step outside, summertime's in bloom...
Hey y’all!
Happy (almost) July! Oh boy, this Oasis lyric/title inspiration from Don’t Look Back in Anger couldn’t be anymore accurate! This Virginia heatwave has been nasty and my allergies are suffering. My poor little Ike has been trying to keep cool amidst his coat of thick black fur, and I’ve brought out the shorts (although I hate how my legs look in them) for my own relief in this weather.
This heatwave, however, means that I’m on summer break. It has finally arrived. Lucky year number seven has ended and I honestly still don’t know how I feel about this, even two weeks after we were dismissed for vacation. I enjoyed my school year content wise; I actually got to the end of my curriculum. I went from 1865 to as “modern” as I could possibly go; the kids learned about globalization, new technologies of the 1990s and, gasp, 2000s, as well as 9/11, during the final weeks of school! I attended some of the end of the year activities as well.
feelin’ fancy at the formal!
I went to the 8th Grade Awards Night to especially support Lisa’s younger daughter who was being recognized, and then I helped Lisa with her National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony (she’s the sponsor). I got to witness many of my now-8th graders receive membership into this prestigious academic society. Lisa and I also attended the 8th Grade Formal Dance as we usually do. I got the chance to say goodbye to many of the 8th graders I taught the previous year throughout the final week of school. And, as tradition, all of the teachers went to the bus loop and waved off the students (with tears from most of us) as the buses rolled out for the final day of the school year.
This was the end of year “lucky seven” for Lisa and I!
My students that I ended the year with, however?
Well, let’s just say I don’t have any hope that I will trust this group to one day grow up, find steady work, and contribute meaningfully to my Social Security. The sense of entitlement and laziness was real. I’m honestly scared for their future, but it’s also not my problem anymore. They are now 8th graders and I get to see what’s in store for me for my next group of 7th graders. I had no luck in getting into a high school (again), but I will not give up this dream! I will continue to apply and see what comes my way, even if it means teaching English instead of History.
Speaking of teaching English, Cymone and I survived our first week of summer school! We only had two days with the students this past week; the first two days were our work days. We used those days to get our classrooms ready and attended meetings about the summer school expectations. We even had some time to go out on the track and do some walking, despite the 100 degree temperatures! I was a little sunburnt, but it faded within the day, as this Texas girl has always thrived in the sun. It felt amazing getting some sunlight and exercise, and it was easier to do it with Cymone by my side as motivation. We were able to kill time by shooting the shit and before we knew it, we’d walked two miles. I’m so happy that I have Cymone to be my “accountability buddy” as we try to lose some weight.
My summer school students are trying to get credit to pass English 10. They’re taking English 10 a second time because they failed it during the school year. They need to pass this summer if they want to enroll in English 11 and be considered a junior. So far, most of them seem like they want to get the work finished so they can receive their course credit. They’ve been respectful and polite, but not very talkative. They ask for help when needed, so I appreciate all this, especially when my 7th graders caused me a headache most of this past year. These sophomores are indeed a refreshing change. I also like the fact that I get to change things up and teach English, rather than History! I may be a tried and true history nerd, but there is something about explaining texts and writing research papers, poems, and journals that also makes my heart happy. I love to write (this blog is evidence of that) and I’ve mentioned before that I’m trying to piece together a novel (of the romantic and historical fiction variety), so being amongst students taking an English class has certainly revived my dream to continue drafting and editing what I’ve typed so far.
I’ve since been inspired to compose a series of what I’m calling: Letters I Will Never Send. I’ve been in my head lately about my (lack of a) romantic life; how I’m nearing my mid-30s and haven’t come close to getting married. I have so many bottled up feelings and emotions about the men who have come and gone. As the title says, I’m not going to send these new letters to the “recipients.” More than anything, it’s catharsis for me, since I’ll never receive closure from the men who will be “getting” these letters. Some letters will be longer than others; the length, of course, depends on the impact the man had on my life during the time we knew each other. As I write these letters, I will also continue to write my historical romantic fiction novel, and fictionalize my own experiences as the ones my lead heroine will encounter in the plot of my story. The first letter is linked if you are interested in reading through it, as you, dear readers, are not the intended recipient. I doubt the intended recipient will ever read it…and even if he stumbled upon my words…I could care less. He’s not a factor in my life anymore and I don’t aim to please him. My words won’t impact him, especially when we haven’t talked in almost a year!
