Hi! Okay, so I have a rant and a revelation, hence the title of this post. I've gotten much better at naming posts since I had my first blog at 11-12ish...much, much, MUCH better. Even since I first had this blog. No, seriously, go look at old blog post names....
Well, to start with...I'm going to rant, that way you have a maybe treat at the end of this. And this rant may leak into SEVERAL rants.
First off. What's wrong with Pokemon Go? I see so many people posting about how people playing Pokemon Go need to "Go" out and get a job. I also know several people who play Pokemon go who DO have jobs and DO separate their Pokemon life from their Work life AND their personal life.
Also, I'm not aware if this is common knowledge, but people have been playing video games since...at least the 80s, I believe...and to my knowledge this is one of the few video games that require a person to leave their house to get far in it. MOST video games, you have to PAY money to get far in it.
For those of you who don't know, Pokemon Go is a Pokemon game made by Niantic (not Nintendo), that requires you to leave your house to catch Pokemon, rather than travel in-game, but not in real-life, you travel in real-life to travel in-game.
There are places called Pokestops, and you have to go to them to pick up Pokeballs, and other things (I don't fully understand), and also Pokegyms, which I don't really understand either. I've never actually played a Pokemon game other than Pokemon Showdown, although I would like to. A lot of these Pokestops and gyms are at churches...which...yes...means people are going to those churches! In fact, a lot of churches have been using this as outreach.
There are also people that I've seen on my friendslist on Facebook inviting others to go on road trips to different towns with them, to look for Pokemon! I mean, that's great! Actually getting out and about! Spending time with people! Talking about something (even if all it is is Pokemon, that's SOMETHING)!
From talking to one of my friends who plays the game, she struggles with depression and anxiety, and this has been great for her! Yes, she still struggles with depression, but she said that it's lifted her overall mood, and I know she isn't alone.
For a person who may struggle with social anxiety, and talking with others, especially strangers, this is fantastic. You see another person playing Pokemon Go? You actually have something to talk about, rather than struggling through small talk. It's like seeing someone read your favorite book, or wearing a shirt from a TV show or movie you like...you might say something to them, when you never would have spoken to them before.
But I still see people posting things about how people playing Pokemon Go, especially adults that play, should stop playing the video games, and go get a job. I don't see people doing that with Candy Crush, or Minecraft, or Undertale, or League of Legends, or really any game...other than, oddly enough, the game that has people actually doing something. And that frustrates me!
Okay. Now that was the rant. Time for a mini rant and the revelation.
Marriage and college. I often hear people saying not to rush into marriage, but if you decide to take a year off of college, you are rarely encouraged, but rather told that you should go immediately into college! Even if you don't know what you want to major in, or minor in, and really just want to take a year or two off, work a bit, then go back. What's up with that? I mean, neither should be taken lightly, but why rush someone into college when they aren't ready, while discouraging someone from marriage when they are ready, or when they haven't even said they're getting married super soon?
Okay, mini rant over.
I've figured out my minor! As most of you know (this isn't bear college I'm talking about now, it's what I'm doing after bear college. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I mentioned it in THIS blog post.), I am planning to take a year off of school, then go back for the 2017-2018 year, where I will major in education. I would love to be a teacher, but even more than that, I would love to be a daycare worker, or even a nanny. So I have had my major in place for about two years, give or take.
Recently, my minor was finally decided. And it will beeeee.... BUSINESS.
Why business? As most of you also know, I hate math, and will probably never open a big huge business. However.... I plan to work until I have children, but after that, I don't want my child to go to daycare, especially not when they're a baby, so, in order to stay with my child and be sure I know what kind of treatment they are receiving, I want to open my own home daycare, so I can take care of my child(ren), and still have a bit of income.
Also, even if I don't have children, a business degree ensures that I am allowed by law to teach business classes!
So...there you have it. A rant, a mini-rant, and a revelation.
Tune in next time to...well...see/here whatever comes to mind!
~Katie
Showing posts with label School. Show all posts
Showing posts with label School. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Modern Education
Let me take this moment to just say that our modern education system is messed up. Seriously! I saw a video on Facebook of this girl crying because of school and saying she just wanted to give up and be a stripper. I don't know, maybe she made that video for laughs, but there are other students who feel the exact same way she at least pretended to feel.
I don't like school. That may be a shock to some people, but it's true. I don't like school. I like learning. I hate when people think that learning and school are the same thing. They so aren't. I love learning, actually. I tolerate school, because right now, that's the best place for me to go to learn things.
But so much weighs upon a person, especially a high school student, while they're at school. Students are pressured to make good grades, so they can go to a good college, so they can get a good degree and get a good job. College is pushed so hard that it could turn someone off to the idea of college.
But then you also have students who work. There's a student at my school, who lives alone and supports himself. While also being the right hand man of the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) sponsor. He's tired a lot. Why? Because he's feeding himself, clothing himself, keeping his apartment paid for and still working to get good grades so he can go to college and go into a career with Google someday, by working his way up. After Google, he plans to go into politics.
There are students that are involved in sports and music and plays half of the clubs at the school, because those are the things they enjoy, but they also have to keep up with their grades.
And school itself isn't a bad thing, but what is is all the classes that students are required to take. A student only gets to choose three electives. Three. That's three things that they personally want to learn about and that they personally can choose to learn about.
Is an advanced Algebra class, for someone who barely understands Algebra1, who wants to be an English teacher really needed for them and their career? Stop telling students, "Oh, you'll need it later in life, no matter your career", without telling them why or in what situation. We're big kids. Give us the real reasons.
Is an English class really necessary for a student who plans to go into a computer engineer career? If so, tell them why, don't just say "because you need it", "because you'll use it in life", "because you need to be well rounded". Give them a real reason, please!
And the worst part for me is seeing all of the posters up for the state testing. Posters saying things about unlocking your potential, and doing great...what about the kid that bombs it? Has that student not reached their true potential, just because they bombed that test? Has that student...failed? Failed at life, failed at school, just flat out failed?
No! Because those tests prove nothing. They prove how book smart a person is. They prove how well a person is at tests. They prove how fast someone can read. They don't prove that this kid is good at singing, or that even though this kid reads slow, they remember and understand everything they read. It doesn't say anything about how this kid treats others. It doesn't tell anyone that this student is really good at computer programing.
Those tests only state...how well you did on that test.
Why not let students learn about things they want to learn about? Maybe a student does want to take all of those classes. Maybe a student actually likes working with imaginary numbers. Maybe there's a student who actually kind of likes picking apart sentences and sentence structure.
Why not give classes on book publishing, video game making, hey, maybe even intro classes for teaching! I get that it could get kind of expensive. But at least get the kids where they love to learn. Because then they can go out with their own initiative and find the things they want to learn about on the internet, with the teacher's guidance if they get stuck or need help. That's kind of what PBL (Project Based Learning) is. That's why I like PBL.
I honestly don't think that there are any students who would go ahead and have school, even if school was cancelled. I read a book once, when I was younger, called The Secret School, by AVI. It was about this one room school house school that got cancelled because the teacher either died, or got sick or had a death in the family, I don't remember which, and a fourteen year old girl, one of the smartest in the school, took the role as teacher, to ensure that people were still learning. Because they liked to learn.
I guess...school isn't really the problem, it's just that students don't like learning anymore. And probably because it's been shoved down their throats that they have to learn and they have to learn this and they have to learn it this way and that if they don't do well with their learning, they're not smart and have failed.
And this has gotten really really long, so I'll just end it now.
~Katie
I don't like school. That may be a shock to some people, but it's true. I don't like school. I like learning. I hate when people think that learning and school are the same thing. They so aren't. I love learning, actually. I tolerate school, because right now, that's the best place for me to go to learn things.
But so much weighs upon a person, especially a high school student, while they're at school. Students are pressured to make good grades, so they can go to a good college, so they can get a good degree and get a good job. College is pushed so hard that it could turn someone off to the idea of college.
But then you also have students who work. There's a student at my school, who lives alone and supports himself. While also being the right hand man of the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) sponsor. He's tired a lot. Why? Because he's feeding himself, clothing himself, keeping his apartment paid for and still working to get good grades so he can go to college and go into a career with Google someday, by working his way up. After Google, he plans to go into politics.
There are students that are involved in sports and music and plays half of the clubs at the school, because those are the things they enjoy, but they also have to keep up with their grades.
And school itself isn't a bad thing, but what is is all the classes that students are required to take. A student only gets to choose three electives. Three. That's three things that they personally want to learn about and that they personally can choose to learn about.
Is an advanced Algebra class, for someone who barely understands Algebra1, who wants to be an English teacher really needed for them and their career? Stop telling students, "Oh, you'll need it later in life, no matter your career", without telling them why or in what situation. We're big kids. Give us the real reasons.
Is an English class really necessary for a student who plans to go into a computer engineer career? If so, tell them why, don't just say "because you need it", "because you'll use it in life", "because you need to be well rounded". Give them a real reason, please!
And the worst part for me is seeing all of the posters up for the state testing. Posters saying things about unlocking your potential, and doing great...what about the kid that bombs it? Has that student not reached their true potential, just because they bombed that test? Has that student...failed? Failed at life, failed at school, just flat out failed?
No! Because those tests prove nothing. They prove how book smart a person is. They prove how well a person is at tests. They prove how fast someone can read. They don't prove that this kid is good at singing, or that even though this kid reads slow, they remember and understand everything they read. It doesn't say anything about how this kid treats others. It doesn't tell anyone that this student is really good at computer programing.
Those tests only state...how well you did on that test.
Why not let students learn about things they want to learn about? Maybe a student does want to take all of those classes. Maybe a student actually likes working with imaginary numbers. Maybe there's a student who actually kind of likes picking apart sentences and sentence structure.
Why not give classes on book publishing, video game making, hey, maybe even intro classes for teaching! I get that it could get kind of expensive. But at least get the kids where they love to learn. Because then they can go out with their own initiative and find the things they want to learn about on the internet, with the teacher's guidance if they get stuck or need help. That's kind of what PBL (Project Based Learning) is. That's why I like PBL.
I honestly don't think that there are any students who would go ahead and have school, even if school was cancelled. I read a book once, when I was younger, called The Secret School, by AVI. It was about this one room school house school that got cancelled because the teacher either died, or got sick or had a death in the family, I don't remember which, and a fourteen year old girl, one of the smartest in the school, took the role as teacher, to ensure that people were still learning. Because they liked to learn.
