T'was the night before "first day" and all through the house
My mind was all whirling as a cat stalks a mouse
My bags were all stacked by the front door with care
In the hopes that I would not forget them right there
My spouse, with his patience, and my kids, so blasé,
For them, it's tomorrow, just a regular day
Note: the above poem was not written by AI. This was my version. I might ask CoPilot or Gemini to see what it comes up with and post it at the end, since dealing with Generative AI looks like it will be a big part of my academic pursuits this school year.
This week begins my twenty-ninth year of teaching. Even after so many years in this profession, I still get nervous and excited about the new school year. This year will be different because there's something new to my portfolio; in addition to library and Grade 1-5 ESL (which was brand new to me last year), I'm going to be increasing the amount of guidance support I'll provide, from a single period per week in the past to a significant chunk of my time.
This summer, I enrolled in the Guidance and Career Education Part 1 AQ with York University as a student. I didn't talk as much about this AQ as I did about my ESL Part 2 AQ with Queen's, and my Media Specialist AQ with AML. (Taking three AQs in two years was a lot for someone who is relatively close to retirement. I think I'm going to take a bit of a break from adding to my OCT certifications for a while!) I enjoyed my course. I learned a lot about what I hadn't been doing, what I need to do, and what I will do. For instance, I read the Ontario Ministry of Education document "Create Pathways to Success", as well as the OSCA Ethics Guidelines. I really appreciated the course instructor, Dan. He's been a high school guidance counsellor as well as a York U AQ instructor for years. Not only did I learn about being a guidance teacher-counsellor (a very important distinction from being a social worker, psychologist or therapist), I picked up some tips on how to effectively manage Moodle courses. So, I will be offering some more official, formal, scheduled guidance-related instruction and administration in this school year.
As part of the course, I joined the Ontario School Counsellors Association. Being a part of subject associations can be useful for professional development. In addition to OSCA, I'm a part of ECOO, the Educational Computing Organization of Ontario, the AML (Association for Media Literacy), and OLA / OSLA (Ontario Library Association / Ontario School Library Association). Consider joining a subject association that might benefit you.
This school year looks like it will be a busy one. In addition to my regular teaching load, there are six potential conferences that I might be presenting at - I won't say which ones yet, as I'm still waiting for some confirmations.
The last week of summer was filled with some work - evaluating the York TL AQs I taught, getting the library ready for students, and attending the AML annual think tank as well as a CSLJ (Canadian School Libraries Journal) editorial team meeting. It wasn't all labor prior to Labour Day. I ended the summer on a high note by taking our family to the CNE for my son's 23rd birthday and visiting the cottage of a family friend in Sturgeon Point. My daughter, son, husband and I tried all sorts of weird, wonderful and unhealthy foods at the Ex. The oddest was probably the deep fried pizza.
To my students and fellow staff members - I offer you my continued support as you teach and learn throughout this school year. I will also rely on your support for me as I begin a new role, try new things, and attempt to improve my pedagogical practice. I wish us all luck!
P.S. I asked Microsoft CoPilot and Google Gemini the same prompt and this is what they gave me.
The prompt was = Please write me a poem, in the style of Clement C. Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas", but about the first day of school.
Microsoft CoPilot's Version:
Absolutely! Here's a playful, nostalgic poem in the style of "A Visit from St. Nicholas"—but instead of stockings and sleigh bells, it's backpacks and sharpened pencils:
A Visit to School on the First Morning Back
'Twas the night before school, and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring—not even my mouse.
The backpacks were hung by the front door with care,
In hopes that the school bus soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of lunch trays danced in their heads.
And Mom in her robe, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a short summer nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the dew-covered grass
Gave a luster of morning to each windowed class.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a yellow school bus, drawing ever so near.
With a driver so lively, so jolly and cool,
I knew in a moment it must be for school.
More rapid than eagles, the children they came,
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
"Now, Emma! Now, Aiden! Now, Lily and Jack!
On, Sophie! On, Mason! Get into your pack!
To the top of the steps! To your seat in the row!
Now dash away! Dash away! Off we all go!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the schoolhouse the children they flew,
With lunchboxes, notebooks, and new pencils too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard down the hall
The chatter and footsteps and laughter and all.
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
Down came the teacher with a welcoming sound.
She was dressed in bright colors from her head to her shoe,
And her smile was as warm as a morning sun’s hue.
A bundle of books she had flung on her back,
And she looked like a scholar just opening her pack.
Her eyes—how they twinkled! Her dimples, how merry!
Her voice was like music, her tone light and airy.
She spoke not a word but went straight to her task,
And welcomed each student with kindness and class.
She sprang to the board, to her team gave a cheer,
And the classroom lit up with excitement and fear.
But I heard her exclaim, as the bell rang in school:
"Happy first day to all, and to all—learn and rule!"
Would you like a version for older students too—maybe high school or college? I can tailor it to any age or vibe!
Google Gemini's Version
'Twas the night before school, when all through the town,
Not a student was stirring, not a frown could be found.
The backpacks were filled by the front door with care,
In hopes that the morning would finally be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of new crayons danced in their heads.
And Mama in her PJs, and I in my sweats,
Had just settled down to check our old debts.
When out in the street there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the sofa to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the brand new-cut lawn,
Gave the luster of midday to our car, now withdrawn,
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a small yellow bus, and eight tiny students, so dear!
With a wise little driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be a trick.
More rapid than eagles his students they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Daisy! now, David! now, Marcus and Trixie!
On, Oliver! on, Paul! on, Sarah and Dixie!
To the top of the classroom! to the top of the hall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the students they flew,
With the bus full of papers, and new teachers, too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,
The shuffling and rustling of a little new hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney a teacher came with a bound.
She was dressed all in denim, from her head to her foot,
And her clothes were all tarnished with chalk dust and soot;
A bundle of books she had flung on her back,
And she looked like a teacher just opening her pack.
Her eyes—how they twinkled! her dimples, how merry!
Her cheeks were like roses, her nose like a cherry!
Her droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on her chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pencil she held tight in her teeth,
And the smoke it encircled her head like a wreath;
She had a kind face and a little round belly,
That shook when she laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
She was chubby and plump, a right jolly old scholar,
And I laughed when I saw her, in spite of my dollar.
A wink of her eye and a twist of her head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work,
And filled all the bookshelves; then turned with a jerk,
And laying a finger aside of her nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney she rose.
She sprang to her bus, to her team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard her exclaim, ere she drove out of sight—
"Happy school day to all, and to all a good night!"
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