A CHALET AND A PROJECT

What a joy to see all of you back all rested ( some not ) and glowing.

I found out most of you had a great holiday, were very spoiled and enjoyed being with your loved ones.

It`s good to know that even though you are teenagers you still enjoy being with your family ( parents included) . There`s hope for my kids. I figured when they hit 14-16 years old the last thing they`ll want is being with mom and dad therefore planning on enjoying the next 8 next Christmases. Wrong, you guys had quite a family holiday and were all smiles when talking about it. That really impressed me. You guys are great.

Our Jean Nicolet School tradition was just fun this year. For those not attending the school, the tradition consists of the whole school ( staff and students ) skipping period 1 to get together in the central corridor for free juice and doughnuts and lots of mingling between the teachers and students.

I had the chance to speak to my kids and to those I had last year now in Sec.5.

One told me she is going to study Language Arts to become an English teacher ( the new generation woohoo ) and told her our profession needs passionate and energetic teachers and she fit that profile.

I then chatted with an other student to fix our dinner date. Karine won the typical German meal I had offered for the school`s Christmas auction and she won. January 18 is the official date and surprises are already in the works.Can`t wait.



By 9:30 I had had 3 cups of java and was pumped. Along with the all the hugs and kisses from my kids I was bouncing off the walls so much I was bubbly. By noon I was ready to go back home and take a nap while thinking : " But I`m only 35, what will it be when I`m 50 ?"

Ahem.

So I quit the coffee and switched to water. I still had the whole afternoon to do and didn`t want to scare my kids by talking 100 miles an hour.

Before I went to heat up my lunch ( I was meeting a certain sec.5 student for a secret project )I meet another sec.5 student waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs.

" Annie " he tells me, " Remember the homemade caramel you gave me the last day before the holidays ? Well I dropped the jar and it broke so I never got to eat it ! "

Etienne has the cutest puppy eyes after my son`s so what do you think happened ?

" Etienne, what a coincidence I have a brand new jar upstairs in my office in the fridge and a little something you might like with it , just follow me "

And to my office we went.

I hand him the jar in question and freshly homemade bread done last Sunday night. Actually my bread machine made it but it`s a real treat.

Of course there was a bunch of teachers in the office and enjoyed telling me I spoil my kids too much and asked what THEY should do to get the same star treatment ?

Etienne and I just ignored them.

Why do I spoil them so much ?

I don`t think I do really.

I just give a little of what they give me.
They feed me and I feed them caramel.

I taught these kids 2 years and unconsciously spoiled me rotten by being interested, interesting, so sweet and authentic, always giving their best, trying new stuff ( risk ) and they`re cute.

How many teachers on God`s green earth can boast about that ? Honestly.

They give me a lot so once in a while, I give back.

My kids in Sec.2 and 4 this year : SAME THING.

Etienne : enjoy darling.



By now you`re wondering about the title of today`s blog and when I`ll get to the point.

Well, for the past ten years ( Nadia correct me if I`m wrong ) my sisters and I reunite at this chalet ( log cabin ) way up in the mountains in the middle of nowhere where we gather together with our husbands ( NO KIDS ) for 3 days and basically do a lot of things : A lot of eating, dancing, playing poker, eating and not a lot of sleep.

We try to stop time for a few days : no phone, no tv and lots lots of talking and laughing.

This year after a few years of absence , our baby brother ( he`s 30 ) joined us with his fiancée.

It was her first time at the chalet and I hope to God we didn`t scare her.

My sisters ( we are three girls and a baby brother ) my brother and I have tons of fun together. We become kids again- pesky even ( you`ll have to check pesky in the dictionary kids ).

Always respectful and in good taste but pesky. We turn 5.

We figure the spouses are the only adults in the chalet and that`s not a reference sometimes.

Unfortunately my brother had brought a karaoke this year.

Bad idea.

We loved the darn thing but we had no talent.

You should have heard Caroline singing Scarborough Fair( Now titled : A Caro Scare ) or Nadia, Caroline and I with Lady Marmelade ( Now titled: 3 filles malades )

Bad, nasty even.

We thought we were great.

It`s only the next day when we viewed the video ( because we like to film our stupidities )

did we blush. We finally understood why our two dogs were howling so much.And our spouses too as a matter of fact !

Have you ever laughed so much you cried. Well that`s life up on the mountain in the chalet- for three days.

Now do you understand why I miss it so ?

But seriously next year, Karaoke : no way !

Unless my brother accidently packs it........



Ok Annie, enough -what about the project ? I need your help.

Actually there are two ;



Number One :

January 27 is the international literacy day ( the quality or state of being literate, esp. the ability to read and write. )
Lots of elementary schools within our school board need books.
Kids like books in general but if they are good and not too outdated. And what better way to encourage elementary kids to read than with " new " books. Not new , right out of the store new, but in the sense never been seen book. Understand ?
I am sure you have old books at home somewhere you haven`t touched for a while and do not know where to store them anymore .
Why not give it to teachers who have books so old that they are actually as old or older than me. Imagine.
So you have till January 18 to hand in your books that I will redistribute across the school board in your name.

Number Two :
For my own personal research I need your input.
Answer the following question on a loose leaf ( it shouldn`t be long ) and hand it in for January 18 also. Bonus points for anyone participating.
The question :
In all your years as a full-time student, aside from the subject they taught, what have teachers taught you over the years?
For example, take your grade 6 teacher, aside from math, French etc.what did you learn from him or her ?
I do not want any names, keep it anonymous but do write yours on the loose leaf so I can give you your bonus points.

On that,
Tata,
Annie