All this writing I’m doing is not to say I’ve lost interest in teaching History! Just today, I had a call with the the History & Social Sciences curriculum specialist of the county I’m employed with. The state of Virginia finally released the new units of study and standards public schools will need to follow. I, alongside Lisa and four other teachers in the county, have been tasked with creating new unit guides and suggested lessons for other 7th grade middle school teachers to use. This is to help all teachers have adequate materials as we familiarize ourselves with teaching the new standards (the Industrialization/Gilded Age unit alone is a behemoth). This is paid work as well, so it’ll be nice to pocket some extra money while creating engaging resources for my fellow history teachers to use! I’m always happiest when I’m working on anything history based, so completing these resources is certainly not what I would call boring! It’s also great professional development; I’m hopeful that my experience with curriculum work can get me a position with the department at the county level. That would be a dream…and it would get me out of the classroom!
A rare photo of Mamie (the tortie) and her brother Ike.
After summer school is finished, I will have two whole weeks to myself before year eight arrives and I have to do the history teacher thing all over again. Those of you who think teachers just do fuck-all (pardon my language but it’s necessary) during the summer, well, as you can see in my case, we do not. Many of us hold a second job and/or attend professional development sessions, all while maintaining a home life and trying to mentally recharge after 180 days of dealing with children. And you can’t even say we get three whole months to enjoy; it’s only eight weeks! My summer, summer school or not, really does fly by.
I’m grateful for the time I do have to work on my personal writing, bonding with Ike and Mamie, sleeping in when I can, and spending time with my friends and family. I’m blessed really, to have most of the summer to focus on myself. I’ll try to plan a weekend to Richmond (I need a VMFA/Floris/brewery day) with Breanna. She and I usually go to the Floris tea room at the VMFA and enjoy a beautiful high tea service after visiting the museum exhibits (they’re currently featuring Frida Kahlo’s artwork). I love getting all dressed up for our tea, but I love even more that Breanna will actually do this with me! We just need to figure out a weekend that works for both of us. Maybe I can talk her into going to The Answer for a beer and some yummy Vietnamese food…
what a life it would beeeee…if you could come to mine for tea… (Floris, Richmond, VA - April 2025)
Breanna, her husband (my fellow history nerd/former teacher), Thomas, and Jessica and I will definitely be headed to Great Meadow for their 4th of July fireworks show this week. Cymone and I plan to be “ladies who lunch” and enjoy a nice meal out once a week after we’re done with summer school for the day. Lisa and I will probably drunk brunch at our favorite restaurant, Ted’s Bulletin (I need me a Ted’s Tart, stat), at some point when we’re not working on curriculum planning, and I’ve got birthday celebrations for my mamá and papá this month!
I’m praying I finalize my trip to Texas. Last time I visited was Spring 2022 and as I’ve stated before, I’m now a tía! My niece, Gabrielle, is now over a year old and I still haven’t met her, so I need to get to Texas to meet her and spend a few days with my brother and sister-in-law.
Busy, busy, indeed, but I’m all the more blessed for having so many wonderful and fun summertime distractions with my most favorite people.
Gabrielle makes the same face I do whenever there’s cake in front of me! Isn’t she the sweetest?
It’s also Britpop summer, as Oasis will officially start their reunion tour in Cardiff, Wales on July 4th. I’d much rather be in Wales for Independence Day to witness this epic first concert, but I guess I’ll have to live vicariously through social media for tour updates. I wasn’t even close to getting on the waitlist for the Chicago gig at Soldier Field. Alas, I won’t get to see the Britpop legends live for the reunion, but at least I can say I went to one of their concerts in my lifetime.
So, feliz summer y’all! Keep posted for more frequent updates since I’ve got more time back to write to my heart’s content.
many happy returns,
-kate.
