What I'm Going to Miss About Summer...

For the most part, reality hasn't quite sunk in after 2 1/2 weeks...I'm back to work and starting Monday we'll be back to the daily grind - kids will be back in school which means bedtimes, homework, and a structured routine.  The whole structure idea makes me break out in a nervous sweat!!  I'd much rather go with the flow and stay up half the night watching crime tv and sleeping in until ten or later.  Although I won't miss the heat and humidity so much, I will miss the many opportunities to take a random road trip or hang out at the pool.  Although football season (my all-time favorite part of the year) is just around the corner, I will for sure miss the doorbell or neighbor kids waking me up in the morning...instead that sound will be replaced with the harsh buzzing of my alarm clock at 5:30 every morning.

Fall Preview

So tonight was a gorgeous night to sit on my recently finished patio.  My summer break was spent putting in long hours and although its not completely finished, it feels like a new room to my house.  Unfortunately, I live in a location that prevents me from using this wonderful addition year round.  For this reason, I feel compelled to spend as much quality time on it as possible.  After the last week of extremely hot and humid conditions, the weather tonight was perfect for sitting and visiting with our very close friends and neighbors.  We were even privileged to have the company of the town stray dog which my daughter has named Teddy.

Sitting on the patio tonight reminded me of how much I love fall.  Not only does it mean that my kids get to get back in the routine of daily life, but it also means the arrival of cooler weather and football.  One of my favorite hobbies is to watch football...everything from high school to pro!  This year I will get the privilege of watching my son participate in the Carroll Area Football League for the first time.  I'm extremely excited to watch his growth as an athlete and an individual over the upcoming years.  Best of luck to all our fall athletes that will soon begin preparing for their fall sports season.

School Lunch

So I worked the months of June and August and each and every morning I am faced with the troublesome decision of what to take for lunch.  Let me tell you the options are extremely limited when I have three ravenous children that consume everything in sight.  Even hiding my lunches in the back of the freezer have proven to be useless...if its food, my kids will find it!! The struggle of deciding what to eat for lunch each day easily becomes daunting and I have realized that I am now a huge fan of school lunch.  During the school year, its a no-brainer.  Everyday there is something readily available for me to eat for lunch.  Over the last several years, I have even acquired a list of favorite school lunches - crispitos, turkey and gravy, and pizza.  Which leads me to ask what your favorite school lunches are?

Curiosity...

So last January I jumped the gun and enrolled in an Education and Public Policy program online through Ashford University in Clinton.  I absolutely love the program.  However, my current class, Leadership and Social Justice, is proving to challenge my brain cells.  Its very common for a class to start with 15-20 people and one of the requirements is to respond to at least two of your classmates posts for each discussion.  Simple enough right?  Well today I posted my one page paper on achievement gaps and out of curiosity checked to see how many people were left in this class.  After one week, we are down to 4 people in the class.  So this peaked my curiosity...what happens if the class gets down to only 2 people?  How are you supposed to respond to two other posts besides your own?  Food for thought!

Summer Fun

Okay - so I must admit, my summer went WAY too fast!  Although I'm ready to get back into the regular routine and see all my coworkers and students, I really don't like the idea of having to get up at 5:30 AM.  Its amazing how sleeping in until 10 AM and then spending the rest of the day by the pool can get to you!!  My summer was pretty uneventful.  I did, however, go on a much needed "Girls Vacation" with three of my colleagues.  The four of us boarded a plane around 7 AM on Friday, June 11.  Destination - Las Vegas!  Three full days of sights and sounds!  The days were spent laying by the pool soaking up the sun, and the nights were spent seeing as much as we could and I'm sure we missed A LOT!  The trip ended way too soon and we were back in good ole Iowa on Monday, June 14.  This summer made me realize that sometimes doing absolutely nothing but relaxing at home can be so refreshing.  If you think about it - going on a trip is a lot of work.  The planning and packing in themselves are stressful enough!  That's how I spent my summer...how did you spend yours?

Let the Countdown Begin!!

In exactly 13 days, classes will begin at Carroll Middle School and across the Carroll area.  There are a few new additions and changes at CMS this year!  First off, we finally got a new phone system after two years of hoping that you wouldn't be suddenly disconnected from a phone call after being on hold for more than an hour to reach a live person.  The most notable changes will be in staff.  Its my pleasure to introduce Diane Christensen to the CMS office.  Other new staff members include Ms. Kluver who will teach 8th grade Special Education; Mrs. Brincks will teach Special Education; Mrs. Masching will be the 7th grade paraeducator; Mrs. Miller will be a one-on-one paraeducator in Mrs. Brincks' room.  I'd like to personally welcome all the new staff members and wish them a successful school year.

A Little Background

Welcome to my blog!  My name is Kerri Ladehoff and I am the Principal's Secretary at Carroll Middle School.  I am also the person that keeps PowerSchool running at its best - most of the time!!  I was hired by CCSD in August of 1997 - so yes - I've been there a LONG time!!  But I wouldn't trade this for the world - I work with the finest group of people anyone could ask for.  I consider everyone at CMS my family. 

My husband and I have three children that also attend CCSD.  We enjoy spending our free time frequenting Carroll Tiger activities and watching our children participate in the many different programs offered by our communities and schools. 

My goal with this blog is to post at least once a day during the week.  It is my hope that all of my followers give me feedback and suggestions for one of my future posts!