Overview

Monday was my first day of classes. It was fun, in Ecology tomorrow we're going to the Rachel Carson Preserve. We watched a video on her today and it was really interesting, she's the reason our teacher Nathan decided to study environmental science. He's super cool, he spent time in the rain forest on a conservation project. He's really laid-back and nice too. :)

The first thing we did in Public Policy was watch a clip of teens texting and driving. Then we read a paper aloud about certain death toll statistics and I my voice was barely under control. After I finished reading my paragraph I had to leave the room because I was crying about Allen, but everybody just thought I was throwing away my apple core in the kitchen compost. Everyone except Flora, she hugged me after class. She's definitely my favorite vegan teacher.

We have a persuasive essay to write, and I've generally narrowed my topic down to either same-sex marriage or clean water access. Everyone has such interesting topics, so I'm thinking I might need to switch mine up. I don't want to be the weak link in the class.

Ahh, Nature Writing...I like words. A lot. I'm pretty sure most of the class really wants to be there, so I'm excited that I won't have to deal with any negativity. We've already written a poem, for next week we're going to do a nature essay. I don't think I've ever written an essay that was fun before. Nick kept falling asleep during class. Come to think of it, he fell asleep inevery class. Ecology, Public Policy, Nature Writing, the meeting...he was standing up, drawing a dinosaur next to an attribute for the Solutions committee representatives when his eyes closed and his head dropped. Nick's such a character.

At the All School Meeting today I did Speaker's List, but I didn't really have to do anything because there were no super issues, so there were never more than two hands raised. I still like the meetings. Maybe I'll conform to everyone's beliefs next week.

Tomorrow is International Hug a Vegetarian Day! I made an announcement at the beginning of the meeting, it's strange speaking in public and not completely spazzing out.

On Tuesdays I have ASL, and I guess this was obvious but the teacher's deaf. I can honestly say I've never learned a language from someone who doesn't talk, but he's really funny and I like him a lot. He reminds me of Santa Claus because he's huge and jolly and has a lovely white beard. Christmas is only a few months away... <3

So today in Public Policy, Zeb was writing our ideas on a piece of poster paper taped to a wall, and someone said "animal suicide/euthanasia" and people started joking about how no one can spell euthanasia and Zeb says "of course I can spell that!" and writes "animal suicide youth in Asia". haha it was rather priceless.

By the way he's worn the same shirt since last week. I think it's because the majority of TNS students rarely go home, they just stay at a friend's house. That's why Nick was so tired, he was at Anthony's.

Tim heard a story on the radio where an obese man was told by the cops that he was too obese to use a breathalyzer and in major doo-doo, so Landon said "wow, his birthday parties must be depressing. Okay, blow out all your candles!" haha

On Wednesday was my first ever Self Directed Learner's Seminar, aka New Kids Class. It was fine, I'm not sure why Haley was complaining so much. At one point she, Gordy, and Noah were eating some chips with salsa and Haley puts her bare foot on the table right next to their food and when we gave her odd looks she said "What? I'm just picking my scab!" haha it was so hilariously trashy, but it probably wouldn't have been as great if I were the one eating.

At the start I thought I had a lot more motivation to be organized, but I think that got crushed when mom slept through our plans to straighten out my room. I still can't see the floor.

Happy Birthday to my lovely sister <3

http://www.peta2.com/feat/hug/index.asp

Awesome Opossum

Today was great. Granted, the last two weeks of my life have been the start of something wonderful, but today was particularly fun.

Yesterday we started a mini project (it's due tomorrow) where each person was randomly given a new identity and has to create a healthy, balanced diet for their needs. I'm now a 13-year-old, very athletic male. Landon's an 82 year old who just had triple bi-pass surgery or something awful like that, and Zeb has irritable bowel syndrome. They're in a family together, paired with an obese person and someone who needs to gain weight. Good luck to them. They bought a vending machine, the Snack Master 500 to be precise, but went $3800 over their budget. Nate sold his 168 cats to help pay for it, but I guess life doesn't work like that.

Cats = Vending Machine

(Fail)

Landon's such a great person. He's absolutely hilarious to boot. I love my advisory. This morning we talked about poop.

Christine: Did you know that if your poop sinks you're not getting enough fiber?

Me: ...Really?

Zeb: Well I always knew sinking was a good thing.

Christine: Uhh, that's a bad thing.

Zeb: Wh-what?

Christine: If it's not floating you're not getting enough fiber.

Zeb: Oh...I need some more fiber.

It was probably the best way the day could have started. Today was an all-around good experience, our assignment was actually fun.

What? Schoolwork being fun? Wth?

My family's Cody, Joey and myself (I needed an adult since I'm only 13). We decided to kick Connor out, since he wasn't here today and isn't going to be here tomorrow. Cody's a 17 year old lacto-ovo vegetarian and Joey's a 33-year-old who's totally preggerz. Our budget was so low that we were literally living off of a dollar a day, but it turned out to be a typo. We got a generous donation from our "cousins", so we ditched the whole pricing thing. We'll see how that works out tomorrow.

When we were working in the computer lab Gordy called up a grocery store because he needed to know how much lobster cost. His character is an elder with diabetes, so he took on this old smoker's voice and started ranting about killing Nazis in the war (while he was sitting next to the German girl haha). When he finally got through he said "HELLO I have diabeterz and I'm a diabetic, I need some lobster."

