Lo, and behold, our local TV station had also designated the day "Be a Friend Friday". The irony wasn't lost on me.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Irony
Yesterday began with an "emergency" faculty meeting, to which I was invited. It was more a briefing about the grief counseling that was available for the high schoolers (and the staff, if needed) from the school district because of the suicide of one of our high school students Thursday.
Lo, and behold, our local TV station had also designated the day "Be a Friend Friday". The irony wasn't lost on me.
Lo, and behold, our local TV station had also designated the day "Be a Friend Friday". The irony wasn't lost on me.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Heart Break And Happiness
Last night I was sitting as the university competition pool, getting ready to watch the state swimmers warm up. The meet was due to start in about an hour. My phone jiggled and I knew I had a text.
I pulled my phone out of my bag and flipped to the text. A PTA friend messaged me that one of our high school seniors had committed suicide an hour or so before now. My heart sank. How devastating. I immediately felt sympathy for her parents, siblings and family friends.
There were not many details yet--just an announcement. My friend asked that if I hear anything, to please let her know. So I shot out a message to a teacher-friend and another PTA friend who happens to be a long term sub at the moment--both teaching at the high school. Had they heard? Did they know anything of her? Her family?
The meet got started, and I tried to focus on the happiness all around me. I watched senior swimmers who, undoubtedly, had worked their whole "career" for the minute and a half shot for a championship in the water. I saw teams spend their efforts to pull off great achievements in speed and coordination. I watched some freshman and sophomores upset older student swimmers to reach their own achievements, likely to be repeated or defended for years to come.
Then my phone jiggled again. Texts coming in. My teacher friends hadn't heard much, but the details were starting to be discovered. A fight with a boyfriend. A drive up the canyon. That boyfriend who found her hanged. Impromptu student candlelight vigil arranged for to be held in another two hours. Messages flooded to the students to wear their Sunday best to honor her memory. Again, my heart was breaking.
The Girl stood atop the block, waiting for the start. The race began and she was off. Really off, actually. She wasn't swimming like herself. And it was difficult to watch. She pushed through whatever she was fighting in her head to finish--8th place in her heat. Not at all what er saw two weekend ago at the region finals. But she still swam the 200 yards in less time that her regular season time. Didn't get a personal best i this meet, but she finished--and not the very last in the event. There are only 19 others in the state faster than her. That is still something to celebrate. I'm still very proud of her reaching her goal--just by qualifying for the state championship.
The final event that we watched last night was the 50 freestyle. At the Olympics this event is called the "Splash and Dash" and the winner is crowned the "fastest in the water". One of our Viking swimmers was the top seeded entrant. He was off the blocks like a shot and back before we knew it. 21.2 seconds. What can you so that fast? Swim 50 yards? Nope? Me neither. But Nate can, and he did! He was our first State Swim champion! I was so happy for him! And for our team!
Between the good I saw at the swim meet and the unfurling heartbreaking details of this local tragedy, there was some tempering. The spectrum of human emotions is a broad range. And I saw both ends of it regarding our little high school community.
I pulled my phone out of my bag and flipped to the text. A PTA friend messaged me that one of our high school seniors had committed suicide an hour or so before now. My heart sank. How devastating. I immediately felt sympathy for her parents, siblings and family friends.
There were not many details yet--just an announcement. My friend asked that if I hear anything, to please let her know. So I shot out a message to a teacher-friend and another PTA friend who happens to be a long term sub at the moment--both teaching at the high school. Had they heard? Did they know anything of her? Her family?
The meet got started, and I tried to focus on the happiness all around me. I watched senior swimmers who, undoubtedly, had worked their whole "career" for the minute and a half shot for a championship in the water. I saw teams spend their efforts to pull off great achievements in speed and coordination. I watched some freshman and sophomores upset older student swimmers to reach their own achievements, likely to be repeated or defended for years to come.
Then my phone jiggled again. Texts coming in. My teacher friends hadn't heard much, but the details were starting to be discovered. A fight with a boyfriend. A drive up the canyon. That boyfriend who found her hanged. Impromptu student candlelight vigil arranged for to be held in another two hours. Messages flooded to the students to wear their Sunday best to honor her memory. Again, my heart was breaking.
