You can imagine my surprise when I visited my blog today and discovered I have not posted for over a month.  Not only am I shocked because I promised myself that I would value my time to reflect and blog and continually contribute on a regular basis, but I can not believe how fast time flies. 

So, what you have been doing with your summer?  I wish I could tell you that I went off to some gorgeous island to spend my summer, but that would not quite be the case.  Yes, you could reference an island, but I would be referring to the island that exists in my job.  My office is actually away from the main campus.  I am not complaining, but simply pointing out that I am alone physically and in my roles, responsibilities and levels of concern on most issues since my job is different than other administrators in our district.

The first week of July (after the 4^th), we had our administrative retreat.  I led the day full of activities centered on high quality instruction and RtI.  We used Wordle to map out readings that we did for a jigsaw activity, and we even played Pyramid at the end of the day to wrap up our learning. 

The second week was full as well.  I worked with our administrative intern, prepared an AIS Teacher Center class with a teacher, and planned out a schedule for a 3-day meeting regarding our New Teacher Induction Program. 

During the third week, I spent three wonderful days with teachers focusing on Alden’s New Teacher Induction Program.  We decided to focus our induction program a bit more, and that we did.  We created a SOPPADA for our superintendent for her full review.  And I rounded out the week with AIS preparation for the Teacher Center class mentioned above.  I also met with the Buffalo Professional Development School Leader, Leslie Day, who was a wonderful person to meet and greet.  They have an excellent program to check out!  AND I wrote and prepared for Opening Day (September 2, 2008).  Letters were mailed August 4^th.

After spending two days teaching the Academic Intervention class, I worked on our two Staff Development Days that are in August – prepared the letter and activities, mailed out contracts, etc.  I also met with our Teacher Center Director to discuss fall course offerings.  This took quite awhile since I customized the day for each department. 

AND to mix into all of this, we also have New Teacher Orientation (a full week in August) and the Title/Consolidated Application Grant to complete (and I am a newbie at that).  The other piece is that not everything is available for the grant and you have to check the web site every day.  It drives someone like me a bit batty to try to put a puzzle together that does not have all the pieces. 

Next week, I am supposed to go to see my brother (with my mom) for a week in Ithaca, NY.  It is nothing elaborate, but we are staying at a great spa!  So, what do you suppose is on my mind:

1. Does it have internet access?  I need to work on the Title Grant.
2. Will I have access to a fax?  Our personnel office is going to need to fax me some forms.
3. Will my superintendent have time to speak with me before I go?  I have a ton of questions about the grant.
4. Is New Teacher Orientation all set?  It starts the day I return.
5. I am wondering if I can come home a day early so that I can get work done. 

How do you stop your mind from racing when going away?  I am asking all the wrong questions and thinking all the wrong things right now.  What is my world coming to that I can’t go on a vacation and feel good about it?