For 30 years (from August through the first week of June) I woke up at 5:15 AM, so I relish sleeping in now. Well, I sort of sleep in. Each morning at approximately 7:17 I get a nudge on my arm. It is not my husband. I open my eyes slowly and see the big black nose and the big dark sweet set of eyes of our pup Boone looking at me. Just beyond his face is another set of big brown eyes and another tail that starts wagging as soon as he sees that I am awake. Koda, our grandpup who is residing with us currently, joins Boone each morning in the wakeup routine. This is how each new day begins. They are saying, “Mom! Mom! Get up! Let’s go on a walk! It’s a brand new day!”
Now, I never really fell for the peer pressure thing, but pup pressure is a whole different level! I can barely get in a cup of coffee before Boone is running around encouraging me to get dressed and take him on a walk. Seriously, he jumps off the ground in circles and runs into the closet where my shoes are. He kills me! Five out of seven days of the week he gets me out the door. Koda just follows Boone around knowing that I will be back to take him after I get back from Boone’s walk.
This morning as Boone and I strolled down the street, I hear the sounds of the local high school band practicing. It puts an immediate smile on my face. School is starting soon. Lots of firsts are about to happen! Many people in the world think August is just the month that is in the middle of the year and is hot. For anyone in education or that has kids… August is BACK TO SCHOOL!
August is filled with school supply lists and seeing what school clothes still fit. It’s deciding on whether or not you get the passed down backpack from big brother or get a new one. It is going up to the school and looking on the door to see what teacher’s class you are in and if your best friend is in it too. It is preseason football, volleyball and band! Freshman are figuring out the new lay of the land while the moms of seniors are starting to cry at the first of the “lasts!”
School administrators are leading teams that will be ready for a new year. Nutritionists are getting the school kitchens and cafeterias ready. Bus drivers are practicing their new routes. The floors will be spotless and ready to go due to the hard work of the custodial crews. All the T’s will be crossed and I’s will be dotted thanks to the paraprofessionals that are working so hard in the offices. Educators are headed to meetings, watching videos, doing team building activities and will soon be in their rooms getting ready for their new kids. THEIR kids! The kids that have been assigned to them - these kids that will depend on them, frustrate them, grow from them and will love them. It’s the same each year… yet it is different. Every year it is a new beginning!
New people. New experiences. New challenges. New goals. New memories. And although next August will come around again next year and the next…. it will never be the exact same NEW beginning as this year will be. So, take it all in, slow down, appreciate it and enjoy it all! Because before you know it, it will all begin again! However, it won’t ever be the exact same! It’s August and it’s exciting!
If you are not in a situation where you are around anyone in education, I challenge you to join in the excitement. Help out with these new beginnings for new teachers! Donate to a cause like www.aid4edu.org, an organization that helps new teachers supply needs for their classrooms and students. Or buy some school supplies for some kids in a store while you are shopping, or take some up to a school. Go donate some money to a school for a kid’s lunch - there are plenty of kiddos that can’t afford to eat and need a little help. Let’s all pitch in together to make this school year’s new beginnings a little brighter because August is way more than just another month on the calendar!