Again

March 9: Day 1 of actual "work"

Today was the day we actually went to the school, got a tour, met the kids and teachers, and got a taste of what we would be doing. And what we're doing is a little surprising. We all thought this would be a needy school with lots of work to be done and they just needed the warm bodies to fill vital roles. Not so much. It's a Title 1 school, which means at least 40% of the kids have free and reduced lunches, this school has somewhere around 80%. So there's obviously a deficit in the kids' home lives. But since they're Title 1, they get an enormous amount of funding. A ridiculous technology budget and classroom with teachers, aids and interns from local colleges. Which leads to us. Obviously we can help, but is this the right place? We're expected to make lasting, tangible changes, especially in the areas of creating a newsletter and getting the parents involved in the school. There's already a newsletter and the parents quite involved, especially for such a poor and transient population. Right now the desired tangible effects are a bit dubious. I see the tangible effects being our presence in the students' lives and that won't be seen until they get a little sad when we leave and maybe some of them will join Americorps in the decades to come.
I'm gonna be bouncing between the four 3rd grade classrooms as a resource person. Somewhat similar to my last job, and all the Collaborative people will understand, especially with the age group/maturity level. I think I'll have a decent amount of fun. The teachers definitely have their shit together, almost to an intimidating degree and the kids seem to like me. One boy called me handsome in front of his friends and quickly followed it with a "no homo," so as not to emasculate himself in front of his chums. It'll be a quick and dirty and fun 7 weeks.