I guess...school isn't really the problem, it's just that students don't like learning anymore. And probably because it's been shoved down their throats that they have to learn and they have to learn this and they have to learn it this way and that if they don't do well with their learning, they're not smart and have failed.
And this has gotten really really long, so I'll just end it now.
~Katie
Sunday, February 21, 2016
I'm Where I'm Meant to Be
Today at my night church, we had missionaries from Hungary speaking about their ministry, and naturally, as we do every time we have guests, there was food afterward. A lady at my church asked if I was still attending the Bible School...to which I said no, I am currently attending FHS. She later asked if I miss IBS...and I said "no, not really". She seemed shocked.
Yes, I am happier at my secular school. Let me give you a quick rundown of a few things that would never have happened, had I not begin attending FHS.
Yes, I am happier at my secular school. Let me give you a quick rundown of a few things that would never have happened, had I not begin attending FHS.
- I would never have met Alex.
- Alex never would have told me what church he attends.
- I would never have tried out for the musical.
- I would never have had a practice that entailed me missing my night church.
- Because I never would have missed that night church, I never would have stopped by Alex's church to see how I liked it.
- Had I never stopped by his church to see how I liked it, I never would have found a church to attend on Wednesday night.
- Had I never found a church to attend on Wednesday night, I never would have found my new Sunday morning church.
- Had I never began going to that church, I would not be baptized today.
Sadly, I wasn't getting anything out of my regular morning church. I love the people and talking to them and all that...but I wasn't getting anything spiritual out of my previous morning church. I get a ton out of this church. And that's just one example!
When I switched schools, my stepdad said, "Katie, I feel like you're supposed to be here for someone." Maybe I was supposed to be there for me. Because despite having chapel every day at IBS, I feel closer to God now.
Maybe it's because when you have something every day, it becomes mundane, boring, pointless...but when you have it only a few times a week, it becomes more sacred and special. Who knows why? All I know is my personal experiences.
I've met so many people at this school, and have been part of so many activities that I'm almost positive that I was in more of the activity pictures than students who have been attending the Fredonia district schools their entire life.
It seems that every step I take, God reaffirms that this is where I'm supposed to be and that I'm doing what he wants me to do and I'm grateful for that. I'm so thankful for my church family and I enjoy our youth parties, and banters and Wednesday night Bible Studies that always somehow go off on rabbit trails and wind up with us learning about...well...a great variety of things.
I'm grateful for the friends I've made, and the people that I get to talk to on a regular basis. I'm happy that I get to drag my friend, Kalli, to the library every week or so. I'm happy for the neighbors who have invited me to come visit whenever I'd like.... Quite frankly, I'm happy. I'm very happy with where I am, what I'm doing, and other than like all humans who need to constantly be improving, who I am.
~Katie
Friday, February 19, 2016
"Real Women"
Real women have curves! Right? Which implies that unless you have curves...you're not a real woman.... Of course, that excludes all naturally twiggy women. I have no idea what they are, but they're obviously not real women. Are they women at all though? To find the answer to that question, I went to the dictionary. And here is what it told me:
"an adult, human female".
Well...that's a tad vague...I mean... what does that even mean? It says nothing about curves, or lackthereof. MAYBE if I looked up the meaning of real, it might make sense.
"actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imagined or supposed.".
Does that mean that...I've imagined all the skinny women I know?!
When I looked up "real woman definition", I was sent to this article: "real women". It says nothing about curves either! Of course, Urban Dictionary popped up...and because I'm typing this on my iPad at school, I couldn't pop it up, because Urban Dictionary has some...uh...moments where it's not very school appropriate.
But nothing I've found so far has said anything about real women having curves. Maybe if I look for a scientific definition, I can find out what a real woman is. Well, that didn't tell me anything.... But, I know from biology class that females have XX chromosomes.
Apparently, only curvy women have XX chromosomes.... Of course, with the definition of XX chromosomes, that also rules out "women" such as Caitlyn (Bruce) Jenner.
It's so confusing! What's a real woman anyway? Well, according to the dictionary and science, it's an adult, female human, that is not imagined, and has XX chromosomes...so...don't worry, my twig-like friends...despite what Facebook has tried to tell us, you are in fact, a real woman. And as for you, my friends with curves...as long as you're an adult female human, that has XX chromosomes and are not imagined, you're also a real woman!
Silly Facebook...you don't know how to use a dictionary.
~Katie
"an adult, human female".
Well...that's a tad vague...I mean... what does that even mean? It says nothing about curves, or lackthereof. MAYBE if I looked up the meaning of real, it might make sense.
"actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imagined or supposed.".
Does that mean that...I've imagined all the skinny women I know?!
When I looked up "real woman definition", I was sent to this article: "real women". It says nothing about curves either! Of course, Urban Dictionary popped up...and because I'm typing this on my iPad at school, I couldn't pop it up, because Urban Dictionary has some...uh...moments where it's not very school appropriate.
But nothing I've found so far has said anything about real women having curves. Maybe if I look for a scientific definition, I can find out what a real woman is. Well, that didn't tell me anything.... But, I know from biology class that females have XX chromosomes.
Apparently, only curvy women have XX chromosomes.... Of course, with the definition of XX chromosomes, that also rules out "women" such as Caitlyn (Bruce) Jenner.
It's so confusing! What's a real woman anyway? Well, according to the dictionary and science, it's an adult, female human, that is not imagined, and has XX chromosomes...so...don't worry, my twig-like friends...despite what Facebook has tried to tell us, you are in fact, a real woman. And as for you, my friends with curves...as long as you're an adult female human, that has XX chromosomes and are not imagined, you're also a real woman!
Silly Facebook...you don't know how to use a dictionary.
~Katie
Friday, January 29, 2016
To the Girl Who Criticized my Attire
So, awhile back (a really long while back, actually), some friends of mine told me what a girl that I had believed to be my friend was saying about me and my clothes. Apparently, she wonders why I "dress like this all the time".
For most of you that know me in person, you've kind of picked up on the fact that I wear skirts pretty much all the time. And by "pretty much", I mean all the time. At least in public. So...what's wrong with that?
To the girl who criticized my clothing...why couldn't you ask me yourself? In fact, I believe I told you while we were sitting together in the same classroom, and if I wasn't telling you, I was telling a teacher and you could have easily heard.
To begin with, that's how my mother was raised and that's how she raised me. Is that my only reason? Absolutely not. I feel more comfortable in skirts. And yes, I can do everything that you can do in your leggings, in my skirts. No, I'm not too hot in the summer. Yes, I'm too cold in the winter, but that's because winter is too cold, it has nothing to do with my skirts.
Perhaps I could ask you why you always wear pants. I don't believe I've ever seen you in a skirt, except for special occasions. Why is that?
Let me state something now: Skirts are traditional female attire. Pants are traditional male attire. Why are you questioning me for constantly wearing something that is traditionally something a woman would and should wear? Shouldn't it be the other way around?
Why do you of all people care what I wear? Yes, I know, I don't always dress fashionably. Sometimes I just don't care. Sometimes you just don't care. We just dress differently when we have our lazy days.
You wear leggings to school. I wear skirts. Is this a problem?
I don't like guys staring at my butt. So why would I wear clothing that would frame my butt? Because guess what...no, guys shouldn't stare, but we all know that at least some of them will. Is that okay? Uh...no, but they're gonna do it anyway. I mean, murder isn't okay, but some people still do it.
And please don't bring up that guys can look up my skirt. Why am I going to stand over their head and give them access to look up my skirt? And if a guy pulls up my skirt to take a look, I can kick him and/or punch him if I need to. Also, I wear shorts under my skirts in the summer and leggings underneath them in the winter.... It's no different than you wearing spandex underneath your cheer skirt.
Also, why did I wear a jacket over my women's ensemble dress? Because, I don't care to have my shoulders showing. And as to the person you were talking to, who said I wasn't supposed to do that...all of the girls were there when we picked out the dresses, and Mrs. Fischer said that if we wanted to wear jackets over them, we were welcome to do so. If that girl wasn't there when we picked out dresses, for whatever reason, that's her own fault and she doesn't need to be saying I wasn't doing what I was supposed to be.
In short...why do you care what I wear? What I wear doesn't affect you in any way shape or form and if it does, I'm sorry? I'm sorry I wear things I feel comfortable, even if it's not "fashionable"? I'm sorry that you feel the need to talk to other people about my clothing? I'm sorry that my dressing in a way that I feel comfortable and modest makes you unhappy? Everyone knows I'm all about pleasing others...constantly...of course.... No seriously, I can be a bit of a people pleaser, but I'm not changing myself to make others happy. I am sorry that I have displeased you, oh great one, you shall see me in leggings when hell freezes over. The end.
~Katie
For most of you that know me in person, you've kind of picked up on the fact that I wear skirts pretty much all the time. And by "pretty much", I mean all the time. At least in public. So...what's wrong with that?
To the girl who criticized my clothing...why couldn't you ask me yourself? In fact, I believe I told you while we were sitting together in the same classroom, and if I wasn't telling you, I was telling a teacher and you could have easily heard.
To begin with, that's how my mother was raised and that's how she raised me. Is that my only reason? Absolutely not. I feel more comfortable in skirts. And yes, I can do everything that you can do in your leggings, in my skirts. No, I'm not too hot in the summer. Yes, I'm too cold in the winter, but that's because winter is too cold, it has nothing to do with my skirts.
Perhaps I could ask you why you always wear pants. I don't believe I've ever seen you in a skirt, except for special occasions. Why is that?
Let me state something now: Skirts are traditional female attire. Pants are traditional male attire. Why are you questioning me for constantly wearing something that is traditionally something a woman would and should wear? Shouldn't it be the other way around?
Why do you of all people care what I wear? Yes, I know, I don't always dress fashionably. Sometimes I just don't care. Sometimes you just don't care. We just dress differently when we have our lazy days.
You wear leggings to school. I wear skirts. Is this a problem?
I don't like guys staring at my butt. So why would I wear clothing that would frame my butt? Because guess what...no, guys shouldn't stare, but we all know that at least some of them will. Is that okay? Uh...no, but they're gonna do it anyway. I mean, murder isn't okay, but some people still do it.
And please don't bring up that guys can look up my skirt. Why am I going to stand over their head and give them access to look up my skirt? And if a guy pulls up my skirt to take a look, I can kick him and/or punch him if I need to. Also, I wear shorts under my skirts in the summer and leggings underneath them in the winter.... It's no different than you wearing spandex underneath your cheer skirt.
