Teacher to Cheer Coach

Having the 4th of July in the middle of the week really threw me off. I felt like Wednesday was a Saturday. I just couldn't get my routine going that I wanted. Was I the only one that had this problem? Hopefully, I am back to my A game now.

Everyone knows that teachers have many roles they play in the classroom. Well that is not where it stops. Principals have a way to talk certain teachers in being in charge of extra curricular activities. I guess you can say I am one of those teachers. I have a hard time saying no. I try to work as many things as possible into my schedule. Do you have this problem?

A few years back I was asked to help with the high school's football cheerleading squad. I was just suppose to be helping, because I had been on the same squad when I was in high school. The next year I was asked to be coach. After much consideration and talking to my husband, I agreed as long as one of my friends could co-coach with me. (It really didn't matter that there was another coach added, because cheer coaches do not get paid extra in our district. We do it from the goodness of our heart.) Needless to say, the administration agreed.

So, I am a first grade teacher Monday through Friday and high school football cheer coach on the sidelines. My first grade students think this is cool except for when I have to leave early on Fridays to attend the pep rallies. Yes, it comes as a challenge, because numerous times during the football season I am running to the high school across town during my lunch or planning times to do business. However, I do appreciate having an impact on the high school girls.

With that all that being said, my 4th of July week was spent mostly working on cheer stuff. Our squad takes the month of June off to give the girls a break from each other, but we hit cheer head-on in July. This is what one corner of my home office looked like:

Varsity boxes were taking over my office.  So, I sat down and divided all the stuff up by girl in order to give it out at last night's meeting.  Before it was all over, it looked like purple paint had been spilled all over my floor.  (Our high school is the purple and white Tomcats with our mascot being named STACMOT - Tomcats spelled backwards.)

Before the meeting, I was able to have all the girls stuff in individual bags ready to pass out.  Even though it took a lot of time, it was so worth it to be able to just hand out the stuff last night at the parents' meeting.

So here is to another football cheer season!  What do you do to help our your school system?  I know there are so many side jobs to do in a school system, and it takes all teachers helping to make the year run smoothly. 

Check back tomorrow for a new series I am starting.  I am very excited about it!