half day for lower school

Half days are great, especially for the staff.  Every other Wednesday is a half day for the lower school, which means they are done at 12:15.  This means that the lower school City Year CMs have a break from 12:30-2:00, which is a  lot of time when you're used to running around like crazy all day.
Even though I wasn't in the classroom, I should have known better than to think I would have two hours to just hang out.  There is always something that comes up or is waiting for me to do, and today was no different.  I ended up spending my two hours in the office with Erica trying to figure out the focus list for first grade.  A focus list is a group of students that I am supposed to be working with this year in a small group or individually and track their progress. There are all of these requirements about who goes on a focus list and, since usually CY isn't in first grade, none of the requirements fit any of my students.  B y the end of the two hours, we got it figured out, but there was a lot of complaining going on between Erica and I. Oh well.
After that whole ordeal, I was ready for Course Coaching and some interaction with students.  I went upstairs to my CC room, but neither of my students showed up. One of them is doing Big Brothers/Big Sisters, so I knew she wouldn't be there, but the other was absent, so I ended up back in the office just doing other random work. After work, Erica and I went to the gym. We aren't really sure if that breaks the fraternization policy of TL/CM hanging out outside of work, but it got both of us to the gym, so until someone says no, we're going to (try and) keep going.
So, needless to say, today was a little different since I basically spent four hours in the office and not really interacting with students, but it was nice to hang out with Erica and some of my team mates.  Now that everything is underway, we really only see each other in the morning at Morning Circle and at the end of the day for Final Circle. Every other Wednesday is a half day for lower school and hopefully I'll be able to use that two hours some weeks to get lunch and actually enjoy my break. If not, it'll be a good time to get stuff done.
In other news, today is one of my best friends, Sara Morgenstern's birthday.  There aren't words to explain how much she means to me and I wish her nothing but the best today (and every day). She is one of the most humble, friendliest, loudest, most outgoing, kindest people I know.  If I can be half the friend she is, I will be content.  I am so lucky to be able to say she is one of my best friends and I don't know what I would do without her.  Happy birthdayy Sara! Love you!!