Also, why did I wear a jacket over my women's ensemble dress? Because, I don't care to have my shoulders showing. And as to the person you were talking to, who said I wasn't supposed to do that...all of the girls were there when we picked out the dresses, and Mrs. Fischer said that if we wanted to wear jackets over them, we were welcome to do so. If that girl wasn't there when we picked out dresses, for whatever reason, that's her own fault and she doesn't need to be saying I wasn't doing what I was supposed to be.
In short...why do you care what I wear? What I wear doesn't affect you in any way shape or form and if it does, I'm sorry? I'm sorry I wear things I feel comfortable, even if it's not "fashionable"? I'm sorry that you feel the need to talk to other people about my clothing? I'm sorry that my dressing in a way that I feel comfortable and modest makes you unhappy? Everyone knows I'm all about pleasing others...constantly...of course.... No seriously, I can be a bit of a people pleaser, but I'm not changing myself to make others happy. I am sorry that I have displeased you, oh great one, you shall see me in leggings when hell freezes over. The end.
~Katie
Business Teaching Game?
Okay, so...this game isn't exactly a "teaching" game at all. It's called Flight Rising an is a game completely centered around dragons. You breed them, train them in battle, feed them, name them, change their genes around, etc. Where am I getting that it's a business teaching game?!
Well, also, in this game you do a thing called "gathering", four of the gathering types produces food for you dragons, while the remaining two provide you with other items that you don't need to survive in the game, but can give you cool things.
Well, also, in this game you do a thing called "gathering", four of the gathering types produces food for you dragons, while the remaining two provide you with other items that you don't need to survive in the game, but can give you cool things.
The way that gathering can help with business type skills is that you decide where you need to gather and how much you need to gather there. Do most of your dragons eat plants, but you have some dragons that eat meat and you have absolutely zero meat? Maybe you should go hunting. Are your food stores all stocked up? Well, why not dig or scavenge?
Then, with the things you've scavenged or dug up, you can go to the Auction House, and sell them! But oh no! What do I price my "white rook" for?! All you have to do is figure out how much other people are selling their white rooks for, then price your white rook at the same or a little lower. Or...if the lowest price you could sell it for is less than the price you'd get for selling it back to the store...your best bet is to either sell it back to the store, or hang onto it until the price for white rooks goes back up.
You find all kinds of things you can sell, in your "hoard". It has different tabs for different things. You decide what you want to sell and what you want to keep. Some things, it's better to hang onto. For example, there's a place in Flight Rising called the "coliseum", which is where your dragons can battle either other player's dragons, or monsters. I stick to battling monsters. But they need battle items. If you have a lightning dragon and a fire dragon, but you only have ability stones for a nature dragon, you might want to sell the nature battle items and get some lightning and fire battle items!
There's also a place in Flight Rising called the "trading post". At the trading post, there's one place where you can get one thing for free every day, another place where someone buys your items for more than you could sell them in the store, but they get to choose what they want and you might not even have it, one where you can answer questions about Flight Rising and get treasure in return, one where you can trade different items you may have for one big item, usually apparel, for your dragon to wear, and a last place where you can turn some of the things you keep in your hoard into goos, mucks, slimes, oozes, and something else, but I don't remember what, and then you can use those, as well as other materials to make more things.
Also! If there are things you have in your hoard that you want to make sure you don't sell or throw away or give away, you can move them to your vault. Which is fantastic. You can even move gems and treasure into your vault.
How does business come into this? Well, you have to know what to price your items for. If you're making things to sell, you need to know what's in demand. A great way to do that? The forums. Not all forums are about selling, in fact, there's one forum that's not even for anything Flight Rising related, it's just so people can have fun and talk about anything and everything.
The more I play Flight Rising, the more I realize I'm doing things like, making business transactions, marketing, sort of budgeting (not exactly) and I feel like if you homeschool (or even if you don't), Flight Rising would be a great place to go and sort of make your own business/market on there for selling this that or the other thing. Maybe I'm way off, but that's just how it seemed to me.
~Katie
Sunday, January 24, 2016
My First Basketball Game!
Okay, so no, I haven't seen a basketball game at all, until yesterday night.... I've been to one football game and that was because I was working concessions...and also...I only saw the tail end...where we did actually win!
But, anyway, I was at the basketball game last night, because I have been promoted to Select Singers (elite singing group at my school), because they needed more altos, so I'm singing alto. I usually sing soprano, but I enjoy singing alto in church...so...not too different. Oh and the reason why four Select Singers (counting myself), were there, was because we were singing the national anthem. We sang accapella and I have heard lovely compliments about us.
So, about the game, I sat on the enemy bleacher side, because Dakota (I may have mentioned a Dakota previously, but not this Dakota. This Dakota is a girl, and...not the other Dakota....) was filming it for the live stream and the only other person she had up there with her was the vice principal, who was acting as the announcer. And he really does have a very good announcer voice! I was impressed.
I feel like we annoyed a few people, because we were cheering with the student section from the other side of the gym, but hey, we gotta show our school spirit! And hey, I've decided to share some things I learned during my first basketball game!
But, anyway, I was at the basketball game last night, because I have been promoted to Select Singers (elite singing group at my school), because they needed more altos, so I'm singing alto. I usually sing soprano, but I enjoy singing alto in church...so...not too different. Oh and the reason why four Select Singers (counting myself), were there, was because we were singing the national anthem. We sang accapella and I have heard lovely compliments about us.
So, about the game, I sat on the enemy bleacher side, because Dakota (I may have mentioned a Dakota previously, but not this Dakota. This Dakota is a girl, and...not the other Dakota....) was filming it for the live stream and the only other person she had up there with her was the vice principal, who was acting as the announcer. And he really does have a very good announcer voice! I was impressed.
I feel like we annoyed a few people, because we were cheering with the student section from the other side of the gym, but hey, we gotta show our school spirit! And hey, I've decided to share some things I learned during my first basketball game!
- People get way too involved...like...they think that everyone is the rep sometimes!
- Things that look like they should be legal...aren't....
- And things that look like they shouldn't be allowed...are?!
- There is a lot more falling down than I anticipated.
- It seems to be more of a contact sport than it's made out to be.
- Those umpires have got to be in fantastic shape, because they're running all over the court, keeping up with the action and the players and they NEVER SEEM TO GET WINDED.
- It has got to take a lot of dedication to be a coach....
- Each player only gets five fouls.
- It is hard for me to tell what a foul is....
So yeah...basketball....
~Katie
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Electives
So...I have a friend who attends a different school than I do. One of the classes offered at their school is Consumer Math. This friend does not enjoy math, let alone Consumer Math, so when the new semester rolled around, she wanted to opt out of this class. She was told she couldn't.
However, that's not the bad part about this. The bad part is that this won't even count as a credit. Not a business credit and not a math credit; this will count as an elective.
The reason she wasn't allowed to transfer out was not because it's full-year class. This is what she told me: "...when I tried to explain that [an elective is not a required class], he said that it's required for this school, but it goes on your record (?) as an elective.".
If a class is required, that class should count as a credit, not an elective. Especially not when the student has not elected to take this class, but has been forced. If you google, "elective definition", this is what pops up:
However, that's not the bad part about this. The bad part is that this won't even count as a credit. Not a business credit and not a math credit; this will count as an elective.
The reason she wasn't allowed to transfer out was not because it's full-year class. This is what she told me: "...when I tried to explain that [an elective is not a required class], he said that it's required for this school, but it goes on your record (?) as an elective.".
If a class is required, that class should count as a credit, not an elective. Especially not when the student has not elected to take this class, but has been forced. If you google, "elective definition", this is what pops up:
I see...
Even at my school, we have a required class for Seniors called "Take Charge of Your Finances" (shortened to "Take Charge", by students and faculty), however, it does not count as an elective, because we have not elected to take it, it is required. It counts as a business class.
If my friend were to switch schools, on her transcript, that class would go under either "business", or "math", but most likely math.
In the state of Kansas, which is where both of us attend school, a person is only required to have three math credits, and Algebra and Geometry need to be covered. In other words, if someone takes one Algebra class and one Geometry class, and one other math class, they're good. Here's the link I got that information from: Information Considering that that came from the Kansas State Department of Education...I think they know what they're talking about.
At this school, her senior year, my friend will also be required to take something they call, "Advanced Math", which is basically Algebra2, all over again. It will count as a math credit, but it is not something she will need and is something that she should be allowed to opt out of. Yet she isn't.
That is not right.
To call something an elective when a student is still forced to take it, is wrong and if you consider that an elective, you need to go to back to English class and learn vocabulary.
If you want a certain class to be required at your school, go right ahead! However, if you are going to require a class, it is not an elective. Count it as math or count it as business, Consumer Math would fit in either one, but do not count it as an elective, because it is not an elective.
Rant over.
~Katie
Thursday, January 7, 2016
The New Semester and Decapitation!
Before you ask, no, no one has been decapitated at my school recently...it was just a catchier title than "The New Semester and Wednesday Night Church". Plus, it was shorter.
So...at school, our English teacher retired for personal reasons, which leaves the Juniors and Seniors all messed up class-wise. We've been split up among different classes. We have online classes, classes with the 9th and 10th grade teachers, and then a thing called PBL (Project Based Learning) English.
Of course, I took PBL English...I guess that's kind of unsurprising...I've been homeschooled most of my life, and I tend to learn better when I do things I enjoy doing or learn about things I prefer to learn about...and sometimes I'll learn about other things along the way.
Our first project has been assigned, but the rest we get to choose. Our project is Vikings! Whoot whoot! And from this project, I already know my next project! The Vikings had a game called...um...I'll have to look it up and I'd rather not right now, but, a guy in my class and I are going to do it together. We don't have all the stuff figured out exactly, but I feel like I'm going to do most of the research part and he'll do the physical part where he makes the board and stuff, I'm not sure though...we haven't talked about it, because we're supposed to still be focused on our current project...it didn't work well, but...yeah....
I'm still figuring out my schedule though, because it's been changed. Last semester: it was Biology, Choir, Weights, Peer Tutor, Econ, Art, English, CCR. This semester, it is: Biology, Choir, Peer Tutor, Art, Government, Take Charge, English, and CCR. So, I guess it hasn't changed too much...but it feels like it to me. So far so good. And I'm learning pottery. I stink at it.
So, about the decapitation. We had an interesting conversation after we read through and discussed Romans chapter seven...it was about decapitation! The entire thing started because our youth pastor asked if there were any prayer requests and someone said a prayer request, which made me remember that my cousin, Norma, told me about an Amish buggy getting hit, and that the humans were okay, but that the horses died....
