer W. Kimball, "Small Acts of Service" in the December 1974 Ensign

(submitted by Jodi)

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All of Alma chapter 17 (This is where Ammon goes to the land of Ishmael and becomes the servant of King Lamoni. Ammon eventually saves the king’s flocks and slays his enemies at the waters of Sebus.)

Before Ammon preached the gospel to the Lamanites, he first chose to serve them. Once they knew that he cared for them, and that he was a man of integrity and loyalty, they were willing to hear and follow his words. His actions paved the way. This is true servant leadership.

(submitted by Tim)