The Girl stood atop the block, waiting for the start. The race began and she was off. Really off, actually. She wasn't swimming like herself. And it was difficult to watch. She pushed through whatever she was fighting in her head to finish--8th place in her heat. Not at all what er saw two weekend ago at the region finals. But she still swam the 200 yards in less time that her regular season time. Didn't get a personal best i this meet, but she finished--and not the very last in the event. There are only 19 others in the state faster than her. That is still something to celebrate. I'm still very proud of her reaching her goal--just by qualifying for the state championship.
The final event that we watched last night was the 50 freestyle. At the Olympics this event is called the "Splash and Dash" and the winner is crowned the "fastest in the water". One of our Viking swimmers was the top seeded entrant. He was off the blocks like a shot and back before we knew it. 21.2 seconds. What can you so that fast? Swim 50 yards? Nope? Me neither. But Nate can, and he did! He was our first State Swim champion! I was so happy for him! And for our team!
Between the good I saw at the swim meet and the unfurling heartbreaking details of this local tragedy, there was some tempering. The spectrum of human emotions is a broad range. And I saw both ends of it regarding our little high school community.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Life Lessons: The Disney Way
Everything I learned, I learned from Disney...or rather, Pixar movies!
Don't you agree?!?
Don't you agree?!?
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Random Visuals
Just for the fun of it today, here are a few picture-thoughts to ponder...
I realize it is past the election, but the way our systems seems to work, I want you to remember this NOW and at election time.
When the Magical world meets the Muggle world...it isn't always pretty, ya'll.
And just in case you needed a reminder that Valentine's Day was coming, here you go. It is true, too, by the way.
Happy Wednesday!
Happy Wednesday!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
It's a Lucky Day
Today is one of my favorite PTA days of the year. We have the enviable job of handing out the student recognitions for the first semester. This means that I and a gaggle of PTA moms divide and conquer the campus, delivering certificates for High-Honor Roll, Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance. And with that certificate comes a candy bar and the perfect attenders get a Taco Amigo certificate too. FUN!
We interrupt the classes--with fair warning to the faculty--and happily single out each student receiving a certificate. It is a wonderful way to recognize all the good these kids just do. We are pretty lucky to have such good kids at PGHS. And I feel very lucky to get to work with them and our fantastic faculty and administrators in my role as a PTA president. Lucky, indeed.
We interrupt the classes--with fair warning to the faculty--and happily single out each student receiving a certificate. It is a wonderful way to recognize all the good these kids just do. We are pretty lucky to have such good kids at PGHS. And I feel very lucky to get to work with them and our fantastic faculty and administrators in my role as a PTA president. Lucky, indeed.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Looking For An Edge
The Girl, we learned over the weekend, qualified for the state swim championship! This was her overall goal this year for swimming. I'm very proud of her. After the times she dropped last weekend at their region meet, we were fairly certain she had done enough for the state qualification. We now know for sure.
In anticipation of this week's "careering ending" meet, she ordered a clearance teach suit. This one cost about as much as her regular team suit (because it was clearanced) but these suits can run into the $300-500 range at times. Luckily, she didn't see any reason to go that crazy. But she is hoping the added edge these supreme racing suits give will help her drop again for another personal best in her event.
The women's 4x100 yard freestyle relay also qualified, but The Girl was the only individual Viking girl to make the cut. That was an impressive feat. Here's hoping for success on Thursday night!
In anticipation of this week's "careering ending" meet, she ordered a clearance teach suit. This one cost about as much as her regular team suit (because it was clearanced) but these suits can run into the $300-500 range at times. Luckily, she didn't see any reason to go that crazy. But she is hoping the added edge these supreme racing suits give will help her drop again for another personal best in her event.
The women's 4x100 yard freestyle relay also qualified, but The Girl was the only individual Viking girl to make the cut. That was an impressive feat. Here's hoping for success on Thursday night!
Sunday, February 3, 2013
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