Then, one of the guys said that if the buggy was caught just right, the horses could be decapitated by their bits. Then, the youth pastor told us about these people who saw a deer get decapitated by a vehicle and the head went flying, and other than being headless, the body was perfectly fine...so of course I had to ask how long a human head would retain consciousness after a person was beheaded...which of course led to Jonas saying that he read somewhere about a guy who told his friends to watch him after he was beheaded and see how long he blinked after his head was chopped off and they counted 15 seconds.
And then of course we had to begin factoring if there would be consciousness longer depending on how the head landed. And this was all at church. I really like my Wednesday church.
~Katie
So...at school, our English teacher retired for personal reasons, which leaves the Juniors and Seniors all messed up class-wise. We've been split up among different classes. We have online classes, classes with the 9th and 10th grade teachers, and then a thing called PBL (Project Based Learning) English.
Of course, I took PBL English...I guess that's kind of unsurprising...I've been homeschooled most of my life, and I tend to learn better when I do things I enjoy doing or learn about things I prefer to learn about...and sometimes I'll learn about other things along the way.
Our first project has been assigned, but the rest we get to choose. Our project is Vikings! Whoot whoot! And from this project, I already know my next project! The Vikings had a game called...um...I'll have to look it up and I'd rather not right now, but, a guy in my class and I are going to do it together. We don't have all the stuff figured out exactly, but I feel like I'm going to do most of the research part and he'll do the physical part where he makes the board and stuff, I'm not sure though...we haven't talked about it, because we're supposed to still be focused on our current project...it didn't work well, but...yeah....
I'm still figuring out my schedule though, because it's been changed. Last semester: it was Biology, Choir, Weights, Peer Tutor, Econ, Art, English, CCR. This semester, it is: Biology, Choir, Peer Tutor, Art, Government, Take Charge, English, and CCR. So, I guess it hasn't changed too much...but it feels like it to me. So far so good. And I'm learning pottery. I stink at it.
So, about the decapitation. We had an interesting conversation after we read through and discussed Romans chapter seven...it was about decapitation! The entire thing started because our youth pastor asked if there were any prayer requests and someone said a prayer request, which made me remember that my cousin, Norma, told me about an Amish buggy getting hit, and that the humans were okay, but that the horses died....
Then, one of the guys said that if the buggy was caught just right, the horses could be decapitated by their bits. Then, the youth pastor told us about these people who saw a deer get decapitated by a vehicle and the head went flying, and other than being headless, the body was perfectly fine...so of course I had to ask how long a human head would retain consciousness after a person was beheaded...which of course led to Jonas saying that he read somewhere about a guy who told his friends to watch him after he was beheaded and see how long he blinked after his head was chopped off and they counted 15 seconds.
And then of course we had to begin factoring if there would be consciousness longer depending on how the head landed. And this was all at church. I really like my Wednesday church.
~Katie
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Scholar's Bowl
So, on Thursday, we had a Scholars Bowl meet. I really enjoy them, because I love trivia. But I just decided I had to share some stories about this one.
Basically, for those of you who have never been in Scholars Bowl or who know little to nothing about it, there are many teams who go to a host school and are pitted against each other in various rooms. There are up to five people on each team and often, each person will specialize in a topic.
You are taken to a room with a reader, a scorekeeper, a timekeeper, and a buzzer-keeper.... The reader will read a question and if you think that you have the answer, you will...well...buzz in. You wait to be acknowledged, then answer. If you get it correct, your team gets ten points. If you get it wrong, the only team allowed to answer the question is the opposite team. If you interrupt the reader, and get it wrong, you are docked points and the next team is free to buzz in with an answer or interrupt the reader as they reread the question from the beginning, with no consequences if they answer incorrectly. If you get it correct, you get ten points, as usual.
It was the very last round and we were against a team to win first place. Around question five, the enemy team interrupted and got it wrong. Then, our team interrupted and also got it wrong. Both teams were docked five points.
At the very last round, we were tied. 35 to 35.... It was time for a tie-breaker question. Then, the enemy team coach said, "Hold up, I looked in the rules, and you shouldn't have docked them. It should be their team 40, my team 35." And because of her honesty...we won.
Call me stupid, crazy, whatever...I really wanted to get first place. All the other meets I'd gone to, we placed third and I just really wanted to place first. Really bad. So I was praying that we'd win first...and because of her honesty not only did we win first, but she got acknowledged at the end with the awards, because my team's coach told the officiator guy. I also told her thank you. It would have been so easy for her to have just let them read the tiebreaker question and her team could have one off of that. But she was honest...and that cost her team the match. They did get second, overall though.
Then, we went to Freddie's for some food. I um...forgot to take money....
We have two people on our team, Reed and Ryan, and their parents come to every match. Kind of the way my mom and stepdad come to all my choir and singing things. They said that because we won first, they were going to treat everyone to supper! Their dad wouldn't even let me get a mini shake...he made me get a large...which is still in my freezer...sitting...with just enough to make up a mini shake gone from it...because I couldn't finish it....
But the entire time we were at Freddie's I was just all like, "God...thank you so much! You're just looking out for me all over the place!" In short, that was the best Scholars Bowl meet I've ever had and one of the best days of my life.
~Katie
Basically, for those of you who have never been in Scholars Bowl or who know little to nothing about it, there are many teams who go to a host school and are pitted against each other in various rooms. There are up to five people on each team and often, each person will specialize in a topic.
You are taken to a room with a reader, a scorekeeper, a timekeeper, and a buzzer-keeper.... The reader will read a question and if you think that you have the answer, you will...well...buzz in. You wait to be acknowledged, then answer. If you get it correct, your team gets ten points. If you get it wrong, the only team allowed to answer the question is the opposite team. If you interrupt the reader, and get it wrong, you are docked points and the next team is free to buzz in with an answer or interrupt the reader as they reread the question from the beginning, with no consequences if they answer incorrectly. If you get it correct, you get ten points, as usual.
It was the very last round and we were against a team to win first place. Around question five, the enemy team interrupted and got it wrong. Then, our team interrupted and also got it wrong. Both teams were docked five points.
At the very last round, we were tied. 35 to 35.... It was time for a tie-breaker question. Then, the enemy team coach said, "Hold up, I looked in the rules, and you shouldn't have docked them. It should be their team 40, my team 35." And because of her honesty...we won.
Call me stupid, crazy, whatever...I really wanted to get first place. All the other meets I'd gone to, we placed third and I just really wanted to place first. Really bad. So I was praying that we'd win first...and because of her honesty not only did we win first, but she got acknowledged at the end with the awards, because my team's coach told the officiator guy. I also told her thank you. It would have been so easy for her to have just let them read the tiebreaker question and her team could have one off of that. But she was honest...and that cost her team the match. They did get second, overall though.
Then, we went to Freddie's for some food. I um...forgot to take money....
We have two people on our team, Reed and Ryan, and their parents come to every match. Kind of the way my mom and stepdad come to all my choir and singing things. They said that because we won first, they were going to treat everyone to supper! Their dad wouldn't even let me get a mini shake...he made me get a large...which is still in my freezer...sitting...with just enough to make up a mini shake gone from it...because I couldn't finish it....
But the entire time we were at Freddie's I was just all like, "God...thank you so much! You're just looking out for me all over the place!" In short, that was the best Scholars Bowl meet I've ever had and one of the best days of my life.
~Katie
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
The Benefits of the Different Schools I've Attended
As many of my readers are aware, I have attended three different "types" of schools. I was homeschooled from Pre-K-8, attended a private school from 9-11, and am currently attending a public school for my senior year.
All of these schools are different, all of these schools have different pros and cons, as illustrated in these posts: Pros and Cons of Homeschooling and Private Schooling, Pros and Cons of Public Vs. Private Schools. Of course, these schools have all benefited me in different ways, and that is what I am going to talk about now.
Homeschooling
While I was homeschooled, my mother also worked a part time job. As I mentioned in my previous post, "My Hero", my mom is indeed my hero. She homeschooled me and spent time with me, so I wouldn't be raised by teachers and daycare workers. I don't know if any of you are familiar with the phrase, "Children who are loved at home go to school to learn, but children who are not, go to school to be loved". It's not that my mother wouldn't have loved me...but I would have probably been able to spend three hours...if that...with my mother, instead, I got to spend my days with her.
I was able to learn in methods that I learned from easily and I was able to do this without the distraction of other children. I was able to learn without being picked on constantly (which, there was a family we would visit, whose children did typically pick on me....) or being tempted to talk to my neighbor instead of listening to the teacher.
Basically, I was able to focus on my learning and, when I went to the private school, the only thing I was behind in was math. But math has always been a struggle for me...so.... I was able to learn who I was on my own, without constantly feeling the need to fit in with those my own age...as a result...I rarely fit in with those my own age.
Private Schooling
While I attended the private school, I was introduced to a brick-and-mortar school, on a smaller scale. While I can teach myself many things, this school gave me the teachers to help me. Without this school, I would not have had a wonderful choir teacher who managed to teach me how to project and sing loudly and helped me discover my nice sized range.
While I was homeschooled, I didn't have grades, at this school, I got my first grades and felt the thrill of getting As...now it's a bit of a requirement and if I don't get an A, I flip out and do everything I can to get my grade up, which of course, should be a natural thing for all students to aspire to...but alas is not. Of course, I understand that some people just aren't book smart...some people are hand smart. They can do amazing things with their hands, but just can't pass tests...and they aren't any more smart or stupid than someone who can ace tests no problem.
Public School
While I currently attend my public school, I've learned how to navigate an iPad (I hate them with a burning passion), how many things you can actually do without paper (I still prefer paper). I have so many more options here than I had in any of my previous schools. There is an in school counselor--two, actually, but I believe that one is in training--I was in a musical, which has been one of my dreams ever since I was little, the choir is huge and I can audition for solos, instead of them just being assigned to me or someone else.
There are so many more options for me and I love it. It is, of course, a smaller public school, but it's still a public school. There are clubs and classes that we couldn't have at the private school and of course can't have in a homeschool consisting of one.
Quite frankly, each of these schools have been a stepping stone or stairway for the next school, and honestly, each time I've changed schools, it has been for the better, for one reason or another. I am a staunch supporter of homeschooling...whether I support a private school depends on the private school, but they are a good idea...and not all public schools are bad.
~Katie
All of these schools are different, all of these schools have different pros and cons, as illustrated in these posts: Pros and Cons of Homeschooling and Private Schooling, Pros and Cons of Public Vs. Private Schools. Of course, these schools have all benefited me in different ways, and that is what I am going to talk about now.
