The First Day of School (round 2)

Today's version of the first day of school went SO much smoother than last year's first day of school. Sure there was still plenty to do and prepare for beforehand, but teaching the procedures and routines vigorously from the very first moment allowed me to set parameters with the students, and set high expectations for the school year......including telling them to act like CIA agents as we tiptoed through the hallways, practicing lining up and walking down the hall.
I felt like I'd been talking far too much this morning, big surprise, I know, & so when I gave the kids a chance to get out of their seats & do some Yoga, & then "interview" each other for a getting to know you survey, & overheard a student say, "this is so fun!" I felt reassured that things were going well.
One student, after I told students to notify me if I mispronounced their names, & one student not only jumped to correct me in pronouncing his name, but in several of his classmates' names as well; it was only slightly obnoxious. 
There were several incidents throughout the day, like students taking lockers assigned to other students, and one heavier student shoving one kid in line & injuring 3 other students in front of him. ....he also managed to rip his pants during a teacher read-aloud. What an adventure! He was rocking back & forth with his shirt stretched over his knees, and when I asked him to "sit on his pockets," he slightly complied. At the end of the story when everyone else had been dismissed to their seats, he didn't move. When I inquired as to what the problem was, he informed me that his pants had ripped & he was too embarrassed to get up. I asked if his shirt wasn't long enough to cover the rip, & he said it wasn't; but he had the "ingenious" idea to grab a backpack & put it on to cover it up. Wow! What a funny kid! I can't imagine something as devastating as ripping ones pants on the FIRST day of school!

Suicide Alters Student's Life

So...........I've really been under the impression lately that people do not fathom how their use of agency can greatly affect others around them. I've had some personal experiences impact me, but this came to a head for me yesterday when I also attended a funeral yesterday for one of my student's dads. He is a particularly gifted student who I grew to love dearly this school year. For whatever reason (s),his dad chose to end his own life last week, & I got the news upon coming back from Virginia.
Although I was rather late to the funeral, my student & his mom saw me when I arrived, & came over to talk to me after the closing prayer at the service. My student was visibly upset & shaken, wiping his cute little eyes with a handkerchief, but as we began talking & I steered away from topics that would involve his dad or things that reminded him of his dad. Unfortunately I heard multiple comments on how he looks just like his dad; not a very timely or appropriate comment. He & I talked basketball, the Olympics, & the fact that he's going to take up guitar now that he's inherited 3 of his dad's guitars.
 I can't imagine what my poor student is going through, being that he has spent the weekend with his dad the least couple years, since his parents divorced, & he has to adjust to not only not having the same place to go on the weekends, but also having to live with the knowledge that he's seen his father grow depressed over time & then take his own life. He can't have had any idea how much that would affect his only son.