School Board

I attended the Board of Trustees meeting last night to get a feel for how these things are done here. It was interesting and informative on some levels but rather unsatisfying on others. The meetings are governed by the laws of "open meetings" which I've not heard of before. The gist is that they have a published itinerary from which they are not allowed to deviate, however each additional speaker is granted a five minute audience to which no replies or comments may be made, that was the unsatisfying part. Everyone that spoke was complaining about the same thing (a redistricting of their children to a distant elementary school - the kids will be bussed past two existing, established, recognized (for merit) schools to attend a brand new school (with no playground equipment or established merit). Their requests were mostly the same "please add the topic to next months meeting to further discuss the idea and explain the decision" (at which time these self same people will still not be allowed to ask questions). There is no guarantee that the topic will be added (it was covered in the previous two meetings) and no other acknowledgement of their plight.

On the other hand I learned a lot more about foreign language instruction and ESL classes in the ISD. For only two languages is it possible to study for four or five years: French and Spanish, and those classes are taught as correspondance courses from the UTD. I'd never really considered taking a language class via the internet but with the advances in computer technology and the easy access of recording and digitizing equipment it may actually have some benefits over traditional instruction. In the "lab" clasess when you repeat a word or phrase it can make you repeat it until your pronunciation is correct.... weird. Last night the foreign languages department head was lobbying the Board to grant funds for the incorporation of ASL has an approved "foreign" language.

End of an era

Yesterday Sheela finished the last book of the Harry Potter series.  She's been reading these since second grade.  She was toying with the idea of rereading the last three books but I've convinced her to take a break and try something else (anything else) for a change first.  Today I offered her: Rascal, Watership Down, Every Living Thing, Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates and a collection of American Folktales.  I'm not sure which she chose to take to school.

 

Truancy

We are voluntarily being brought up on truancy charges for pulling our children out of school during the school year.  We have two choices: we can either withdraw the children from school and then re-enroll when we return (but they will be at a different school because we'd loose our spot) or we can go and defend ourselves before the judge.  This is the same rule that we violated last year by going on the cruise but the ISD has stepped up their enforcement efforts.  I'm opting for the judge.

 

Wildlife

I saw my first wild lynx yesterday.  He was standing in a field between the local teen skate park and the library by a secluded bend in the river.  He stood still long enough for me to have a great look at him: ear tufts, blunt tail, beautiful markings, long enough for me to get the camera out of my purse, turn it on, focus out the window, but not quite long enough to take the picture (and have him still be it).

These two are among my favorites

of Sheela's photos from our trip....

Ellis and Liberty Islands

Here are the required shots of us with the parks signs plus a few from Liberty.

More Battery Park

Since Sheela never blogged her photos I'm swiping some of them.....

Ebenezer Allen

Sunil's teacher has named a teddy bear in honor of our town founder, Ebenezer Allen. Every weekend Ebenezer spends the weekend at home with one of the students. On Sunday night the student writes about their adventures. I love these projects. Each child's weekends are so different from each other even in such a small community.

I had high expectations for our unique twist on the weekend but it was not to be. We made Eb stay behind in the car when we went out for dinner. Sunil did not attend fencing lessons so neither did Eb. Sunil didn't collect the canned food drive donations with his cub scout troop (because he was supposed to be fencing) and we forgot to take Ebenezer with us on our walk this morning. Sunil is not coming to Sheela's soccer game and we won't have to time to get to the library this weekend. This may well be the least interesting weekend of poor Eb's life.

Black spiderman

This fabulous spiderman mask was just the right size for Sunil. Actually it wasn't intended to be a mask at all, it was the sack covering Uncle Ravi's spiderman video game. No one else could get it on.

Battery Park

Most of tyhe pictures were taken by Sheela on this trip but before my batteries gave out I did manage one good shot of Sunil playing in Battery Park.

Another vacation shot...

The fam in front of Radio City Music Hall. We had a great weekend in NYC.

Snow pics

these are from Upstate New York over our Christmas break. We didn't get quite enough snow on our planned route so we headed farther North on our way back to NJ until we found a place to play. This was an empty field (or maybe a parking lot) next door to the barbeque place where we ate lunch.

"Sometimes you feel like a nut..."

sometimes you feel like cake. Sheela was having a cake mood today. She talked me in to letting her buy and bake a cake with frosting and icing. I can't wait for dessert.

Glenville

Another one of Sid's rehab properties is ready for sale. Here is a picture of him outside of the house showing off the mound o' trash accumulated during the rehab. He enjoys this more than any job he's ever had.

Some catch up photos

The Annual Pinewood Derby was held last month. both kids made cars but I don't seem to have the pictures of Sunil's. Her Sheela is showing off her version. It is decorated with a large compass and a casino poker chip. Sunil raced in his division and had a great time. I was too late getting Sheela back for her to enter the siblings division so she had to race in the "Outlaws" division. The only other two cars entered were made of solid metal and outweighed her by about 4:1. She didn't have a chance. But she did still have a good time.

Pinball

Sheela is still enjoying her antique pinball game (with your host Keith McTeeth). It was a birthday present from Sid. She holds the high score by a couple of million points.

The week of the Bike

This was the week that we read The Bicycle Mystery, Boxcar Children #15 (not to be confused with The Great Bicycle Race Mystery, Boxcar Children #76) as our bedtime story.  In keeping with the theme Sheela convinced Sunil to dust off his bicycle and actually ride it.  While denying that he was afraid to ride he has made no secret of the fact that he would rather do anything else since proving that he could ride without the training wheels nearly a year ago.  He is now quite a little show off and he is pushing us to arrange the family bike ride through Dinosaur Valley that we've been using as a carrot.  We've finally managed a few family bike rides in the evenings.  Sheela and I rode our bike to dinner on Friday (while Sunil and Sid went fencing) and to lunch on Saturday (while Sunil and Sid were cubscouting).

Red Dot

Today Sunil advanced to the next reading level... the Red Dot level. This is part of an independent reading program the school uses. The kids read a color coded book and then give themselves a test on the computer. When they get a five perfect scores they get to move to the next level.

Travel two

I'm getting on a plane with a businessman with a spider tatooed on his forehead.  Oddly enough he isn't the only one, there is another spider-bedecked brow in the restaurant behind me.  It is not attractive.

Travel

I'm entering hour number 4 hanging out at the airport.  Storms in Chicago have disrupted air travel.  We are fortunate to have seats leaving tonight.   I 'm really ready to be home.  The trip was a sucess and I've enjoyed my co-workers company but enough is enough.

Health

Take a minute or two to appreciate your good health. Not everyone is as lucky as you are right now. One of my friends (and lunch buddies) had her gallbladder removed yesterday. This should make her life much more comfortable (and lunch much more fun). A favorite co-worker is in the hospital suffering multiple (thankfully mild) strokes.