Homeschooling
While I was homeschooled, my mother also worked a part time job. As I mentioned in my previous post, "My Hero", my mom is indeed my hero. She homeschooled me and spent time with me, so I wouldn't be raised by teachers and daycare workers. I don't know if any of you are familiar with the phrase, "Children who are loved at home go to school to learn, but children who are not, go to school to be loved". It's not that my mother wouldn't have loved me...but I would have probably been able to spend three hours...if that...with my mother, instead, I got to spend my days with her.
I was able to learn in methods that I learned from easily and I was able to do this without the distraction of other children. I was able to learn without being picked on constantly (which, there was a family we would visit, whose children did typically pick on me....) or being tempted to talk to my neighbor instead of listening to the teacher.
Basically, I was able to focus on my learning and, when I went to the private school, the only thing I was behind in was math. But math has always been a struggle for me...so.... I was able to learn who I was on my own, without constantly feeling the need to fit in with those my own age...as a result...I rarely fit in with those my own age.
Private Schooling
While I attended the private school, I was introduced to a brick-and-mortar school, on a smaller scale. While I can teach myself many things, this school gave me the teachers to help me. Without this school, I would not have had a wonderful choir teacher who managed to teach me how to project and sing loudly and helped me discover my nice sized range.
While I was homeschooled, I didn't have grades, at this school, I got my first grades and felt the thrill of getting As...now it's a bit of a requirement and if I don't get an A, I flip out and do everything I can to get my grade up, which of course, should be a natural thing for all students to aspire to...but alas is not. Of course, I understand that some people just aren't book smart...some people are hand smart. They can do amazing things with their hands, but just can't pass tests...and they aren't any more smart or stupid than someone who can ace tests no problem.
Public School
While I currently attend my public school, I've learned how to navigate an iPad (I hate them with a burning passion), how many things you can actually do without paper (I still prefer paper). I have so many more options here than I had in any of my previous schools. There is an in school counselor--two, actually, but I believe that one is in training--I was in a musical, which has been one of my dreams ever since I was little, the choir is huge and I can audition for solos, instead of them just being assigned to me or someone else.
There are so many more options for me and I love it. It is, of course, a smaller public school, but it's still a public school. There are clubs and classes that we couldn't have at the private school and of course can't have in a homeschool consisting of one.
Quite frankly, each of these schools have been a stepping stone or stairway for the next school, and honestly, each time I've changed schools, it has been for the better, for one reason or another. I am a staunch supporter of homeschooling...whether I support a private school depends on the private school, but they are a good idea...and not all public schools are bad.
~Katie
Monday, November 2, 2015
Controversy in a Musical?
Okay, you've heard me mention my school's musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and how there are some cuss words that were being changed and all that. I'm not sure how much else I said would be changed, but I decided to share some of it.
In the original, one of the spellers has two gay fathers. We're changing that to adoptive parents. The cast and crew of our musical went to watch another production of the musical and ate at Braum's afterward (which was delicious) and as the production we watched was done by a college, they didn't change a thing.
While at Braum's I was sitting with one of the crew members and I told her that some of the things in that production, we were doing differently. In the original, one of the kids gets an erection...and it causes him to lose the spelling bee. Then he sings about his "Unfortunate Erection". Thankfully, the writers realized that some schools may not want to do that version and gave another version where he sings about his "Unfortunate Distraction", which was daydreaming about a girl in the audience. She was understanding of that change, because yeah, even though it was hilarious, a lot of people would find it inappropriate.
However, when I told her that we changed the two gay dads to adoptive parents, she became more defensive and asked why people were being homophobes (I have a lot of issues with that word, simply because it implies that people are scared of homosexuals...disagreement does not mean fear, nor does it mean hate....). When our music teacher told us about the change, she said that she personally didn't have any problems with gays and I told this girl that and told her that the teacher also said that it was changed because of how conservative this area is. She wasn't happy with that.
What I thought of later, that I should have told her, but couldn't, because I hadn't thought of it, was that...this is a high school drama. Not a college drama. Not a Broadway drama. This is high school. We are doing this for fun, not to take a stand on gay marriage or abortion or anything of the sort. There is no reason to have controversy in a high school production.
If a group of high schoolers got together and decided that they wanted to promote gay marriage or abortion or spanking or even take a stand against these things, that would be one thing, but for the fall musical, it is just unnecessary. For a college, go ahead. Broadway...go ahead.... But not a high school.
This is designed to be humorous and entertaining...not for promoting someone's views. Let it be fun, funny and enjoyable and forget the controversy...please....
~Katie
In the original, one of the spellers has two gay fathers. We're changing that to adoptive parents. The cast and crew of our musical went to watch another production of the musical and ate at Braum's afterward (which was delicious) and as the production we watched was done by a college, they didn't change a thing.
While at Braum's I was sitting with one of the crew members and I told her that some of the things in that production, we were doing differently. In the original, one of the kids gets an erection...and it causes him to lose the spelling bee. Then he sings about his "Unfortunate Erection". Thankfully, the writers realized that some schools may not want to do that version and gave another version where he sings about his "Unfortunate Distraction", which was daydreaming about a girl in the audience. She was understanding of that change, because yeah, even though it was hilarious, a lot of people would find it inappropriate.
However, when I told her that we changed the two gay dads to adoptive parents, she became more defensive and asked why people were being homophobes (I have a lot of issues with that word, simply because it implies that people are scared of homosexuals...disagreement does not mean fear, nor does it mean hate....). When our music teacher told us about the change, she said that she personally didn't have any problems with gays and I told this girl that and told her that the teacher also said that it was changed because of how conservative this area is. She wasn't happy with that.
What I thought of later, that I should have told her, but couldn't, because I hadn't thought of it, was that...this is a high school drama. Not a college drama. Not a Broadway drama. This is high school. We are doing this for fun, not to take a stand on gay marriage or abortion or anything of the sort. There is no reason to have controversy in a high school production.
If a group of high schoolers got together and decided that they wanted to promote gay marriage or abortion or spanking or even take a stand against these things, that would be one thing, but for the fall musical, it is just unnecessary. For a college, go ahead. Broadway...go ahead.... But not a high school.
This is designed to be humorous and entertaining...not for promoting someone's views. Let it be fun, funny and enjoyable and forget the controversy...please....
~Katie
Sunday, November 1, 2015
IBS vs. FHS Teacher Showdown...part 2...
This is continued from IBS vs. FHS Teacher Showdown, which you can find...here.
Announcer: We have returned after a day long break for cookies, ice cream, and Netflix to continue our IBS vs. FHS teacher showdown. From IBS, we have the music teacher, Mr. Miller; the science/history teacher, Brother Todd; the former English teacher, Miss Montgomery; the former English teacher Mrs. B., the former English teacher Mrs. Weinand; and last but not least, the P.E. Teacher, Brother Steve!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: And from FHS, we have the music teacher, Mrs. Fischer; the science teacher, Mr. Weilert; the English teacher, Ms. Schlabach and last but not least, the weights/P.E. teacher, Mr Barnett!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: Last time, Mr. Miller and Mrs. Fischer tied...Mr. Weilert and Brother Todd tied...and now, we're ready for the English teachers! English teachers--my goodness there's a lot of you.... Would it be 'a' university or 'an' university? Write your answers on the white boards provided, then hold them up for the audience to see.
Miss Montgomery: *a university*
Mrs. B: *an university*
Mrs. Weinand: *a university*
Ms. Schlabach: *a university*
Announcer: I'm sorry, Mrs. B, you are incorrect. It would be 'a' university, because although it starts with a vowel, it makes a consonant sound. BUT you are not disqualified. We will continue with our next question. Have you, as an English teacher, made your students write at least one essay a year?
Miss Montgomery: Yes, ours was about what actually swallowed Jonah, they did research and everything.
Mrs. B: Yes, they chose their own topic and wrote about it using the internet and practicing using note cards for their citations.
Mrs. Weinand: Yes, they chose their own topic and wrote about it using the internet, books and any other sources they found, but they had to have books as a source as well. I let them keep track of their citations how they wanted, but they still had to cite them with MLA format.
Ms. Schlabach: Yes, they're actually in the process of writing an essay comparing two different translations of Sophocles' Antigone, MLA format, as expected.
Announcer: Very good! A tie! And now...the students will be the ones deciding your fate.... Miss Montgomery...your students say that you taught well and they knew they better work. Mrs. B, a note from one of your students says that they didn't particularly like you as a teacher, but when they were able to just talk to you, they enjoyed it. Mrs. Weinand, your students completely loved you and they said something about...apple pie? Ms. Schlabach, And again, no complaints for you! It's a three way tie, between Miss Montgomery, Mrs. Weinand and Ms. Schlabach! Mrs. B...I'm sorry. BUT you get a consolation prize of a $100 gift certificate to spend however you like, wherever you like!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: And now...for the final two...Mr. Barnett and Brother Steve, please step forward. What are your workout regimes for your students like.
Brother Steve: Well...we mostly just play games. *laughs* Volleyball when it's cold, softball when it's warm, sometimes we play softball when the girls are complaining that it's too cold, but they can live with it.
Mr. Barnett: We play games on Wednesdays and the rest of the time, we're in the weights room, lifting and doing other workouts.
Announcer: Well, either workout regime sounds fun and of course, we all understand that IBS does not have sufficient funds for a weights room, so the weights room does not play into whether or not a teacher is disqualified or not. Annnd...again a tie! But, how do the students feel about these men? Of Brother Steve... "Brother Steve is a kind hearted man and I greatly enjoyed his P.E. class. My only complaint is that he constantly picked the same people to be the team captains.". Of Mr. Barnett... "Mr Barnett is an easy going, fun loving guy, who even at a public school is still a very good Christian influence.". Again with the ties! What was the point of this even? Why have a battle! They all tied! *flips desk over, muttering about wasting life away* That's it, I quit! I WANTED BLOODSHED! I WANTED FIGHTS!
*audience watches with odd expressions*
Announcer: I WANTED THERE TO BE A FIGHT AND BE BIASEDNESS! WHY CAN'T I HAVE BIAS HERE? IT'S NOT FAIR! *begins flailing arms and legs, kicking and hitting the floor* I WANTED A FIGHT! WHY COULDN'T I HAVE A FIGHT? WHY DO THE TEACHERS ALL HAVE TO BE EQUAL?! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
Katie: And this draws to a conclusion the IBS vs. FHS Teacher Showdown.... Now excuse me while I take care of our announcer....
