MENTORING

This morning I went for training at the elementary school where I will be mentoring.  The training was very short.  The guidance counselor spoke for a few minutes, then the principal had a short power point presentation on the school.  They are currently constructing a new building that will be ready for students for the 2014-2015 school year.  The school provides free breakfast & lunch to every student.  97% of all students qualify for free lunches which allowed them to qualify for a community grant to pay for all lunches.  The school has a very transient population.  There are only 320 or so students in the school today; however, this school year they have had over 400 different students to attend. 
After the presentation we got to met our students.  Mine was already at lunch so we went to the cafeteria and the principal called her over and introduced us.  I asked her if she wanted me to sit with her where she had been sitting with her class, but she preferred moving over to tables that are set aside for the mentors to have a more private lunch with their student.  It was easier to talk with her one on one rather than have lots of kids around.  They gave us a questionnaire with questions to ask our students to help break the ice.  I found out quite a bit of information about my little mentee.  She's
in the 1st grade -- right in between my granddaughters, Kate & Gabby.  Her favorite colors are pink and red.  Her favorite food is sandwiches and her favorite thing to do is play.  When I asked her what she like to play, she said she liked to play outside.  I asked her if she liked playing out in the cold and she said yes, other than her nose getting cold.  I told her that she needed a nose "mitten."  She thought that was funny.  When asked what she buy if she had a million dollars I was surprised when she answered a dog.  Hmmm, a million dollar dog??  That goes along with her favorite books -- they're about Biscuit, the dog. 
She asked me if I'd be there forever.  I told her that I didn't have any plans of leaving and planned on being around.  She also told me that she was afraid.  I'm not quite sure that was what she meant as she didn't seem afraid at all.  She seemed excited and happy and I even got a hug from her. 
I think our first meeting went very well and I'm looking forward to going back and spending time with her.

W2's COMPLETED - MOVING ON TO ANOTHER ADVENTURE

I've been working at completing the W2's and all of the reconciliation paperwork at church for a while.  Last week I went ahead and handed out/mailed the W2's for all of the employees.  I let the Federal, State, and local forms sit in the file cabinet for a few days while I stewed over them hoping that if I had made any mistakes it would magically come to me.  There is nothing quite like completing forms for the government.  I always worry over my own tax returns that I file.  I can say that I always try to fill everything out completely and honestly.  Today I went to the post office and mailed all of the forms to the government agencies.  What a relief to get them finished for this year!   I should be able to cut down on the hours that I'm putting in as treasurer now that all of the year end paperwork is completed.

Tomorrow I go to the elementary school for training so that I can volunteer as a mentor.  Plans are for us to meet our "mentees" after the training.  I hope mine is there.  Evidently a lot of kids have been out sick lately.  I'm really looking forward to this adventure! 

RETIREMENT

It has been so long since I wrote a post that I'm not sure I'll be able to remember how to publish it!  As of January 1st I am officially retired.

So far I'm lovin' it.  I've been staying busy at home and at church.  I've spent a lot days going into church to get organized.  I've been working as treasurer since July but I felt like I was just doing the bare minimum to keep bills paid and payroll done.  Now that I have more time I've been cleaning out drawers, emails, files, etc.  Some things are getting stashed in a place where I can get my hands on them, if need be.  I don't think they're necessary, but I don't quite have the confidence to toss them yet.  When I was in school, many years ago, I could not do my homework until my room was all picked up.  I'm going thru the same thing at church.  I've got to get everything in order before I can dive into the W2s that need to be completed by the end of the month. 

At home, I've done a little photo organization.  I've sorted through duplicate photos that were my mothers or grandmothers.  I've labeled my photo albums by year.  This is a very loose labeling and I do know that there are some pictures in a few of the albums that don't really belong there, but there were empty slots or pages where those photos would fit.  More than likely, if you know the year that a photo was taken, you'll be able to find it.

I've also done a little quilting.  I embroidered a quilt top when the girls were in high school.  The youngest graduated in 1999 so  you can see how long it's been.  The quilt top has been stored in the closet with the backing and batting pinned in place.  Since I've retired, I've quilted 3 of the 12 squares in the quilt.  That's not bad....so hopefully I'll get it finished this year.

 

Guess I'd better get off of here for now.  I have a lemon cake in the oven and I need to get down to the kitchen.