The End of the Year Already

The time has flown. It seems we just loaded our cars with the instruments from the warehouse to distribute to eager new students, and now we are already collecting them, cleaning them and taking them back. All around, I have to say, it's been a pretty good year.  I know that for the first time in 15 years, I actually feel my own competency, know where I need to develop and improve and have begun to understand why I do what I do and why it matters.

In some ways our music department for the whole district has become more closely knit than ever, and the benefit goes to the kids.We have been trying to have more continuity between schools, keeping track of where kids go when they leave our programs at elementary or middle school. We have tried to connect kids from different schools through the music they can share. We have joined together as a faculty of performers to make the Staff Lounge jazz band.  I personally have watched several of my colleagues teach this year, and, I hope, have learned some new tricks.

My own classes have done well. I feel that the students who stayed with it through the whole year will move on to the next level next year with skills in place to succeed. I still puzzle over the ones who don't make it through the year, and am determined to address this- and maybe solve it- in the coming year.

Update the inventory, nudge some performers through a couple of promotion ceremonies, pack a few boxes (did I tell you we are getting a new room next year? Not much view, but GREAT air conditioning!) turn in the keys, and it's all over, Rover. There is summer school to look forward to, but a week off to hang in the desert with my sister, play Scrabble, swim, talk and talk. All too soon we teachers will be back at the warehouse, carrying armloads of instruments back out to our cars and trucks, wondering when the heat will break, wondering if there will be any stars, wondering what the new year will bring.