Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week

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By Diane Forrest

I remember one summer day my family traveled to a place to watch as my aunt graduated from college and became a teacher.  Having always lived in Mississippi, she along with her roommates from college, headed out to Texas in search of a teaching job. Several years later, she met her future husband, then after a while they had four children, all girls.  She became a stay at home mom and raised her children.  While the youngest was about to finish high school, the unexpected happened.  Her husband died.  Now, being home, and her last child about to depart for college.  She was home alone.  She didn't want the daily grind of having to go to work every day, and things had changed since she first began her teaching career, so, she decided to start substituting.   As you can imagine, the Plano/Dallas area is packed full of schools, so she is never without an opportunity to teach.  Only now, she can pick the jobs she wants and what days she wants to work.

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My husband's wife is currently in college to become a teacher.  She is actually going to the same college that my aunt graduated from so many years ago.  The college is about 30 miles from where they live, and she only attends class twice a week.  On her days off, she started working part time at a small school where they live.  She keeps the after school program, and also substitutes when a teacher is out.  This has been very beneficial with her college courses, and helps her to ease into her career of teaching.

I remember when I was in school.  We would love to have a substitute, especially on the days you forgot homework, or were expecting a pop test.

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Being a substitute teacher is not as easy as you might think.  They are not class babysitters, but they have to show up at a moment's notice, and then check the lesson plans, and try to keep the continuation of the class while the regular teacher is gone.  They are also the victims of many pranks and teasing.  They do however provide an invaluable service.   Most are very knowledgeable in teaching, and when the regular teacher happens to be sick, or have an emergency arise, they are ready to step in at a moment’s notice.

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This week is Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week.  Wouldn’t it be nice if every job had a substitute you could call if you were out too?

System Administrators Appreciation Day

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By Terry Orr

Friday, July 27, 2012, is the 13th annual System Administrator Appreciation Day. On this special international day, give your System Administrator something that shows that you truly appreciate their hard work and dedication.

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Let’s face it; System Administrators get no respect 364 days a year. This is the day that all fellow System Administrators across the globe, will be showered with expensive sports cars and large piles of cash in appreciation of their diligent work. But seriously, we are asking for a nice token gift and some public acknowledgement. It’s the least you could do.

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A special thanks to all the SYSADMINs out there!!

National Write a Letter of Appreciation Week

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By Diane Forrest

Dear Lockridge Primary School,

God bless you for the beautiful radio I won at your recent Senior Citizens luncheon. I am 87 years old and live at the St Mary’s Nursing Home. All of my family has passed away so I am all alone.

My roommate is 95 and has always had her own radio; but, she would never let me listen to it. She said it belonged to her long dead husband, and understandably, wanted to keep it safe.

The other day her radio fell off the nightstand and broke into a dozen pieces. It was awful and she was in tears.

She asked if she could listen to mine, and I was overjoyed that I could tell her to piss off.

Thank you for that wonderful opportunity.

God bless you all.

Edna

Many years ago, before iPads, cell phones, or computers, people actually talked to each other, visited each other, and wrote letters.  Letter writing has become a lost art what with the electronic media available to us, and the increase of postage, however it is still one of the best forms of communication available.  They are so valuable in preserving memories as well as history.  Can you imagine what would have been lost if Anne Frank sent texts?  Or if the Presidents sent emails?

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When my father was away at boot camp, he wrote letters to my mother and she saved every one.  My Aunt and Uncle send letters of their family's activities every year, and I save each one.  Who knows?  Maybe years from now some historian will use these letters for educational purpose.

This week is National Write a Letter of Appreciation Week.  There are all kinds of people in your life you can write a letter to, and since it is a week-long event, you can write more than one.  You can write to your family, teachers, preachers, congressmen or women, mail carriers or newspaper carriers.  You can write to your local store managers, neighbors, friends or coworkers.   It doesn't have to be a long letter, just a few lines to let someone know that you appreciate them, and you are glad they are in your life.

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It is Boss's Day

By Diane Forrest,

Want a day off work?

So you want a day off. Let's take a look at what you are asking for. There are 365 days per year available for work. There are 52 weeks per year in which you already have 2 days off per week, leaving 261 days available for work. Since you spend 16 hours each day away from work, you have used up 170 days, leaving only 91 days available. You spend 30 minutes each day on coffee break which counts for 23 days each year, leaving only 68 days available. With a 1 hour lunch each day, you used up another 46 days, leaving only 22 days available for work. You normally spend 2 days per year on sick leave. This leaves you only 20 days per year available for work. We are off 5 holidays per year, so your available working time is down to 15 days. We generously give 14 days vacation per year which leaves only 1 day available for work and I'll be darned if you are going to take that day off!

Some people have wonderful bosses, others not so great.  I have never been the boss of anyone (even if my husband would have disagreed with that statement) but I have had several bosses.  When I started my first real job at a grocery store when I was 15, I soon discovered the difference between a good boss and a bad boss.  Each day I had a different boss.  There was the store manager and then several assistant managers.  The store manager was a big grizzly bear type of boss.  He would walk around growling and employees would run and hide from him.  Then we had the fun guy party boss, and everyone had a good time.  There was a stressed out paranoid boss, and the not so bright boss.  I learned something from each of them, but the one I learned the most from was the grizzly bear.  I learned that once I did my job properly I never had to worry about him growling at me.  I learned to be the best at what I did and my hard work paid off by way of raises and promotions.

Today is National Boss's day.  It was started in 1958 by a secretary for State Farm Insurance.  She thought her boss (who happened to be her father) was the greatest, and deserved a day of recognition.  October 16th was chosen because that was her father's birthday.  It has traditionally been a day for employees to thank their boss for being kind and fair throughout the year. The holiday has been the source of some controversy and criticism in the United States, where it is often mocked as a Hallmark Holiday; however the first greeting card for this holiday was not made until 1979.

Today is a great day to let your boss know that you appreciate them, and also good for buttering up for a future raise or promotion.  You don't have to do much, a nice email card, or a batch of homemade cookies.

I have a great boss; he lets me come in late, leave early, take days off, talk on the phone, play computer games....of course it helps that I work from home.  So, Happy Boss's Day Terry, Hope you have a great day!  Oh...and about that raise???