9/21

Monday I lived in the front and top of my head. I started a list of keeping-a-school-running tasks/logistics/legal requirements that I’ll use as a reference next summer, so I can get a bunch of admin work done before the actual start of school (unlike this year…where I wasn’t organized because I didn’t realize quite how much I’d be taking on). A conversation with an awesome woman Bear brought in started me thinking of an outline for a SparkNotes-esque “How to ALF” post for newcomers. A conversation with David (and a series of others) started me thinking about a post on supporting parents. There were so many emails and email and emails…About growing an organization. About metrocards. About attendance. About the pope.

Then @douglasawesome and @failspy invited me to the museum to draw animals, and I went. Came up with an idea while driving to imitate those preschool groups where adults lead vested kids on group-leashes through the park, with the roles reversed of course. Played outside while walking. Drew elephants and lions while hanging out with some awesome humans (much warm gratitude to Alex Patz for offering the trip). Came back to school feeling very balanced after the creative, heart-space expression.

Jumped into conversations with kids about food, playing at acro, and the GROOC I’m starting on edx. It was a really great day.

Tuesday was full of younger kids fighting, older kids Culture Committee-ing, and parents emailing. It all went smoothly and I felt really comfortable throughout–sure that our community and structures could support all the pressure and support it well–but it was a pretty consistently challenging day. I was pretty exhausted by the end of it…but exhausted in that way that comes from challenges and growing. So exhausted in the best way.

Wednesday, most people went on a trip to the Uncommons. I stayed back to hold down the fort 🙂 I got to play dodgeball with @agilealfie @pigcraft8 and @heartabby. Alfie and James did a really good job changing up the dynamics of the game to keep it fun in spite of their combined OP’ness and Sterling’s frustration with dodgeball including projectiles coming at him. Then we came downstairs and played some Monkey-in-the-Middle. Made tea, then went back to our computers for the last bit of the day.

Today I ended up doing acro with @failspy @douglasawesome @thewitchqueen908 @serenagermany and @pigsfly for most of the morning, then painting with @creeperclaws for most of the afternoon. There’s no school tomorrow, because the pope will be in the neighborhood and traffic is predicted to be messy.

@bear and @ryanshollenberger are crammed in the elevator right now with pieces of the Galactic Nemeses cabinet, in the process of bringing it to the Maker Faire (this weekend!). I’m glad to be blogging and not trying to fit in there with them 😉

Enjoy the weekend!