Major violation

While walking down the hall today I overheard a student drop the 'F-bomb'...something that is absolutely not allowed and is considered a major violation. I approached him and repromanded him and told him it was his warning and next time he'd be making a visit to the principle. I walked away and a few minutes later popped my head into another teacher's room and asked him if swearing was a major or minor violation. It's a major. Oh geez...I can't just let this slide. I knew if I was going to be firm it had to start now. The teacher encouraged me to go talk to the principle who ended up giving the kid an in-school suspension.....second day of school. Ahh...I felt so bad. I know he's a good kid. He came to my class late cause he was talking to the principle and the student apologized to me and wanted to make sure I didn't have the wrong impression of him. He was great the rest of the class and had been great the first day as well. But, I know that if I'm going to make a difference, there has to be some discipline. He's gotta learn, but man it's hard. It's odd...when you're in school you think your teachers delight in punishing you and turning you in but that's not true. I so wanted to give this kid a second chance and yet I knew to be fair and set a standard, I couldn't. tough love.

Preparations

Well, today is officially the last day of my summer...we start school tomorrow! Wow! Where has the time gone?!? I can still remember thinking about this day a few years ago and how far off and scary it sounded. Well, here I am and I'm not scared...I'm so excited!! I get to teach 120 7th and 8th graders.....so pumped!

It's been amazing the past week or so how helpful everyone has been. People pop in my room to see how I'm doing, teachers are genuinely excited that I'm there, teachers encourage me and one teacher even prayed with me about some things that were weighing heavy on my heart. It's amazing! Every day we start with staff devotions and today the superitendent, who is unlike any other superintendent I've ever met, talked about a parent who came up to him at the elementary open house in tears and thanked him for everything he's done. See, this man's son is known as 'that kid' at school and over the past year or less has done a 180. How awesome is that?!? These teachers have such a passion to teach and love these kids so much. I see Christ reflected more in this school than in any church I've ever been in.

I got to talking with another teacher yesterday about my struggle with whether to teach at a Christian school or to teach in a public school. Do I go where I can easily talk about my faith or somewhere where I am challenged to be a light through my actions and not necessarily my words??? He told me about a student in his class when he student taught that was labeled SBD or something like it and how he was able to get really close to this student but couldn't share with him the love of Christ. The student tried to take his own life and just hit rock bottom and this teacher really struggled with the fact that he wasn't allowed to share Christ with him. I think people forget the number of nonChristians in a Christian school. Sure there are a lot of kids there that go to church and some that don't but how many are just going through the motions? I've come to realize that even though I'm at Christian school, there's still a mission field and I have the freedom to talk about Christ whenever I want. That's such an incredible opportunity!

I know God's brought me here for a purpose. I'm excited to see how He uses me this year. I pray that God's immense love and grace will work through me and speak to my students.

Magic Jeans

Tonight I wore a pair of jeans that I haven't worn since my freshmen year of college....four years ago!!! I was incredibly excited!! And then I went out and ate pizza and ice cream....lol...oh well. So that's my story......I'm sure you girls can understand my happiness.

Oh, and one more thing....go see the movie The Island. It's fantastic! Definitely a strong underlying message in the movie. I'd label it an ethic adventure movie. That's right...ethics....it's in there. Go see it. And girls...Ewan McGregor looks pretty darn good in this one. You thought he looked good in Moulin Rouge ;)

'Lil Scoundrel

I went to feed my fish this morning and as I looked around the tank, I noticed that my fiddler crab was no where to be found. I stood up and something caught my eye over to my right. At first I thought it was some enormous spider and then I realized that little sun-of-a-gun got out and had crawled across the living room. I scooped him up into a cup using a large ladel and plopped him back in the water. I think I'll name him Mischief.


p.s. just found my goldfish in his claws....he bit the dust....just flushed him a bit ago. not good if a science teacher can't keep something as low maintenance as a fish alive.

A pensive moment

Tonight I've had some time to just stop and think about everything that has happened in the past 2 weeks. I've uprooted myself and moved two states over to a city I know very little about in order to teach at an amazing Christian school. Sometimes I can't believe I decided on this job over the public school close to home, but then I realize that it doesn't really matter where I wanted to go or which place would be an easier transition. I know God wants me here at this school. For how long? I have no idea but for now, I'm here...in Aurora, IL ready to teach hormonal 7th and 8th graders some science. I've been so busy lately I haven't really had time to think about the big move or whether I'm lonely or not, or maybe it's just that I'm not lonely and that I'm ok with this move. And again I remember...Jen, you didn't move here by yourself. Your Dad came with you. I've felt a lot of different emotions since moving and even before. Fear, doubt, loneliness, anxiousness, nervousness, excited......usually feeling more than one at once.
I've always been one who likes to have a handle on what's going on, where I'm going and why but the past 4-5 years have taught me that I just have to trust God to guide me. Looking back, I'm amazed at where He's taken me and what I've learned and how I've grown. I'm excited to see what things He leads me through this year. For right now, all I know is that I'm here to teach and minister to my students. Because I'm at a Christian school, I have an incredible opportunity to daily share Christ in my class. That will be awesome!
Please pray for me....this year will be difficult due to it being my first year of teaching and trying to get acclamated to a new place and making new friends.

The Welcome Family

Many of you from IWU know who Rachel Stone is. Well, Rachel lives here in Aurora and her dad teaches at Aurora Christian and when I came out at the beginning of June to look for apartments, her parents immediately introduced themselves and gave us their contact information. The other day I was at my apartment and Rachel's mom, Donna called and invited me to go out to eat with their family and to a movie. It was so much fun and such a blessing to find such a great family. She mentioned that she's the type that will invite me over all the time and if I ever get tired of them I don't have to say yes. Thing is, they don't understand how much this helps me with this whole moving thing! It's amazing the people God sends along to help us in our times of need and change.

Moving On

Wow....it's been a month since I've written anything on here! Well, July was great but went way too fast. First there was family vacation....great times! Then a few weeks later was our Yearly Meeting for Evangelical Friends Church-Eastern Region. That was a lot of fun too, but July had another important factor....it was my last month at home. I just moved Friday the 29th into my own apartment in North Aurora, IL. I start teaching at Aurora Christian Schools on the 24th of August and boy do I have a ton to do before that day! Moving is a pain in the butt. It's overwhelming.....set up electric, phone, internet, tv...blah, blah, blah. There are so many hidden costs. I'm nervous and anxious to start school and meet some of the teachers. I'm also really excited to find a church and get plugged in. It's there that I feel like I will have the opportunity to really make some good friends my age. This is all kinda scary, you know, moving out on my own but at the same time it really gives me a sense of accomplishment having done all this on my own and paying for everything on my own. It's tough but with God's help, strength and guidance, I can do it. So with that, carpe diem :)