~Katie
Announcer: We have returned after a day long break for cookies, ice cream, and Netflix to continue our IBS vs. FHS teacher showdown. From IBS, we have the music teacher, Mr. Miller; the science/history teacher, Brother Todd; the former English teacher, Miss Montgomery; the former English teacher Mrs. B., the former English teacher Mrs. Weinand; and last but not least, the P.E. Teacher, Brother Steve!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: And from FHS, we have the music teacher, Mrs. Fischer; the science teacher, Mr. Weilert; the English teacher, Ms. Schlabach and last but not least, the weights/P.E. teacher, Mr Barnett!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: Last time, Mr. Miller and Mrs. Fischer tied...Mr. Weilert and Brother Todd tied...and now, we're ready for the English teachers! English teachers--my goodness there's a lot of you.... Would it be 'a' university or 'an' university? Write your answers on the white boards provided, then hold them up for the audience to see.
Miss Montgomery: *a university*
Mrs. B: *an university*
Mrs. Weinand: *a university*
Ms. Schlabach: *a university*
Announcer: I'm sorry, Mrs. B, you are incorrect. It would be 'a' university, because although it starts with a vowel, it makes a consonant sound. BUT you are not disqualified. We will continue with our next question. Have you, as an English teacher, made your students write at least one essay a year?
Miss Montgomery: Yes, ours was about what actually swallowed Jonah, they did research and everything.
Mrs. B: Yes, they chose their own topic and wrote about it using the internet and practicing using note cards for their citations.
Mrs. Weinand: Yes, they chose their own topic and wrote about it using the internet, books and any other sources they found, but they had to have books as a source as well. I let them keep track of their citations how they wanted, but they still had to cite them with MLA format.
Ms. Schlabach: Yes, they're actually in the process of writing an essay comparing two different translations of Sophocles' Antigone, MLA format, as expected.
Announcer: Very good! A tie! And now...the students will be the ones deciding your fate.... Miss Montgomery...your students say that you taught well and they knew they better work. Mrs. B, a note from one of your students says that they didn't particularly like you as a teacher, but when they were able to just talk to you, they enjoyed it. Mrs. Weinand, your students completely loved you and they said something about...apple pie? Ms. Schlabach, And again, no complaints for you! It's a three way tie, between Miss Montgomery, Mrs. Weinand and Ms. Schlabach! Mrs. B...I'm sorry. BUT you get a consolation prize of a $100 gift certificate to spend however you like, wherever you like!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: And now...for the final two...Mr. Barnett and Brother Steve, please step forward. What are your workout regimes for your students like.
Brother Steve: Well...we mostly just play games. *laughs* Volleyball when it's cold, softball when it's warm, sometimes we play softball when the girls are complaining that it's too cold, but they can live with it.
Mr. Barnett: We play games on Wednesdays and the rest of the time, we're in the weights room, lifting and doing other workouts.
Announcer: Well, either workout regime sounds fun and of course, we all understand that IBS does not have sufficient funds for a weights room, so the weights room does not play into whether or not a teacher is disqualified or not. Annnd...again a tie! But, how do the students feel about these men? Of Brother Steve... "Brother Steve is a kind hearted man and I greatly enjoyed his P.E. class. My only complaint is that he constantly picked the same people to be the team captains.". Of Mr. Barnett... "Mr Barnett is an easy going, fun loving guy, who even at a public school is still a very good Christian influence.". Again with the ties! What was the point of this even? Why have a battle! They all tied! *flips desk over, muttering about wasting life away* That's it, I quit! I WANTED BLOODSHED! I WANTED FIGHTS!
*audience watches with odd expressions*
Announcer: I WANTED THERE TO BE A FIGHT AND BE BIASEDNESS! WHY CAN'T I HAVE BIAS HERE? IT'S NOT FAIR! *begins flailing arms and legs, kicking and hitting the floor* I WANTED A FIGHT! WHY COULDN'T I HAVE A FIGHT? WHY DO THE TEACHERS ALL HAVE TO BE EQUAL?! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
Katie: And this draws to a conclusion the IBS vs. FHS Teacher Showdown.... Now excuse me while I take care of our announcer....
~Katie
Saturday, October 31, 2015
IBS vs. FHS Teacher Showdown!
So, I've been thinking recently about what would happen if there was a contest between the teachers at my old school and the teachers of my new school...who would win??? Here is how I believe the showdown would look....
Announcer: From IBS, we have the music teacher, Mr. Miller, the science/history teacher, Brother Todd, the former English, now Bible teacher, Miss Montgomery; the former English teacher, Mrs. B.; the former English teacher Mrs. Weinand; and last, but not least, the P.E. teacher, Brother Steve!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: And from FHS, we have the music teacher, Mrs. Fischer; the science teacher, Mr. Weilert; the English teacher, Mrs. Schlabach; the art teacher, Mr. Houghton; and last but not least, the weights/P.E. teacher, Mr. Barnett!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: To begin, we will have the music teachers stand up... Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Miller, come forward.
*they come forward willingly*
Announcer: Please, lead your choirs in warm-ups. Mrs. Fischer...ladies first.
Mrs. Fischer: *leads choir in the 'bottle pop' round*
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: Mr. Miller, can you and your choir upstage her?
Mr. Miller: *leads choir in 'Ho-ho-ho Hosanna'*
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: Excellent! You both have done very well. Mr. Miller, you appear to have a smaller choir, but despite that you've trained them well. Mrs. Fischer, your choir is larger, but you have also trained them well. We collected polls from students that have "served" under these teachers and out of three of Mr. Miller's students...previous or current...all three have stated that he is an excellent teacher and that they enjoy being in his class and doing choir tour with him. However...for Mrs. Fischer...out of three of her students...they also enjoy class with her! Congratulations! It's a tie! Now for the science teachers....
*they step forward*
Announcer: Please, demonstrate how you teach your students about the metric system.
Mr. Weilert: *condensed and fast forwarded* We use the English system which not even the English use. Here, look on these crackers...English AND metric. *tosses behind* Can of peas? English AND metric. *tosses behind* Cereal? English AND metric! *tosses behind*.
Brother Todd: *looks throughly stunned* I think something might get broken if he keeps doing that.... *condensed and sped up* The English and metric systems of measurement are both listed on everything except for--
Mr. Weilert: What?? There's no English measurement. That's because the scientific measuring system is the metric system.
Announcer: Perhaps we should have taken turns...it appears that while Brother Todd is a more laid back person--
Mr. Weilert: What now, Katie? You're sucking me dry girl!
Announcer: *clears throat* BROTHER TODD IS A MORE LAID BACK PERSON...however, though they have different methods of teaching are both good teachers. There appears to be a bit more chaos in Brother Todd's room...we have live footage of a stepfather of one of the students coming into the room with a whale puppet singing a song about...about...saving whales...I don't even know... HOWEVER...this tie, again...will be broken by the students...and again...unanimous on both sides! Congratulations, gentlemen.
Announcer: You notice that we only have four teachers that are competing...this is because some of the teachers Katie had at IBS, she only took those classes while attending IBS, such as math and others she's only taken at FHS, such as art. As such, these teachers automatically win against the ones from the opposing schools. Principals are disqualified as they are not technically teachers, but administrators.
...to be continued...
~Katie
Announcer: From IBS, we have the music teacher, Mr. Miller, the science/history teacher, Brother Todd, the former English, now Bible teacher, Miss Montgomery; the former English teacher, Mrs. B.; the former English teacher Mrs. Weinand; and last, but not least, the P.E. teacher, Brother Steve!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: And from FHS, we have the music teacher, Mrs. Fischer; the science teacher, Mr. Weilert; the English teacher, Mrs. Schlabach; the art teacher, Mr. Houghton; and last but not least, the weights/P.E. teacher, Mr. Barnett!
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: To begin, we will have the music teachers stand up... Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Miller, come forward.
*they come forward willingly*
Announcer: Please, lead your choirs in warm-ups. Mrs. Fischer...ladies first.
Mrs. Fischer: *leads choir in the 'bottle pop' round*
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: Mr. Miller, can you and your choir upstage her?
Mr. Miller: *leads choir in 'Ho-ho-ho Hosanna'*
*audience claps politely*
Announcer: Excellent! You both have done very well. Mr. Miller, you appear to have a smaller choir, but despite that you've trained them well. Mrs. Fischer, your choir is larger, but you have also trained them well. We collected polls from students that have "served" under these teachers and out of three of Mr. Miller's students...previous or current...all three have stated that he is an excellent teacher and that they enjoy being in his class and doing choir tour with him. However...for Mrs. Fischer...out of three of her students...they also enjoy class with her! Congratulations! It's a tie! Now for the science teachers....
*they step forward*
Announcer: Please, demonstrate how you teach your students about the metric system.
Mr. Weilert: *condensed and fast forwarded* We use the English system which not even the English use. Here, look on these crackers...English AND metric. *tosses behind* Can of peas? English AND metric. *tosses behind* Cereal? English AND metric! *tosses behind*.
Brother Todd: *looks throughly stunned* I think something might get broken if he keeps doing that.... *condensed and sped up* The English and metric systems of measurement are both listed on everything except for--
Mr. Weilert: What?? There's no English measurement. That's because the scientific measuring system is the metric system.
Announcer: Perhaps we should have taken turns...it appears that while Brother Todd is a more laid back person--
Mr. Weilert: What now, Katie? You're sucking me dry girl!
Announcer: *clears throat* BROTHER TODD IS A MORE LAID BACK PERSON...however, though they have different methods of teaching are both good teachers. There appears to be a bit more chaos in Brother Todd's room...we have live footage of a stepfather of one of the students coming into the room with a whale puppet singing a song about...about...saving whales...I don't even know... HOWEVER...this tie, again...will be broken by the students...and again...unanimous on both sides! Congratulations, gentlemen.
Announcer: You notice that we only have four teachers that are competing...this is because some of the teachers Katie had at IBS, she only took those classes while attending IBS, such as math and others she's only taken at FHS, such as art. As such, these teachers automatically win against the ones from the opposing schools. Principals are disqualified as they are not technically teachers, but administrators.
...to be continued...
~Katie
Monday, September 14, 2015
Update on New School!
Alright, so, if you've been reading my blog, you know that I had been attending a private Christian school and am now attending a public school...and man, let me tell you something. I love my new school. Love. With an L. And and O. And a V. And an E! Not eros...maybe philia...but...love. Yes.
