Today may have been one of the funnest (word?) days of my City Year so far. Here's a basic math equation (we're City Year, we like math) as to why today was so great.
Starting at 10:15 + no uniform + corps appreciation breakfast + afternoon off to spend with the team = best day of work ever
I actually had to be at HQ at 9:30 for a secret santa exchange. I had been given someone from Orchard Gardens and someone from the English High School had me. It was kind of awkward because I didn't really know either of them, so I couldn't really personalize my gifts except what I had found out about them through the information I had been given. Oh well, it was a good idea.
After the Secret Santa exchange, we headed downstairs to the Civic Forum where breakfast was being served for all of the Corps and Senior Corps by the staff. The staff (mainly the PMs) had interviewed kids from each school CY serves in about why they love City Year. They interviewed three third graders from NHCS, who were super cute. The video had high schoolers, middle schoolers, and elementary schoolers which was awesome. The last clip was of all of my babies on the playground yelling "we love City Year." It was really cute. They also did a rollout of Senior Corps and showed a video for that too. They interviewed each senior corps member and asked them why they came back for another year. Erica was awesome and said something like "so I can make sure that my corps members get the chance to connect with students like Kenny and Starr who haven't connected with a Corps Member yet." I definitely want to apply for Senior Corps and I know I'll be devastated if I don't get it.
After the rollout, we met as a team to figure out the rest of the day. Erica and Danielle had also prepared a little winter surprise for each of us. Erica had made bags that look like a fireplace with each of our stockings hung up on them. I wouldn't peg her for a crafty person, but these were some of the craftiest projects I have ever seen. Inside each bag were notes from some of our students wishing us happy holidays and thanking us for working with them. It was the cutest thing. Even my buddy JA, who at one point was saying I picked on her in morning reading, wrote me a note. As I read it out loud, I started to tear up because as much as she drives me crazy, I love her. She's like the younger sibling that may drive you crazy, but you still would do anything for. I feel that way about JA. She's so smart and is so funny and great to be around when she's in a good mood. I also had notes from JR (my other Course Coaching girl who I adore) and my first grade buddy KC. I really appreciated the notes. Danielle had also written us cards and Erica is going to give us hers on Monday (she didn't have time to finish them after making our bags). I don't think there was any sort of materialistic gift that could have topped these notes. All of us have students we love and hearing that they appreciate us back is truly priceless.
Anyways, after breakfast, we went to Rachel and Pat's house for our team secret snowflake exchange. Megan had me and gave me a scarf, which is funny because I had Sam and gave her a scarf as well. People had really good gifts and put in a lot of time in choosing them. I was proud! We went bowling afterward, which was a blast. You really can't go wrong with bowling. There were really good bowlers and really bad bowlers. I was on a team with Sam, Erica, Rachel and Ethan at first, but we were definitely the amateur team comparatively, so we traded Rachel for Pat and the teams were shockingly even. I wasn't the best, but I definitely wasn't the worst (cough...Rachel and Sam). It was so much fun. Bowling is fun even if you aren't good. In fact, it's even better when there are a few people who aren't good. Our team also just has a lot of personality, so doing anything competitive is bound to be great.
I am truly blessed to have this family here. I've said it a million times, but I wouldn't be able to do it without them. I love each of them so much. Merry Christmas NHCS!
"Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well."-Voltaire
P.S. Holly texted me today saying there were 11 students in our class today and that literally half of the lower school was out. DROPPING LIKE FLIES!! IT'S AN EPIDEMIC!!!
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