Beauty in the day: he comes to the office a lot when it’s music time. He likes music, but not music class, because he’s terribly sensitive to noise. When he comes, he likes to chat a fair amount. He’s a bright boy – one who likes to learn lots of things that some other boys have yet to cultivate an interest in.
“I’m back. ”
“Hi friend, how come you’re here?”
“The same reason I’m always here. Too loud in music.”
…Oh yeah.
“I do like music, and I did try. I sang for a bit. I can sing pretty good, actually.”
“Oh! Good to know! Any chance you would give me a sample of your singing?”
“Well…I really only sing best when I am under the influence.”
😂 (he quickly interpreted this for me to mean “under the influence of the music”, and forgave me for the burst of laughter that erupted over that.)
Category Archives: Music
It’s Complimentary
Beauty in the day: we have rehearsals for the kid’s Christmas Program on Sunday afternoons. After practice, the director likes to engage us in “highlights”, which consists of people sharing compliments about one another’s work for that day. Naturally, it’s everyone’s favorite part. Today, one young boy was picked up early by his dad, because of a previous engagement. We all continued with our rehearsal until it was time to be done. At “highlights” time, the director shared that the boy had pulled her aside to share his compliment about another boy before he left. And it made that other boy’s day.
I love that giving a compliment was such a joyful priority. He didn’t even get to stick around to hear if anyone complimented him. 💗
For the Love of Cupcakes
Beauty in the day: she came breathlessly in to the office (she talks a lot, hence the lack of sufficient breath), needing my attention RIGHT AWAY.
“Ms. Nordstrom, can you please do me a really, really, super important very big favor? I mean, if you want to, or if you have the time, but it wouldn’t really take much of your time or anything, and I could ask someone else if you think it would be better. I could take it to class instead of you want,” (at this she brought forth a cupcake wrapped skillfully in cellophane), “but I think that might be a problem, and if you could keep it here for the band teacher, then I could come and get it from you this afternoon.”
I looked at her encouragingly, and was about to assure her that it would be no hardship at all, when she took a sudden sharp breath and looked up at me. “Well, unless you are worried that you might eat it?!?!!???”
She’s Got the Beat
Beauty in the day: my boss came to fill in for the Summer School principal. The kids were excited to see him, and he was enjoying seeing them. He did lunch duty, went out to the recesses, and took care of a few “fires” throughout the day. As school was letting out, we were standing in the office having a discussion. He suddenly stopped mid-sentence and exclaimed, “Oh! There’s that little girl!” He immediately trotted away, and explained over his shoulder as he passed, “I promised to teach her how to beat box!”
Somewhere out there is a little girl with a new skill.
#publicschoolsteachalotofcoolstuff
The Show Must Go On
Beauty in the day: Talent Show and Multicultural Night is but a month away, and this has many of our students in a bit of a tizzy. Notwithstanding is the Wonder from Down Under, who made his first appearance before school. I was ready, and told him that I had passed his message on to the PTSA, and had heard back that Thursday would be fine. He smiled shyly and went to line up.
He came back later, however, which didn’t surprise me in the least. “Excuse me, but I’m a bit confused still,” he offered (confused is one of his favorite words, as it gives him a juxtaposition of both inquisitiveness and neediness together).
“Confused?” I queried back (this gave me the air of one who has fully bought in to the inquisitiveness and neediness, and who seeks to give aid). He confirmed this stance, and I surprised him with a very knowing smile. “Well, Friend, you’re in LUCK! I’m going to take you backstage now, because the PTSA lady is there, and she can help you with your question!” Before he could voice either disbelief or refusal, I led the way to the backstage area, and we saw before us the PTSA lady.
“Hi PTSA lady, my Friend here is a bit, I’m sorry, confused was it?” He looked at me blankly. “Yes, he’s a bit confused, and I am pretty sure you can help with that.” I lined out the question, and she told him that he could most certainly audition on Thursday. “Let me write your name right here, where it says ‘Thursday’,” she said with the voice of authority. She reminded him to bring his equipment for his magic act. We walked back out to the hall then, and he stopped me. “I’m hoping to order a real deck of cards online for my magic act, so if they get delivered here instead of my house, then I’ll be happy enough to let you keep it for me on the stage or one of the other departments.” 🙂
I went back to the office, and he went on his way. But just then a tiny little girl who could barely see over the countertop came in and said plaintively, “I need to talk to my dad urgently. I don’t have my music for the audition.” Urgently.
And this is how it went.
S.O.S to the P.T.S.A.
Beauty in the day: the kid from Down Under came in to get things straight. “Excuse me, but I have signed up for the Talent Show Night, and I would like to say that I will like to do my audition on Thursday, not Tuesday, because I will probably need some extra time since I turned in my form a bit late.”
“Well, I’m not in charge of the Talent Show, but I will get a message to the PTSA for you.”
Surprisingly, he was satisfied and went on his way.
Not surprisingly, he returned. “Well, I am thinking now that perhaps I ought to come on Tuesday AND Thursday, because I might need some extra practice.”
“Okay, Friend. I will try to get another message to the PTSA.”
“Although….I might have to leave early so I can practice a lot at home….”
If you are on the PTSA and you are reading this, please adjust at will. Thank you.
Who’s the Boss?
Beauty in the day: she’s been coming down to the office lately, generally from recess. The kindergartener usually just wants to do a “check” on achy limbs, that sort of thing. Personally, due to her extremely charismatic and precocious personality, I believe she is just “checking out her horizons,” so to speak. She always brings a certain young lad with her; he seems to be her attendant.
Today, she needed the 1,000 Mile Check-up on her legs. She made a dramatic, albeit cheerful entrance, announcing the urgent need to have her legs checked out, dragging them as she went. The decision was made for her to rest a few minutes.
Attendant waited outside the office, and in the busy-ness of the afternoon was rather unnoticed.
After a few minutes, it was time for the little lady to be sent back to class. About this time, the office door opened and Music Teacher stood in the doorway to inquire about Attendant. “Ms. Nordstrom, for some reason, this young man is refusing to come to Music with the rest of his class……….?”
Attendant stood tall and explained: “She (he pointed to Queen-crippled-leg-girl) told me to wait here.”
Eyebrows were raised, and I informed Attendant: “She (pointing to Diva Darling) is not your boss. He (pointing to Music Teacher) is your boss. You need to listen to him.”
Attendant-Turned-Music-Apprentice nodded in appreciative understanding and went with his teacher, gesturing commandingly to the Healed Maiden to follow him.
Perhaps, for one young man at least, it’s a new dawn.
Land of the Free, Home of the Brave
Beauty in the day: want to find a great way to properly celebrate and honor our nation’s armed services veterans? Next year, find out when your local elementary school is planning their Veteran’s Day Assembly. Or better yet, ask me and come out to Ardmore. Those littles sang like they believed it! The Student Leadership kids gave speeches and delivered readings with such heart! 400 kiddos singing the Star-Spangled Banner is good enough, but that didn’t stop them from putting it over-the-top with some more selections, and they were DE-LIVERING!! Super proud and inspired by all our students, their Music Teacher, and our AP, who kept everyone on track. – – Oh, and also, I got the laminator reloaded without trauma.
Hawaiian Ice
Beauty in the day: today was her first day of Kindergarten. She showed up on the bus, and came on in. A teacher asked her name, and she recited her beautiful Hawaiian name, then unslung her Frozen backpack to reveal the picture and quipped, “but I go by Elsa”.
#doyouwannabuildasnowman?
Universal Language
Beauty in the day: music, arranged just so, delivering a message that is full of truth. And hope. And grace.
beauty in the day 