SOLSC 2015 #14: What are your dreams?

Each day during March, I am participating in the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge (SOLSC). All participants are writing about one moment, one part of their day, every day for thirty-one days. My slices will be primarily about teaching preschoolers. Check out the Two Writing Teachers  website for lots more reflections on teaching. Thanks especially to Stacey, Tara, Anna, Beth, Dana, and Betsy for hosting this writing challenge. 

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This last week was filled with plans. Five full days of teaching, evenings filled with a college concert, my wedding anniversary, our school gala. Knowing this, I worked ahead, sketching out blog post ideas for each day, writing ahead, knowing I could edit, embellish, revise, as needed. Low and behold, in the midst of all that was planned, I was hit with a stomach flu. First time in years that I've succumbed to - as my colleague put it - "the germ factory in which we work." Suddenly, I was in "survival mode," just trying to make it to the weekend...and here I am, early Saturday morning, a survivor, and one who is bereft of planned ideas for slicing.

Now, the slicing gets real.

I am thinking about how much I love this school, this school community. 

We're four years into its creation, and it amazes me what has happened so far. 

And what is left to do, still.

We're working. We're dreaming. We're creating.

We've created this school to do it all - to give teachers a strong voice in leadership of the school, to prepare beginning teachers to teach in inner-city schools, to focus on the individual child, to offer rigorous academics, to teach through inquiry, to embrace diversity, to be a caring community, to provide any and every child with the very best educational experience...all this in a public charter. 

Four years in, it's all a little uneven. We are far from achieving it all. Some days are so long, I think, wow, this is too much, this is too big, this is too much of a reach...some days are so long, I think, wow, we're no good at xyz, we have hardly begun to do yzx, we will never achieve zxy...some days are so long, I think.

And, yet, last night, I see...there is an amazing energy and sense of purpose. Our dreams are real and achievable. We are on the right track.

Last night was our school gala. 

We had rented a community building for the evening, and the large, open room was dressed up so fine. Children's art surrounded the room, beautiful pieces created by each class, to be auctioned. There was a large screen displaying a continuous slideshow of highlights from the school, especially, our students. The lights were lowered, tables adorned with tablecloths offering hors d'oeuvres and drinks, everyone was dressed beautifully. There was a live auction for classroom experiences - special in-house field trips, such as cooking, dance, music adventures. 

The goal of the auction this year was to bring music to the school, to start a music department. (What?! You don't have music?! I hear you. My own children had music every year of their public schooling, each were given instruments in the fourth grade.) 

I loved the mingling, chattering, laughing...I saw people who are working hard to make this dream school happen, to continue to grow. 

So many glimpses...

"Founding families," those that took a risk with us when we were nothing but a paper plan...how did they find the courage?

Our hard-working and inspiring admin team, who never went home after work like I had; they were looking fresh and energized - how do they keep this up?

Our principal slipping in for a bit, four weeks into her maternity leave, looking radiant about motherhood, unable to resist the magnetic pull of this event...

New teachers and families in happy awe at the splendor and fun,

Parent "hams" working the microphone to much laughter,

and,

yes, I wonder about those I didn't see, who did not attend...where were they? do they feel the love?

We're four years into its creation, and it amazes me what has happened so far. 

Yes, there is plenty more left to do, still.

We're working. We're dreaming. We're creating.