Yesterday afternoon, I spent the last period of the school day with my kids in the emergency weather procedure positions.  (Aka Tornado Drill…..BUT THIS WAS NOT A DRILL!)   It was a bit freaky, as this was the first time these “drill” procedures was REAL for me.   My kids were ok for the most part.   I did have to write up a few referrals for inappropriate behavior… but that is 8th grade boys for you!  They thought they were being funny…..but since it was an emergency situation, it was inappropriate.  We ended up dismissing kids 45 minutes later as the bulk of the storms went through here at 2:30 when the high schools were dismissing.   Those busses were tied up at the high schools until they were given the go ahead from the district to leave with the kids…this made the busses 45 minutes late for all the school runs after that.  When they finished with the high schools, they came to the middle schools, and then after finishing with us, they  ran the elementary school routes.   What an afternoon!  The sirens were screaming……the kids were a bit frantic with the “deer-in-head-lights-look.”   All I kept thinking of was little Punky sitting in the basement at Kelly Jo’s house… and it made me sad.    I can’t wait for summer!!!!

Today, I was supposed to spend my day at  Como Zoo in St. Paul with over 130 kids with disabilities…but the storms are still coming through here.  In fact, they look a bit daunting as they are in Iowa now!   So, we canceled and are looking to reschedule next Thursday…..so now I have to tell my 8th graders that we are WORKING today and continuing to read the book we have been reading.  I am ready for their moans and whines……but we must keep plugging away!   They’ll get their “free time” next Thursday at the zoo…. oh well….I best get ready for the cherubs.  2nd hour starts in a few minutes!