As I look back and reflect on this school year it has been one filled with successes, accomplishments, a lot of changes, some adjustments, and all of that culminating with a heart filled with pride.
To say that I was excited about this new school year was an understatement. I was over the moon, super duper, giddy like a kid in a candy store excited! Was I nervous? You better believe it! I was excited to get the party started but I was scared out of my mind. I was on a crazy roller coaster ride of emotions with ups and down and topsy-turvey I’m-going-to-hurl kind of feelings. The minute I was offered the job I screamed out of excitement but just seconds later I was breathing hard frantically thinking, “Oh, geez, what did I just get myself into?”
To say that I was excited about this new school year was an understatement. I was over the moon, super duper, giddy like a kid in a candy store excited! Was I nervous? You better believe it! I was excited to get the party started but I was scared out of my mind. I was on a crazy roller coaster ride of emotions with ups and down and topsy-turvey I’m-going-to-hurl kind of feelings. The minute I was offered the job I screamed out of excitement but just seconds later I was breathing hard frantically thinking, “Oh, geez, what did I just get myself into?”
Yes, I was excited but I have to admit I was also so very nervous. I went from the majority of my career in elementary with the Littles to the big ol' teens. GULP! Did I make the right move? Would I be just as happy if not happier than I already was in my current position at the middle school? Would I be successful in this new and very different position? Would I be able to make a difference in this library and with these students? Would I be able to learn all the new curriculum? Would I be able to be the collaborative partner with the high school teachers? Would my super cheesy ways be too cheesy for the older teens? |
All of these fears were undeniably real and extremely loud in my head. The summer of 2018 was the summer of planning and unavoidable stressing. I was constantly planning and working in my head, on my laptop, or on my iPhone quickly jotting down any ideas that popped up in the most random of times throughout the day and "stealing" ideas from my PLN (personal learning network) from Twitter. Although my fears and worries were ever present, I did my best to ignore them and take on the attitude of "just get'er done" the best that I could.
Before the school year started I was inducted into the world of high school by helping with prep days. Two days at the end of summer where students come to get prepared for the year by getting their badges, clearing their fines, buying their athletic gear, etc. I was excited to finally meet some students. I walked down the hall filled with the school's clubs and noticed the Stevens Folklorico table. The kids explained they were sponsor-less and what their club was all about. So, of course, by the end of the day, I kicked off the year agreeing to be the Stevens HS Folklorico sponsor. I thought, sure! How tough can sponsoring a dance club be? Little did I know this is one of the busiest dance clubs in the district being asked and invited to perform all across the district and the city. They have kept me busy! And I have to admit I have enjoyed every minute of this fun filled Folklorico year!
When the school year officially started (finally!) and the library doors finally opened to welcome the students in, I was ready! Ready to meet them all. Ready to book talk. Ready to checkout books. Ready to have some library fun! I was excited to open the doors and welcome the teens to their library and, of course, to their new librarian!
My goals for this new school year, in my new-to-me school and grade level were simple:
Sure there were other goals such as weeding and getting to know the collection but for me it comes down to people before stuff. My goals were established, the year had finally started, my excitement was palpable but, as with all change, kids were hesitant at first. They came in slowly and a bit shy but soon they got to know me and the library quickly became the place to be in the mornings and during both lunches. Having a library full of students studying, reading, working, eating, gaming, and hanging out is exactly what I had visions of our school library to be.
When the school year officially started (finally!) and the library doors finally opened to welcome the students in, I was ready! Ready to meet them all. Ready to book talk. Ready to checkout books. Ready to have some library fun! I was excited to open the doors and welcome the teens to their library and, of course, to their new librarian!
My goals for this new school year, in my new-to-me school and grade level were simple:
- Get! Kids! In! The! Library!
- Make the library the place to be for all and make sure they knew this.
- Encourage a reader life to students, staff, and everyone that came into Stevens HS.
- Collaborate and partner with teachers in teaching their curriculum.
Sure there were other goals such as weeding and getting to know the collection but for me it comes down to people before stuff. My goals were established, the year had finally started, my excitement was palpable but, as with all change, kids were hesitant at first. They came in slowly and a bit shy but soon they got to know me and the library quickly became the place to be in the mornings and during both lunches. Having a library full of students studying, reading, working, eating, gaming, and hanging out is exactly what I had visions of our school library to be.
Aside from books+kids being my number one "why", I've often said another one of my teacher-librarian "whys" is teaching and collaborating. I'm a teacher at heart so of course I love to teach! Get me in front of a group of kids and I'm going to make it a teachable moment because that's just what I love to do. So, making myself and the library accessible to the Stevens staff was extremely important to me this first year. Letting teachers know I was ready and willing to work with them and teach with them was an important goal for me.
One of my favorite lessons this year was with the FCS future educator's class teaching them how to do a read-aloud with elementary students. I had so many storytime tips and tricks to share! One of the best collaborative opportunities that has come about this year is the partnership with our Stevens English/Mexican-American Literatures studies teacher, Mr. Lopez. Having the opportunity to sit in and experience his class is one thing but having an opportunity to teach a lesson in the Mexican-American film and literature class was a whole other experience that I will forever be thankful for. I didn't have the opportunity to take a class like this in high school. I had to wait to get to college to take classes like this and that is way too late to learn about Mexican-American authors and poets and their work.
I have to admit my most favorite event of the year was graduation. Seeing our kids, I only just met a couple of months before, walk across the graduation stage as a culmination to their hard work, their studious life, and sometimes overcoming some pretty difficult obstacles made me feel nothing but pride and joy for them. Everywhere I go I make sure everyone knows my Stevens pride and that our Falcon students are worthy. Worthy of praise, admiration, and celebration. Every year I will look forward to this big day as one of their biggest cheerleaders. Way to go, Falcons! Fly high, Falcons!
It is an honor and my sincere pleasure to be the Stevens HS librarian! And I can’t wait for the fun we are sure to have in the years to come. Until then, gotta get back to my summer reading, friends!