When I went from being home schooled to going to the private Christian school, I made a pros/cons list about them. Perhaps I should do the same here? I think I'll put it in a post right after this one, that way this one doesn't get completely swamped, because there's a bunch of stuff I would like to cover here.
If I had continued attending IBS, I would have to take Algebra 2...because for some reason, my Freshman year, I was forced to take Consumer Math, yet it was counted as an elective, although I had no choice in taking it, therefore, it was not recognized by IBS as a math credit. Here at this public school, they recognized it for what it was: a math credit. Therefore, I do not have to sit in Algebra 2 every day this year. Which really leads to a much less stressful school year!
I am also one of the lead roles in my school musical, which is called the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. There are some parts of it I don't care for, some parts that are going to be changed, and some parts (many parts) that are funny. My name is Olive and I am very shy and my only friend is a dictionary. One song that I sing for the Musical. Please feel free to come watch! It's the 20th and 21st of November. If you need directions or anything, contact me! And just a heads up, any cussing in the songs I post on facebook or on my blog, will not be in our production. The cussing is in the original/"professional" version and will not be used in the highschool reproduction that we are doing of it.
I may not have a ton of friends at this new school, but thus far, my experiences at this school can be summed up in these two pictures that my stepdad posted on facebook:
I had a pros/cons list written out, but then I copied something else and completely lost it, so I'll have to rewrite it later on.
I also had found out that a teacher (whom I admired) told the principal, in front of my stepdad, that I would be back after three weeks at this public school. This is the beginning of the fourth week and there is no way I am going back. I was also told by a fellow student, when I visited before my school had started, that I would hate public school. I love it. People don't know me as well as they think they do. And I hate that they think they do. But too bad! :D
~Katie
When I went from being home schooled to going to the private Christian school, I made a pros/cons list about them. Perhaps I should do the same here? I think I'll put it in a post right after this one, that way this one doesn't get completely swamped, because there's a bunch of stuff I would like to cover here.
If I had continued attending IBS, I would have to take Algebra 2...because for some reason, my Freshman year, I was forced to take Consumer Math, yet it was counted as an elective, although I had no choice in taking it, therefore, it was not recognized by IBS as a math credit. Here at this public school, they recognized it for what it was: a math credit. Therefore, I do not have to sit in Algebra 2 every day this year. Which really leads to a much less stressful school year!
I am also one of the lead roles in my school musical, which is called the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. There are some parts of it I don't care for, some parts that are going to be changed, and some parts (many parts) that are funny. My name is Olive and I am very shy and my only friend is a dictionary. One song that I sing for the Musical. Please feel free to come watch! It's the 20th and 21st of November. If you need directions or anything, contact me! And just a heads up, any cussing in the songs I post on facebook or on my blog, will not be in our production. The cussing is in the original/"professional" version and will not be used in the highschool reproduction that we are doing of it.
I may not have a ton of friends at this new school, but thus far, my experiences at this school can be summed up in these two pictures that my stepdad posted on facebook:
I had a pros/cons list written out, but then I copied something else and completely lost it, so I'll have to rewrite it later on.
I also had found out that a teacher (whom I admired) told the principal, in front of my stepdad, that I would be back after three weeks at this public school. This is the beginning of the fourth week and there is no way I am going back. I was also told by a fellow student, when I visited before my school had started, that I would hate public school. I love it. People don't know me as well as they think they do. And I hate that they think they do. But too bad! :D
~Katie
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Update!
Basically, with this post, my last two posts on my blog have been about how I am switching schools. This makes a third. This...is an update! To read the initial breaking of the news, click this link: I Am Moving On.
I figured that there would be people who wouldn't want me to leave and people that wouldn't care if I left and people who would want me to leave. I also figured that there would be people who didn't want me to leave and would try to shove down my throat that I had to stay. And there were.
There have been people that I was quite surprised with, because they took it well and accepted the fact that it was my decision to make and my decision alone.
My friends aren't happy about me leaving and I understand that. I will miss them greatly. And I have some teachers that don't want me to leave and will tell me they are going to kidnap me and make me stay...but they aren't serious about kidnapping me...I hope. However, my principal...
Here is a whole paragraph for my principal. My principal came to me one day and told me that he thought I needed to come back. He has told me that I need to come back, because I will be valedictorian. I am aware that unless certain members of my class shaped up, I would indeed have valedictorian in the bag. Listen closely people...very closely; valedictorian isn't the most important thing about school.
Here is another whole paragraph for my principal. He also, at one point, when I told him that if he wanted me to come back, (is that two appositives??) he would need to talk to God about it, because I would not feel this much peace, if God was not on board with this, told me that he and God were on the same page. Same page does not equal same book. He proceeded to tell me that when God starts something he finishes (I agree) and when he puts someone at the Bible school, they are there to finish (I do not agree)!
However, there are some problems with what he said. The scripture he was 'quoting' says this:
But, off of the topic of my principal....
Today was my stepdad's niece's graduation, which we went to, of course. It was at the school I will be attending next year, so I got to have a tour of it! It is...well...huge compared to the school I'm presently going to! The lockers? I could fit in them. It's pretty cool. There will probably be several updates to my update.
I'm hesitant to say this, because I know that there are some people that will jump all over me and say that this is a reason for me not to switch schools...but I am nervous. People will tell you that I'm outgoing...but I struggle with communicating with people I don't know, that I will be seeing nearly every day. I just do...so, naturally, I'm scared about making friends. I mean, quantity of friends doesn't matter, but it would be nice to have one or two friends, that are, preferably, not just the teachers.
This school will be bigger than any other school I have ever gone to. This is actually going to be giving me the unique experience of having gone to three of the four main types of schools; homeschool, private, charter, public. I feel honored. I think.
Anyway, in order to keep people from jumping on me about my nerves being a sign: people are also often scared when they go into the mission field. Case closed.
~Katie
I figured that there would be people who wouldn't want me to leave and people that wouldn't care if I left and people who would want me to leave. I also figured that there would be people who didn't want me to leave and would try to shove down my throat that I had to stay. And there were.
There have been people that I was quite surprised with, because they took it well and accepted the fact that it was my decision to make and my decision alone.
My friends aren't happy about me leaving and I understand that. I will miss them greatly. And I have some teachers that don't want me to leave and will tell me they are going to kidnap me and make me stay...but they aren't serious about kidnapping me...I hope. However, my principal...
Here is a whole paragraph for my principal. My principal came to me one day and told me that he thought I needed to come back. He has told me that I need to come back, because I will be valedictorian. I am aware that unless certain members of my class shaped up, I would indeed have valedictorian in the bag. Listen closely people...very closely; valedictorian isn't the most important thing about school.
Here is another whole paragraph for my principal. He also, at one point, when I told him that if he wanted me to come back, (is that two appositives??) he would need to talk to God about it, because I would not feel this much peace, if God was not on board with this, told me that he and God were on the same page. Same page does not equal same book. He proceeded to tell me that when God starts something he finishes (I agree) and when he puts someone at the Bible school, they are there to finish (I do not agree)!
However, there are some problems with what he said. The scripture he was 'quoting' says this:
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"~KJVYes, when God starts something, he finishes it. What he is talking about starting, in this scripture, is the good work. I am an author, therefore, what I write is my 'good work.' But I do not always finish the good work in the same place I start it. Plus, I know that there have been people kicked out of that school.
But, off of the topic of my principal....
Today was my stepdad's niece's graduation, which we went to, of course. It was at the school I will be attending next year, so I got to have a tour of it! It is...well...huge compared to the school I'm presently going to! The lockers? I could fit in them. It's pretty cool. There will probably be several updates to my update.
I'm hesitant to say this, because I know that there are some people that will jump all over me and say that this is a reason for me not to switch schools...but I am nervous. People will tell you that I'm outgoing...but I struggle with communicating with people I don't know, that I will be seeing nearly every day. I just do...so, naturally, I'm scared about making friends. I mean, quantity of friends doesn't matter, but it would be nice to have one or two friends, that are, preferably, not just the teachers.
This school will be bigger than any other school I have ever gone to. This is actually going to be giving me the unique experience of having gone to three of the four main types of schools; homeschool, private, charter, public. I feel honored. I think.
Anyway, in order to keep people from jumping on me about my nerves being a sign: people are also often scared when they go into the mission field. Case closed.
~Katie
Friday, April 24, 2015
I Am Moving On
Most of you know that I have been attending a private Christian school for the past three years. I am now a Junior. This will be my last year attending this school. Next year, my senior year, will be spent attending the public school in my town.
Why? Why leave a Christian school, with good teachers and wonderful students, to go to a public school with all those bad influences? Why leave a Christian school where I have Valedictorian in the bag? Where I have some friends? Why make my friends go through next year without me? I have many reasons.
One of my reasons, is that my step-dad doesn't go into the town my school is in every day, and my cousin, the person my mom is a PCA (Personal care assistant) to, has moved out of that town and my mom will be going to her new town. I don't have my license or a car yet and honestly, I'm not sure that I want to drive that far every day, by myself.
Another, is, I no longer feel like I need to stay. Even a week ago, if you had told me I would be 100% okay with going to the public school barely down the street from me, I would have raised my eyebrow, looked at you, and said, "Are you crazy? I have friends here! I gotta go on senior trip with my classmates! Think about Senior pranks! You are off your rocker!" But now, I am okay with it. Honestly, I think I was supposed to be there for a girl who is now also switching schools and going to a different public school.
A third reason is that I have more opportunities at a public school. Volleyball team, track, drama, a big choir, possibly more writing competitions, I could go to state competitions with my singing.... At the school I will be attending: Seniors can leave for an open lunch; students can eat pretty much wherever they want; there's a circle of lockers and benches, that is for Seniors only; they have a gym complete with punching bags and weights, for the students to go to even after school.
Will I miss anything at my current school when I switch schools? Yes. I will miss most of the teachers (the ones I have in classes mostly), Jessica, Angela, and sometimes I might miss Gavyn, but I'm not sure, I will definitely miss my Bible classes and my geography class, although next year, I will be taking government instead of geography. I'll miss traveling with my group and my little choir and hitting all the high notes Mr. Miller gives me. I will miss going to ISAAC Rally, and I'll miss being part of the programs.
But I feel like this is the right thing for me to do right now. My principal was telling me just yesterday, that it's a long time between now and August. My principal doesn't know me. My mind has been made up. My principal was also telling me, today, that he wants me to graduate from the right school. So do I. And I feel like this is the right school for me to graduate from. If it wasn't, I wouldn't just be a bit sad because of all I said I would miss or a little nervous because I know no one, I would be upset. I wouldn't feel good about it. I would feel sick. I don't. I feel like this is right for me. I'm sorry if anyone doesn't agree, but not everyone has to graduate from a Christian school.
