Well, when one teaches kids first and content second, sometimes things go differently than planned. Oh, we certainly managed to get through what I had planned for the day, but there were a few “unexpecteds” along the way.

First, food. So, when I set out to provide a student store this year, I imagined that I would have a few snacks available for kids in addition to the expected school staples of pens, pencils, paper, etc. Then, due to the kindness of community, both known and anonymous, the Sy’s Student Store grew to something more.

Yesterday, through the compassion and coordination of Jessica Deutsch and Kelly Depner, I was able to help feed hungry kids with the donation pictured above. Cheney Middle School, in partnership with Communities in Schools, had surplus food to share, and they, aware of what I was doing to help feed kids, generously offered the above bounty of apples, carrots, bread, potatoes, and Nutter Butters.  At first, I was a bit reluctant because I wasn’t sure if my method of distribution would be efficient enough to keep with the items’ limited shelf lives, but I wanted to try, and I’m glad I did. By day’s end, it was mostly gone, and I’m confident that it will be by today’s end. I am so grateful and proud to be a part of the Cheney community; there are so many kind, generous people who want to help, who want to make a difference. And they are. Because of recent feed-the-kid events like this, conversations are being started at the district level to find more ways to sustain a steady supply of food for our kids. Thank you Jessica and Kelly for making a difference. Hungry kids can’t learn. And kids shouldn’t ever be hungry. Ever.

Second unexpected: sleep. Had a first yesterday. Had a young lady ask me if she could put her head down and sleep for ten minutes. Oh, I have had kids nod off before during some of my marathon-mouth moments–I could barely stay awake, too, but this was different. She needed a nap. There’s more to the story. She lives with narcolepsy. I was aware of this, for she told me, insisting that I not take it personally should she nod off, but up till now she had managed to fight off the urge to nod–a struggle that I have witnessed regularly. But today was different, the struggle too real. So, of course, I consented. She assured that me all her work was done, and that she only need ten minutes. The rest of kids were working, and they are generally aware of her situation, so I didn’t think it would call too much attention;  it was an easy yes. Interestingly, she is doing her My Learning project on narcolepsy, hoping to deepen not only her but society’s understanding with her EQ: What is it like to live with narcolepsy? Now, thinking back on the situation, imagining that a principal walked in and wanted to know why a kid was sleeping in class, I would have been happy to reply that she was simply doing research for her project.

Happy Friday, all.