First Days of School

Today started another chapter in my life! It was an exciting day...it was a day of many nerves. In my short time of teaching, I have had the opportunity to have 3 "first days" of school, and I can safely say that today was the most anxious day. I have been forced to embrace some very new and wonderful situations. I am teaching in a district of 51,000 students. I teach in a school with 2200 students. The freshmen class that welcomed into the doors at Burke High School has roughly 600 students. Prior to today, I spent TWO weeks in New Teacher meetings, district wide meetings, and building specific meetings. I was introduced to a new assessment approach to education. I was engulfed with new expectations from many different administrative facets. I learned more about standards based grading, trend scoring, and literacy strategy. I am working in a building that has high expectations for their staff and students. Like I said...a bit overwhelming!

Not only am I overwhelmed, but I am so excited. I am thrilled for the many wonderful opportunities that are on the horizons for the Burke choral department and myself. Today I had the opportunity to meet my Freshmen students, the first group that I will have the opportunity to see through their high school career. I have the opportunity to explore many resources that Omaha has to offer. I have met all of the high school directors in the OPS district, and am so excited to foster relationships with them and grow along side them. I'm excited at the numerous opportunities I will have to drink of the knowledge of the many veteran teachers in the metro area.

I struggled with the thought of putting down some goals that I have set for myself and the Burke choral department...so I will wait for another time. I do feel comfortable saying that my hope is that I can continue to foster an appreciation and love of music that Mr. Lempke did before me. My hope is that the students of the Burke choral department leave the classroom with their music cup full....yet yearning for more. I hope to create life long creators and consumers of music.

As always, my blog post is very random and sporadic. To be completely honest, I didn't even THINK about blogging today when I got home. All I could think of was how sore my legs were from standing all day on tile floors and wondering how many days I'll make it before losing my voice. I couldn't help stressing out about the fact that I have no idea what I am doing TOMORROW, when all of the students are at school. I was so exhausted that while I was sitting and working before supper...I fell asleep. After supper and a little working, I decided to go on a walk. And I did what all choral educators do when they walk, I listened to choral music. It was completely rejuvenating and refreshing. I've posted a video of a song that we will be performing for our first concert, and it is a well known song by Morten Lauridsen.  Enjoy and here is to a WONDERFUL school year of teaching wonderful children and making beautiful music!