BUSY Week and Updates

Sorry it has been so long since my last post. It has truly been a very hectic past couple of days/weeks.

Last week was a very big week at my school - I was formally observed by my principal and we had the School Quality Review. The formal observation went okay - it wasn't my best class ever, but, that is okay. The SQR is when the NYC Dept. of Education comes in to formally observe and grade the school based on a rubric. It is a very critical process and it takes two days. A "reviewer" will be at the school for two full days and have various meetings with teachers, parents, students, administrative staff, etc. and ask lots of questions about relationships among students/teachers/staff/etc., rigor, learning, trust, safety, curriculum, data, procedures, goal setting, systems, etc. I was in every single teacher meeting (there are four) and I was observed by the reviewer. My students were engaged and on task and enjoying the lesson when they came in and from what I was told - my principal and the reviewer were "very impressed". My principal said the reviewer didn't think I was a first-year teacher! WOO HOO!!

After that (which was Monday - formal observation, and Wednesday/Thursday - SQR), we had a concert at my school my Young Jinsu - a 16 year old rapper who raps about good values, staying in school, not letting boys talk to girls the wrong/inappropriate way. It was absolutely incredible!!! It was just what our school needed after working so hard for the SQR and preparing. The students were so into it and the girls were freaking out because Young Jinsu is "hot" and "sexy". If you want to check out his music, visit http://www.youngjinsu.net/

On Friday after the Young Jinsu concert, I put together a happy hour for our staff. It was the best happy hour ever! We went to our secretary's friend's bar on 72 and Columbus Ave. - Malachy's. Her friend, the owner, bought us a bottle of this toffee liquor and we did shots and had amazing drinks and convos and laughter. I was originally only going to stay until 7 pm because I had a ton of Grad School work to do that was due the next morning, but I stayed until 10:30 because we were having so much fun, I was drinking, the boyfriends/girlfriends started showing up. Steve joined us around 7pm and when he arrived my principal screams and freaks out, "STEVE'S HERE! STEVE'S HERE! WE LOVE STEVE!". My principal loves Steve and thinks he is the best thing since microwave rice. So, we had a blast and when we were leaving, we went up to him and the aspiring principal and my principal goes, "Steve is seriously the best significant other of anyone!".

On Saturday, I woke up at about 5:30 am and wrote 4 lesson plans for Grad School and then went to Grad School. Steve got to sleep in and watch sports all day. We then met up with Bryan, Kenny and Adam at this place called the Fat Cat - it is an adult rec center which is for 21 and up, they serve wine and beer, you can play pool, scrabble, chess, checkers, ping pong, shuffle board, darts, etc. and bring in your own food. It was sooooo much fun!!! I love playing Shuffle board and I had a great talk with Kenny!!!

Sunday, we stayed in to relax and just hang out. I made cookies for my 6th graders as a reward for their hard work on their Recipe Project (fractions and mixed numbers). We went to dinner at Aunt Gails and Uncle Jeffs, and as always, the food was incredible!!! This time she had these pot stickers from Trader Joe's and they were soooo good - I think I had 8. I ended up getting a bad stomach ache so that sucked. We got to see Bryan, Ian and Hallie!!!

This week has been busy as well ... busy busy busy. I was observed twice at work - once by my TFA advisor and my Lehman advisor. Steve had to conduct interviews this week at work. His softball game was cancelled AGAIN - so, he hasn't been able to play which has been disappointing for him.

We celebrated our 6th Month "Celebration" on Wednesday, May 6. Steve doesn't like to use the world "anniversary" because that technically means "yearly celebration" and we haven't been together a year. LOL. We went to dinner at Serendipity 3 - which is now one of my favorite places and we enjoy a fabulous peanut butter frozen hot chocolate - pics will be up soon from that!!!

Tomorrow, we are traveling up state to see Steve's family and to celebrate his nephew, Jude's first birthday!!! I am super STOKED to meet his sister Amy and her tiny little man Jude!!! I made cookies for this as well - it is so great to bake again!!! Many pics will be posted from this coming weekend - Amy called me Aunt Chelsea once and that was super special!! The convo went like this:
Chelsea: Night Amy, give Jude a huge hug and kiss for me! I can't wait to meet you both!
Amy: I will be sure to do that! Jude can't wait to meet Aunt Chelsea!

AWWWW!! :)

That is all for now, I have to go to Professional Development tomorrow and have to be at the train station by 6:15 a.m. - UGG.