you've gotta love 'em

 Sometimes the kids just warm my heart...

...and other times they just make me laugh out loud!

back in the deep freeze

Compared to last year

we've had a very mild winter thus far.

We've had no cold or snow days yet this school year

although the temps are definitely going into

the deep freeze tonight

with serious wind chills.

We have to plummet to -35 C with -45 C wind chills

in order to have

school cancelled.

Tonight could be - 

the night!

happy valentine's day!

Happy Valentine's Day

to me!

:)

I got many hugs and treats today - 

my "best" school Valentine's Day so far.

Lots of fun, for sure.
And of course the roses were at home
waiting for me
from my best Valentine ever!

But I will be happy for a short week next week

due to Louis Riel Day here in Manitoba.

And then the long, cold and hopefully boring

winter days ahead!

winter fun day and a conversation

Last Friday we had the perfect day for our annual

Winter Fun Day

at school.

The kids had a blast. 

They were hot and sweaty and happy.
I spent the day at the "roasting fire"
handing out roasting sticks and marshmallows.
I was especially hot and sweaty, and not terribly happy
with the way I was smelling!
My jacket has been in the garage getting some
air
since then.

Last week I had an interesting conversation
with one of my grade one students:
Cooper: Mrs. Dueck, are you a boy or a girl?
Me: Well, what do you think?
Cooper: I don't know
Me: Well, is your mom a boy or a girl?
Cooper: I don't know
Me: What about your dad. Is he a boy or a girl?
Cooper: A boy
Me: But you don't know what your mom is?
Cooper: No
Me: Well, I'm a girl.
He looked at me, and without missing a beat said:
"Well, how come you have boy hair then?"
With that he zipped back to his spot on the risers
and said to his neighbour, Mikayla:
"She's a girl but she has boy hair!"
At that point I wondered if his mom also has "boy hair"!

a busy start

January back at school started with a bang!

I have two choir groups on the go

which took a lot to get organized

and means 3 lunch hour practices a week

and one or two recesses.

It's a hectic pace.

Then my drum unit needed organizing and so did the drums!

This week the racks for my ukuleles arrived

(thus the picture)

and so my class set of 30 ukuleles

needed to be ordered.

There have been some student issues as well

and kids getting sick and being unable

to attend the choral group

that I am taking to a choral workshop on Thursday.

So there's always something on the go and

something that requires follow-up.

Plus I've been on staff room kitchen duty this week

and that goes into next week as well, ending with

me bringing snack for the staff the day

I go to the choral workshop.

Wowzers!

But, all in all - it's very good

and I continue to love my job,

the amazing supportive staff I work with

and the kids - (most of the time)!

one prairie storm

 

 So the storm did come blasting in last night

with howling wind

and heaps of snow.

The deck was completely bare yesterday afternoon.

 But the lawn is still visible in many spots.

 

 The grader came through and pushed mounds of snow 

up onto our driveways

but then this lovely little machine came by

and cleaned everything up.

I wish he would have taken a swoop through

our driveway....

 More snowy wind sculptures.

And voila!

After almost an hour of both of us shoveling,

the job is done.

I would have been in full panic mode had this been Monday morning.

But it wasn't, so I wasn't!

Happy day!