It has been a great first week so far!  As I walk to and from school every day, I have time to really think about what I appreciate.  Here’s a partial list in no particular order:

• Walking to work every day (it’s about a mile, so not too far, but it lets me get my head on straight)
• Seven days of paid orientation, department meetings, and planning time before the first day of classes
• A week-long professional development conference for all new faculty about classroom management and how to run a fabulous advisory program
• Block schedule (fewer, longer classes)
• Recess and snack every day for all middle-schoolers!
• First day middle-school assembly was filled with laughter
• Canoeing down the Mississippi with the eighth grade on the third day of school!
• Conferences with advisees and their families on the fourth day of school
• I have only received two things in my physical mailbox since I started… everything else is handled via e-mail and various on-line tools.
• Delicious, healthy food at the cafeteria every day (for students and faculty)
• First faculty meeting had only one item on the agenda: discussing specific, individualized strategies for helping students who struggled last year get off to a good start
• Twice-monthly meetings with my principal already scheduled from now until May
• Did I mention recess and snack??!?!