Back to School night!

Wednesday, October 6th 2010

I ran to the bank, then to get gas.  Roll the passenger side window down, won't go back up.  After getting gas I texted Bryan to let him know I was running late and my window won't go up.  He texted back that we'll figure it out when I get there.

I headed up to Elizabeth.  Bryan texted me to head to his house and someone would drive me to the school.  They left so they wouldn't be late.  When I got to Bryan's, his father was outside with the dog, Max.  All three of us got in the car and Dayna's Grandfather drove me to Jefferson Arts Academy.

I walked in, up the main stairs, through the metal detector and met Dayna in the lobby outside the auditorium.  She gave me a huge round-a-bout tackle of a hug while yelling, "Momma!"  :-)  I love my kid.  It's good to feel wanted.  We stood there talking to her friends.  I met two by name, the other girl I was not sure who she was.

Bryan came over reading two sheets of paper.  Dayna wandered a bit with her friends and said she was going to her locker.  Bryan quickly said, "Oh no you're not, get over here, we have an issue."  He softly told me she has too many absences listed for Chemistry.  According to guidance's printout, she's been absent three times this week, but only for 5th period.  :-/  He said it might not have been caught but she didn't know where her first period class was, a month into school.  She apparently has not gotten there at all yet this year.  Good way to start.  Sigh!  So Bryan got the class schedule, room numbers, and attendance record.

We missed first period, obviously.  The teacher wouldn't have been able to tell us anything anyway, she hasn't been there!  Second period History had nothing but rave reviews! 

Third period Drama had wonderful things to say, but noted a "slight freak-out last week."  Bryan and I both said, "She does that sometimes."  Bryan continued to tell the teacher how Dayna has anxiety issues and missed several months of school because of it last year.  Dayna quickly added, "I was in a mental rehabilitation facility."  The teacher had a look, I said, "She likes to put it that way."  He said for the most part Dayna is an active participant.  She even had the initiative to drag a friend up in front of class on the first day and do a scene from "Proof." 

I cannot remember the order of all her classes.  The Guitar teacher said she has a great ear for music and is doing fantastic, he can tell she practices at home on her guitar. 

English said she is doing beautifully, she should be in college.  The teacher foresees Dayna as continuing in Honors English through high school and then going on to be a successful writer in college.  She said Dayna is always taking note of books mentioned so she can read them outside of class.  That's my bookworm!

The Chemistry teacher said, "Dayna!  It's good to see you again, I've missed you the past few days."  I mumbles "Yes, we just found that out."  Then she asked, "How are you feeling?"  Dayna said good.  The teacher said she have to make up three assignments.  Bryan asked the teacher how quickly she gets her attendance in the system.  She said before she leaves for the day.  He clarified that he can check online around dinnertime and it would be updated.  He then explained to the teacher how Dayna was actually in school all week.  The teacher made a face and said, "Uh oh!"  I said, "No, you didn't tattle, guidance's printout did.  Somehow Dayna miraculously disappeared for 5th period every day this week."

We met the Geometry teacher who said Dayna is a wonderful student, except she sometimes plays on her cell phone.  :-(  Remember when doodling and passing notes were all we had to distract us?  Today's kids have paperless notes!

We met the French teacher.  He's a very nice man, has a decently thick accent, speaks 7 different languages.  Wow!  Dayna warned me he might speak to me in French.  I asked how he knew I spoke a little French.  She said he asked her why she pronounced everything correctly and her response was, "My mom speaks French."  Heh, I wish I could remember more of it!

After that we walked across the street to city hall and waited for Bryan's dad to pick us up, sans Max this time.  Apparently the poochie was pooped!  We walked in the house and the poor dog barely had the energy to get up and say hello.  Dayna played Ode to Joy for me on her guitar (my favorite band song).  Then she gave me a "bottle rocket."  She yells at me that they're not bottle rockets.  They are Poland Spring "AquaPods."  They are little water bottles shaped like a rocket.  Bottle Rockets.

Then I commenced my journey south towards home, with the heat cranked and the passenger window all the way down letting the wind blow my hair all sorts of all over!