Journeys

Labor Day, 2011

It's rainy and cool today....seems like fall is in the air. I've been thinking a lot about this blog entry and what I wanted to say....the pictures I would post, quotes I would use, funny ideas about school and jokes about teaching for the twenty eighth year in a row...stuff like that. But the truth is lately I have been thinking about journeys. It seems like everyone is on a journey these days. My sister-in-law, Ann, and my daughter Molly, seem to exemplify this to me. Ann is currently hiking the Camino in Spain ( http://www.santiago-compostela.net/) The Camino is 450 miles of backpacking and biking trails. Traditionally, it is a spiritual walk that dates back to the Middle Ages. She is hiking to raise money and awareness for Opportunity International. She left last week and will be gone for another five. Steven walked with her the first week, but now he is on his way back home. As her prayer partner, I lift her up daily and carry her in my heart as she traverses rain, slugs, muddy boots and the joy of a simple meal shared with fellow travelers.

Molly is on another kind of journey, but a similar one all the same. She left two weeks for her freshman year at Otterbein University. She tried out for the soccer team, helped her roommate deal with a severely broken leg, navigated the world of schedule changes, sorted through her dance placement and negotiated new friendships all in two weeks. She started with our help, but was soon left to deal on her own. She, too, is making her way through her own pilgrimage into life as an adult. Lastly, my thoughts turn to Kate. She is getting ready to finish a journey...she will graduate in May and plans to move on to graduate school. David and I are beginning the journey of a life with no children at home. None of these experiences are unique to us. Our stories will join those who came along before us and who will surely come after us. After all, life isn't a destination. It is a series of Stops Along the Way...

Thank you, Mrs. Berick!

One of my favorite books by Patricia Polacco is called Thank you, Mr. Falker. It's an autobiographical story about the author's struggle to learn to read. For me, it is a story of what it means to be a teacher, a really great teacher that touches a student's life and changes it forever. It has been Molly's great privilege to have Mrs. Berick as her Firestone High School dance instructor for four years. It is with honor and great respect that I call her a colleague and a friend. It's a sacred and humbling trust we share- a shared mission as we both work to do what is best for the children we teach. Right now, Ohio is currently embroiled with the pending legislation of State Bill 5. Basically, it calls for the repeal of collective bargaining rights for teachers, as well as other public employees. Being an independent school teacher, I haven't kept current with union issues. Independent school teachers usually sign a one year contract with no tenure option offered. Likewise, we are not part of the state retirement system. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about SB 5. Was it really my issue? (I got out of public education partially because I wasn't always in agreement with union policies and practices.) Did I really care? My recent experience with the union (in dealing with a matter involving my own child) left me cold. After many hours of reflection, I decided I had to put my effort behind the repeal of SB 5. I couldn't afford to be a bystander if it meant that dedicated, engaging, and child centered teachers like Mrs. Berick might lose their jobs and their rights to negotiate.

So, because of Mrs. Berick and others like her, I plan to work hard and stand with my fellow teachers in supporting the repeal of SB 5. Secondly, David and I plan to work hard to keep the Visual and Performing Arts program firmly established at Firestone High School and to make sure dance retains its unique space in that program.

At a dance banquet several years ago, Mrs. Berick told a story about her old dance teacher Miss Joy. She talked about how whenever the dancers did something well, or did what was asked of them, Miss Joy gave them a green dot. Mrs. Berick instituted this program with her own dancers. At the end of the year, she always gave out "green dot" awards to the students in the dance program who had acquired the most dots. It was mostly done in good fun, but it was a subtle reminder to follow the rules, to do what's right and always put your best (turned out) foot forward.
So, lastly, Mrs. Berick, to honor you, I plan to begin the Kelly Berick Green Dot Awards with my first grade class this fall. Each time I hand out that sticker and a small hand puts it on their chart, I will remember you and the wonderful mentor, teacher, role model and friend you were (and will continue to be :) to my Molly. Thank You, Mrs. Berick!

Firestone Senior Prom

Wally (straight from the job), Kate, Molly, Stephen

Molly and Stephen

I am having a fabulous weekend. Friday night was Molly's senior prom. It was wonderful. Families, seniors and their dates gathered at the Women's City Club in Akron for pictures and dinner. Fifty one seniors and their guests were in attendance. After the "kids" (for now, at least!) left for the prom, parents assembled at the Akron University Rec Center to get after prom festivities under way. The kids met us there at 12:00 midnight, and we all went home around 3:30 am. We had food, a rock climbing wall, inflatables, the pool complete with lazy river, multiple gyms, a casino, and Wii. Play money was handed out for the prize winners and at the end of the evening, an auction was held. Molly and Alana scored an ipod dock, tw0 ottomans, and a variety of towels and sheets the guys didn't want. It was an awesome night....I totally had a ball visiting with parents some of whom I've known 15+ years. The kids forgot their age and just had fun.

Saturday night was Molly's last Martell Dance Studio performance. It was bittersweet...I know she is really going to miss it. On June 5, she turns 18 and on June 6 she graduates. My baby is not such a baby anymore. Sigh! On August 19 she reports to Otterbein for soccer. She will miss Kate's return from CA by one day. We will all go down for a visit before Kate leaves for her senior year at Heidelberg. I think I'm going to stop writing now. I need to rest. :)

I'm going to California to find myself !!

Hey! I need to break it to my mother that at last one of us has gone to California to find ourselves! When I was growing up that was my mother's standard response to " Mom, where are you?" At which she would reply, "I've gone to CA to find myself." Now it looks like Kate is doing just that. This summer Kate will be an intern in the development office for the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. Kate was selected from a pool of 1,000 applicants. She is the first intern that is an undergraduate student. Another happy fact is that most of the people at the academy received their Masters from IUPUI. That is Kate's #1 choice for graduate school, majoring in philanthropy. It couldn't be a better fit. She is so excited. While I am very excited and thrilled at her opportunity, I'm also her mother. I will really miss having her at home this summer. Sigh......

But that's another blog post..........

Check it out:

http://www.musicacademy.org/

Molly's Scholarships

(Here is Molly along with the senior dance students.)

We are so happy for our Molly! She has received two scholarships. The first one is the H.Peter Burg Book Award. The link is below. Interestingly enough, Kate also won this award her senior year (2008).

http://www.akronreads.com/parentsstudents_hpeterburgaward.asp

The second one is from Firestone High School. She was one of five seniors awarded a Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship. David and I are so happy for her. I think few people realize how much thought, reflection and physical effort goes into dance and choreography. In the four years Molly has been at Firestone she has choreographed a solo dance and a group dance. Costuming, music, lighting and teaching the dance to others is only part of the requirements. She is also a member of the National Dance Honor Society--scholarship, leadership and service are the three core components.

http://www.firestonehigh.com/vpa.php

We're Official!!!!

Molly's going to Otterbein!!!

http://www.otterbein.edu

P.S. Two of the finest people I know (or ever knew) are alums of Otterbein - Patty Saks and Nancy Fisher. Patty is so excited for Molly! I hope Nancy will be Molly's special guardian angel...GO CARDINALS!!

"Impulse" a dance choreographed by Molly Loar