For those of you who stalk my blog... this is for you! I am a blogging slacker and I apologize for those of you that I have given you nothing to do but stare at the same pictures and read the same stories for the last three months! It's awfully hypocritical of me because, I'll be honest, when I go to your blogs that haven't been updated, I curse your blog, roll my eyes, and click on the next person who, chances are, haven't updated either. Oh, the bane of blogging. I'll give you the fast forward version of my life in the last three months. Basically, it's AMAZING! I have met so many fun, new people and learned so many new things! Here's the preface to my story...
I got my minor in Health as a back up plan... you see, most positions for P.E. teachers in a public school system come as a package deal- the P.E. teacher and the Health teacher. Most P.E. teachers in a public school system fit the standard stereotype: homosexual or mean (to be politically correct, of course). I'm sure all of you have the same story of your High School P.E. playing dodgeball or mat ball (those of you from Milton will remember that classic...Katie...hahaha). I am also sure that you have a clear picture in your mind of your P.E. teacher...(pause- time for out loud laughter)... I was always paranoid of being that teacher. I also was paranoid of being the health teacher... two words... sex ed... I don't know what's worse: being the student or being the teacher. All I know is that I got a health minor, Aced my classes, of course, and never wanted to talk about a penis to a group of Jr. High students again. So, my story starts here...
In August, I got a job at The Colby School! The Colby School is a private school in Park City with the most amazing P.E. program ever! Anne, my fellow colleague at Colby, used to be the P.E. teacher but 5th grade has always been her calling in life so she has moved forward. Hence, the amazing job left open for me! Grandma Riddle, love that woman... anyone who knows her will know why... saw the ad in The Park Record in August for an opening at The Colby School. She quickly called Denver to inform him of the position. I looked into it, but I was slacking about sending in my resume. I was working at The Factory (basically rec center) in Lehi and didn't want to leave them high and dry. I started to research more about the position. I read about the school, the philosophies, their outdoor education program, and their P.E. program. Everything I read described what I had ALWAYS wanted to do with my career! So, I sent the resume! Things moved forward very quickly from there! In one week's time, a lot happened... strap in... I had sent the application, had a first interview, got a call for a second interview and an opportunity to sample teach, went to teach, got a call back, was offered a position, and signed a contract by Friday! Whew! Oh, did I mention that school started on MONDAY! haha It was a whirlwind of excitement! So, school started and it has been a BLAST! I love my fellow teachers, they get kudos for being fantasic, and I love the students! The curriculum is TONS of fun and because it is a private school I have been able to integrate some of my own ideas too! We started the year with the Colby Olympics! All of the kids were so juiced about the Olympics because we had just watched them all summer long! And, of course, working at the private school in Park City, half of my students' parents are past Olympians... and the little snots aren't afraid to share it! :D haha I love it! We worked hard for the Olympics, I'll be honest, I shed a few tears, but they turned out FANTASTIC! Everyone was so excited! The kids did so well in all of their events! Parents and teachers were all so pleased with how it turned out! I have even had teachers that continue to tell me they can't believe it's my first year teaching! Yay!
I have also just started a mountain biking unit with my Middle School students! It has been so fun! In a couple of weeks, we are going on a trip to Moab to mountain bike for three days! The first day we started the mountain biking unit, I was riding the trail, watching my students, thinking, "Holy crap! This is my JOB!"
A couple of weeks ago, my 5th grade students and MS students went to the Luge at the Utah Olympic Park! It was soo funny!
Ahead this year, we get to do a cross-country skiing unit and go to White Pine in Park City and Soldier Hollow in Midway. We are going to do a Creative Movement unit with a big performance in March at the Ecles Center in Park City! I was really stressed about Creative Movement and thought.. uh, I don't know how a basketball player will do teaching dance... BUT, I've been working with one of my most favorite people at Colby, Anne (the 5th grade teacher, used to be the P.E. teacher), and I am SO excited for it to start! That will be in December, and there will be LOTS of pictures to follow! At the end of the year, I will take the kids rock climbing, and I am in the works of thinking about a ropes course challenge at the National Ability Center for the cooperative games unit! I am hoping to go with the Middle School students on their spring camping trip and go white water rafting!... Honestly, need I say more? My job is so stinkin' cool! Ok, enough with reading.... "Let's get down to the nitty-gritty"(For those of you who have not seen Nacho Libre... I recommend it... but you have to watch it twice to think it's funny... like Napoleon Dynamite... :D ) pictures.... pictures.... pictures......
Colby Olympics...
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