Also...as my choir teacher said last year in his PR speech, "If the salt never gets out of the salt shaker, what good is it doing?" It's time for me to get out of the salt shaker.
~Katie :)
Why? Why leave a Christian school, with good teachers and wonderful students, to go to a public school with all those bad influences? Why leave a Christian school where I have Valedictorian in the bag? Where I have some friends? Why make my friends go through next year without me? I have many reasons.
One of my reasons, is that my step-dad doesn't go into the town my school is in every day, and my cousin, the person my mom is a PCA (Personal care assistant) to, has moved out of that town and my mom will be going to her new town. I don't have my license or a car yet and honestly, I'm not sure that I want to drive that far every day, by myself.
Another, is, I no longer feel like I need to stay. Even a week ago, if you had told me I would be 100% okay with going to the public school barely down the street from me, I would have raised my eyebrow, looked at you, and said, "Are you crazy? I have friends here! I gotta go on senior trip with my classmates! Think about Senior pranks! You are off your rocker!" But now, I am okay with it. Honestly, I think I was supposed to be there for a girl who is now also switching schools and going to a different public school.
A third reason is that I have more opportunities at a public school. Volleyball team, track, drama, a big choir, possibly more writing competitions, I could go to state competitions with my singing.... At the school I will be attending: Seniors can leave for an open lunch; students can eat pretty much wherever they want; there's a circle of lockers and benches, that is for Seniors only; they have a gym complete with punching bags and weights, for the students to go to even after school.
Will I miss anything at my current school when I switch schools? Yes. I will miss most of the teachers (the ones I have in classes mostly), Jessica, Angela, and sometimes I might miss Gavyn, but I'm not sure, I will definitely miss my Bible classes and my geography class, although next year, I will be taking government instead of geography. I'll miss traveling with my group and my little choir and hitting all the high notes Mr. Miller gives me. I will miss going to ISAAC Rally, and I'll miss being part of the programs.
But I feel like this is the right thing for me to do right now. My principal was telling me just yesterday, that it's a long time between now and August. My principal doesn't know me. My mind has been made up. My principal was also telling me, today, that he wants me to graduate from the right school. So do I. And I feel like this is the right school for me to graduate from. If it wasn't, I wouldn't just be a bit sad because of all I said I would miss or a little nervous because I know no one, I would be upset. I wouldn't feel good about it. I would feel sick. I don't. I feel like this is right for me. I'm sorry if anyone doesn't agree, but not everyone has to graduate from a Christian school.
Also...as my choir teacher said last year in his PR speech, "If the salt never gets out of the salt shaker, what good is it doing?" It's time for me to get out of the salt shaker.
~Katie :)
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Teachers
We have all learned something from someone. Be this your parents, cousins, uncles, other relatives, the man down the street whose name you just can't quite remember, or even the nice cashier who waited patiently for you to frantically search your pockets for the money that you can't find because of those evil little elves that are constantly hiding your money at the very bottom of your pockets, underneath your phone, keys, and fingernail clippers. Of course, the most "traditional" way to learn, is from teachers. Ya know, those people that are hired by a school, the people you usually have to sit in a stupid, not super comfy desk to listen to them drone on and on and on about a topic you care nothing about. Take me with math...yeah, I hate that subject. But I've learned a lot from teachers (more from my mom and reading, but teachers too of course).
- On the keyboard ALT+the tab key lets you switch windows without ever once taking your hands off the keyboard. This is wonderful knowledge if you're like me.
- You know when you're reading your Bible and you see some words in italics? Yeah, those words weren't originally there, they were just added to try to make a bit more sense and put in italics so people would know they weren't originally in the text. Like, okay, take the Bible verse Isaiah 45:18. If you take the italizised words out, it changes the entire verse. "For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else." Okay, read that the way it is. It seems to be saying God made the earth then it completely changes apparently he is the LORD and there is none else, although that has nothing to do with him making the earth. Take out the italic words. "For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I the LORD; and none else." Now it appears the verse is saying that God made the earth, just him, no one else. Neat, yes? Now take a totally random Bible verse. Isaiah 46:12 "Hearken unto me,ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:" Take out the italic word and it just seems weird.
- The exterior angle is equal to the two far interior angles...I wanted to be able to say I learned something from the math teacher.
- There was a difference between the Pharisees and Sadducees....I honestly did not know that.
- You can actually sing loud enough to fill an entire room, without a mic, if you actually project enough. I never said I was good at that.
- People can "like" other people out of pity.
- If you have a new enough version of Microsoft Word, you can put citations and stuff in your document with just a few simple clicks.
- Don't assume there have to be a few falses in every true and false test. Sometimes there will be all trues.
- A person can be a good person...but a not so great teacher.
- Illegal immigration isn't just in the U.S.A.
- There is in fact a website where you can listen to tons of Adventures in Odyssey for FREE.
I'm tired, goodnight.
~Katie :)
Monday, August 18, 2014
Welcome Back to the Torture Asylum
Hmm, it's not like I've neglected to make blog posts in...half of forever or anything, is it?! Uh...oh wait...yeah it is....oopsiez.... I think I got all distracted with my journal and camp and school.... School started today. We have a new English teacher and if she's as nice as she seemed today, I'm gonna like her. She seems to want us to talk...which is kind of cool.
I also need to brush my teeth and organize my room and read some more books and go to bed at a semi reasonable time and wake up at an extremely unreasonable time to go to a fairly unreasonable place where I have to/get to be around not exactly reasonable humans that make me want to be not so reasonable because of their very not reasonable actions such as talking through choir and royally annoying me.
However...um...I forgot what I was gonna say.
Uh, well, I guess I was gonna say that if my Chemistry book stays as interesting as it was today I'll like it. My first day of Torture Asylum wasn't horrendous.
~Katie :)
I also need to brush my teeth and organize my room and read some more books and go to bed at a semi reasonable time and wake up at an extremely unreasonable time to go to a fairly unreasonable place where I have to/get to be around not exactly reasonable humans that make me want to be not so reasonable because of their very not reasonable actions such as talking through choir and royally annoying me.
However...um...I forgot what I was gonna say.
Uh, well, I guess I was gonna say that if my Chemistry book stays as interesting as it was today I'll like it. My first day of Torture Asylum wasn't horrendous.
~Katie :)
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Rant Time
Alright, do you want to know something that I think is totally wrong, unfair, and screwed up? No, of course you don't, but guess what, this is my blog, so I shall completely disregard your feelings, because I can do that on my blog, like I can do absolutely nowhere in real life. Okay, that's not quite true. I just assume that because you're on my blog, you care about what I have to say. Anyway, here goes my rant.
At school, when people at my school--which is a Christian school, where everyone loves everyone and treats no one better or worse, no bullying has ever gone on there, bullying ever will go on there, there is absolutely no drama and please don't tell me that you think there's anything perverted or inapproriate there! And that was all sarcasm, just so you know--pick teams for things like softball and volleyball, due to popularity, rather than talent. I am not saying that I'm the best athlete in the school. I know I'm not. But I am also not the worst. There are people, who when they play volleyball duck anytime the ball comes flying toward them and people who when they play softball don't even run after hitting the ball.
When I play volleyball, I at least try. And when I play softball, I usually hit the ball and when I hit that ball I RUN. I can serve fairly well in volleyball and I've managed to get the ball over the net before. I actually try. I will willingly say that I stink at playing in the field for softball though. But there's a wonderful cure for that. PUT ME SOMEWHERE WHERE THE BALL RARELY EVER GOES!
I hate it how when I stand up there, I'm the only one left up there and the captain is all like, "Okay, we'll take Katie." I hate it.
I'm not the only one either. There are other people who aren't picked until last, simply because they aren't popular, regardless to whether they're good at the sport or not. And I'm not saying that all of the popular kids are horrible at sports and all of the unpopular kids are good at them. There's some popular kids that are good at sports and some that aren't. Mostly the girls. Then there's some unpopular kids who aren't that great at them.
But anyway, yeah, I hate it when people pick only because of popularity. I hate it. I just thought I'd leave that nice little rant. And if you're from my school and reading this, there's nothing that says I'm talking about you in either the popular kids who are good at sports, the popular kids who are awful at sports, the unpopular kids who are good at sports, the unpopular kids who are awful at sports, or the people who pick due to popularity only, so don't get offended. And if you do get offended, please keep in mind--this is my blog, I say what I what, when I want, how I want, and if you don't like it...well...I guess you don't have to come back...just an idea.
~Katie :):
At school, when people at my school--which is a Christian school, where everyone loves everyone and treats no one better or worse, no bullying has ever gone on there, bullying ever will go on there, there is absolutely no drama and please don't tell me that you think there's anything perverted or inapproriate there! And that was all sarcasm, just so you know--pick teams for things like softball and volleyball, due to popularity, rather than talent. I am not saying that I'm the best athlete in the school. I know I'm not. But I am also not the worst. There are people, who when they play volleyball duck anytime the ball comes flying toward them and people who when they play softball don't even run after hitting the ball.
When I play volleyball, I at least try. And when I play softball, I usually hit the ball and when I hit that ball I RUN. I can serve fairly well in volleyball and I've managed to get the ball over the net before. I actually try. I will willingly say that I stink at playing in the field for softball though. But there's a wonderful cure for that. PUT ME SOMEWHERE WHERE THE BALL RARELY EVER GOES!
I hate it how when I stand up there, I'm the only one left up there and the captain is all like, "Okay, we'll take Katie." I hate it.
I'm not the only one either. There are other people who aren't picked until last, simply because they aren't popular, regardless to whether they're good at the sport or not. And I'm not saying that all of the popular kids are horrible at sports and all of the unpopular kids are good at them. There's some popular kids that are good at sports and some that aren't. Mostly the girls. Then there's some unpopular kids who aren't that great at them.
But anyway, yeah, I hate it when people pick only because of popularity. I hate it. I just thought I'd leave that nice little rant. And if you're from my school and reading this, there's nothing that says I'm talking about you in either the popular kids who are good at sports, the popular kids who are awful at sports, the unpopular kids who are good at sports, the unpopular kids who are awful at sports, or the people who pick due to popularity only, so don't get offended. And if you do get offended, please keep in mind--this is my blog, I say what I what, when I want, how I want, and if you don't like it...well...I guess you don't have to come back...just an idea.
~Katie :):
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