Getting Organized and Leopold Couture

Today was parachute day. I am gradually cleaning up the back room, getting rid of things that need to be gotten rid of, giving some of my own stuff away to the school staff, filing old lesson plans... housekeeping. I keep plugging away at it hoping eventually things will be organized. This is my 4th year at this school, and getting things in order has been a goal all along.

There was a bag of parachutes that my 2nd person was to have handed out in December when I had surgery (on the knee there was 'nothing' wrong with... remember that??) and she just never got to it. Too much other stuff going on.

So we took parachutes outside today and tossed them into the beautiful fall sky for about an hour. Kids loved it. :)

I was given a supply budget for October. Actual amount doesn't matter, it's just what we're supposed to supply our programs with. We're supposed to purchase things like paper, glue sticks, paint, crafty items.

With my supply budgets, I usually try to spend a third or so on things that we won't use up... jump ropes, playground equipment, cars and trucks, toys and the rest on consumable stuff. In the beginning I tried to spend most of my budget on permanent items because when I took over, it was woefully understocked.

I took a serious look at the month and what I have planned for the kids to do. And then I emailed my supervisor and asked for the biggest stack of cheap, uncoated paper plates she could get at sprawlmart and a bottle of black acrylic paint. And told her that I don't need anything else for the month.

She's going to be shocked next month when I do the same thing.
And shocked again in December, because I have enough crafty things stockpiled and organized that I won't need to spend money on supplies then, either.

I am glad things have smoothed out a bit at work, it's always tough at the beginning of the school year to do all that needs to be done. I still have paperwork things that need to be signed by parents and some serious filing to do, but I'm starting to see a big difference.

Makes me smile.
We've been having fun with Leopold the Skeleton at work.

Right now he's wearing a straw hat I pulled out of a box of craft stuff. I also crocheted him a little scarf. He's creating quite a sensation as the kids come in the morning and walk through the cafeteria on their way to breakfast.

A lot of them stop and talk to me about him. There is speculation about what he might wear next, ideas about whether or not he's a boy or girl skeleton (male, according to the box he arrived in, he doesn't have a penis) and lots of examination of his bones and comparison to their own.

Lyssa plans to make him a ghost costume for Halloween this year, and we've discussed things like pilgrim hats, santa hats and jewelry.

Funny how much the kids are enjoying him. I knew they'd be interested but adding clothing and his little informational card that Lyssa made has given him a personality and style of his own.

In the afternoon, my kids like to gather around the table and talk about him and look at him. They don't stay long, but it's almost like they have to check in with him and see how he's doing before running off to play. They like to bend his arms and legs and try to leave him in a funny position. I often find him with his hands crossed over his pelvic region.

So I'm thinking about Leopold accessories. If you have ideas, let me know. Especially things that make kids laugh. I love to make them laugh.