Wednesday, September 21, 2011

What's Up in Jordan Valley

The mornings are getting colder and darker. A sure sign to the end of summer.

On my way to work this morning I saw a mother deer and her fawn down the block from my house. I stop and just watched them for a few minutes. The mother just looked at me as the fawn ran around trying the get the mother's attention. It must be getting colder in the mountains or hunting season. I think the deer know that they can not be shot in town even during hunting season.

The ranchers are bringing their cows home. During the summer months they let their cattle go onto BLM land so they can harvest their hay crop which is usually closer to the ranchers homes. Now that they have all the hay harvested it is time to bring the cows back home. This means more cows on the road so be aware when driving in south eastern Oregon. Hit a cow in open range and it can be expensive. (Not as expensive as Lizzy's German Cows Tho)

This week must be Air Force training time. Every day we have fighter jets flying low between the school and the little mountain(hill) in back of the school. The planes are so low that the kids can get a good look at them. When they hear the first one comming they all run to the windows. Usually they miss the first one but they are in position to see the next two that are following close by. I guess our country side is great to teach the pilots how to drop into canyons and then pull up. The kids are so impressed. One said yesterday these planes are better than the ones on the computer games. Today one of my Juniors was in the bathroom and he said I thought it was Pearl Harbor all over again. Like he was around when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

The high school and the middle school are getting into the swing of sports. They have a couple games under their belt and they are off and running. The football is undefeated and are starting to get swelled heads. My juniors bet me $500 that they will win their game this weekend. (they are playing a team that has not won a game in years) I had to turn them down not because they did not have the money but I do not have $500 to throw away. One of our middle school players is out for the season with a torn ACL. The team does not think they will win any more games. They do not have faith in themselves.

A group of my middle school students were in a 4 wheeler accident this past weekend. It was dark and they were trying to rope a deer but they ran into the ditch. No major injuries but they did learn a lesson. If you are going to rope a deer do it in the daylight.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Does Baylor look like baby Johonna???

You all know that I am a picture buff and now that Baylor is starting to look like a little human I decided to see if he looks anything like Johonna did when she was little. Take a look.

JohonnaBaylor Baylor
Johonna Baylor Johonna


Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Lessons of School

We have been in school for 3 weeks and it is already time for progress reports. What student is failing in the first 3 weeks. Well we had some close but no one had any F's but we did have a few with D's. You would think that in a small school that students would know what homework is. I had a student tell me "In grade school we corrected our papers so if I did not have it done then I just socred it like I did a good job on it" Well not in high school. I am not a big giver of homework we usually have time in class to get everything done but some teachers do give a fair share. Of course my freshman student did not understand the purpose. Well, I told him, sometimes you need to take work home. His father is a rancher and I reminded him that his father's is not always done in a 8-5 day.

Today our seniors took the ASVAB. When an Army representive is here to give the test the students get all nervous. I told them yesterday that we use the test to help determine what type of career is a fit for them. One of the girls said "Are they going to use our scores to draft us" I told her that only the boys have to sign up for the draft unless congress makes some major changes.

We had our first football and volleyball games last week. I have no idea if we won or not because I was busy with my class running the concession stand. I was so proud of how hard my kids worked. (Yes I did tell them) We were busy making hambugers, chirizos, popcorn, and other concession stand food. One thing we did learn, when you spill the popcorn oil on the floor it is very slick. We were slipping and sliding all over the place but we did make $200.00.

This year we have 13 middle school students. I love teaching middle school students. They are a little scared and they do not act like they know it all. At least with computers. They are very good playing games but not typing. They have had years to learn to type wrong and now it is my job to change them. What a task. I have them right after lunch so sometimes they are a little hyped up on some kind of surger and they always have to go to the bathroom during class. It is just the way it is.