Girl: I can connect you to our seafood department!

Gordy: Why THANK YOU.

Guy: Hello?

Gordy: HELLO how much does your lobster cost? ... Do I get a discount if I use my Hannaford card?... Alright, I'll be in soon. I'll be the old guy with liver spots.

We "worked" straight through lunch, and after that we took a break to eat and didn't do anything the rest of the day. Rhiannon found Joey's iphone and was looking through the apps and happened upon one called "ibrate". That was beginning the of a long string of sexual innuendos. They got so bad that Nate had to leave the room. When Will asked why, Nate told him about the phone, and now the whole school knows about Joey's special vibrating phone. We taped it under her chair when she was out of the room. The look on her face when she sat down was priceless, she was so embarrassed. (When she said she needed to go to the bathroom we of course asked if she needed her phone haha)

Joey also has an app on her phone that eerily resembles the magic eight ball; you ask it a question and it gives you a yes or no answer. We asked questions about Gordy such as (but certainly not limited to):

Will he have sex with a she-male? -Yes

Will he have an orgy with only she-males? -Yes

Will he ever have sex with a respectable woman? -No

Is all this crap happening to him just because he's Black? -Yes

Which brings up another topic. School started almost two weeks ago, and I've only seen George once. (I was reminded because he's Black, and they're pretty rare around these parts). I don't think he even counts as a student at this point.

Classes start on Monday. I'm pumped, even if French probably won't happen because I'm the only student signed up. Singing most likely won't be until session 2 as well, so I'm guessing that's a sign that I didn't do a good job picking my schedule.

Today was our first business meeting, and I seem to be one of the few who likes them. I'm sure after the honeymoon's over I'll evolve into a real senior and detest the meetings, but for now I like them. I think it's because I want to show my appreciation for the freedom that we're handed on a silver platter, or rather one of the dishes Cody used for his "clean these or I'll hide them" discussion. I like being involved and making decisions on what had previously been a mystery to me, like what the adults had always handled.

During the meeting Nick slipped away and found his ipod. I've decided that he's like Kramer from Seinfeld, and that's why I adore being around him. You just can't find someone like Nick, I can't even describe him. I'm sorry I'm at a loss, he's just so interesting. Cody's kinda like Jerry, now that I think about it. Mom told me the other night that I'm like Elaine during an episode where she wouldn't stop complaining about being hungry. :/ Whining is generally something I try to limit, because I feel it's purely negative and doesn't particularly help anyone, but I guess I don't do a good job. I'll just have to try harder!

I really need to finish my part of the project. Good night all, and just because Lady Gaga's amazing:

http://www.dailystab.com/lady-gaga-mtv-vma-performance/

Committees (thank God for spell check)

So on Thursday we had to pick which committee we wanted to be on. You can only be on one. I narrowed down my choices to three before I started having nagging doubts, guilt-induced nausea, and obligatory contradictions. I was slightly chained by shackles to the thrift store, since I had volunteered and recently signed up for OTB.

Then a part of me told myself (my body parts like to talk) I should be on the welcoming committee, because I love having an excuse to not be shy. It helps. I love being friendly and including people, I thought being on the welcoming committee would be perfect for me. The only other person who was on it was Cody, and he was really nice to me when I attended the planning day in June. Not only did he get me a chair, explain to me how the schedule works, and make sure to incorporate a music class for me (I was a little too shy to voice my opinions at that point), but he also drove me home afterwards. I never told dad about that and I'm not gonna.

But then I saw it...the school spirit committee. We've had group discussions about our school colors and mascot. As of right now, our colors are plaid and clear because when the school was started ten years ago there were these horrible plaid couches and clear windows, and that was basically all their furniture. And then the mascot. We don't exactly have one, since we don't participate in organized sports, but we've joked A LOT about being TNS roosters: home of the raging cocks. haha

In the end I signed up for the school spirit committee. It consists of me, Haley, and Joey the Germ. Haley's one of the biggest sluts I've ever met, but she's really funny and outgoing, I can't help but like her. I don't think she'd be as bad if she didn't have a giant rack and like to expose said giant rack at every possible moment by taking off her shirt and wearing clothing that doesn't even cover her whole bra. Yeah she's a mega hit to my self-esteem, but I like her anyway. :)

It's us three girls on a quest to improve morale and bring spirit into the lives of our fellow peers. Instead of finishing a Harry Potter book last night, I started writing down ideas that we could do throughout the year. I got so into it, planning possible dances, holiday parties, spirit week (which was quite difficult because everyday is pretty much spirit week at TNS haha).

I'm excited. Hopefully I won't screw anything up. Responsibility is a stranger to me, I've been so sheltered that I don't know what to do if there's no one to help me. Oh well, life's just a learning experience. I don't ever want to stop learning.

Health week starts tomorrow. We're going to be cooking food and running around playing games. We already read some articles on high fructose corn syrup and parenting, it's really interesting. The reason corn syrup and soy lecithin are in everything is because it's subsidised by the government, and that's why cows are fed so much corn, because everything revolves around moolah. It's not really about our well-being, it's all about the money, right?

I wish it were all just about love. I think we need a little more of that.

ahhhhhh :)

Tuesday was technically my first day of school. It was wonderful, we played some bonding games where we all had an excuse to touch each other. There was this one game where some people were blindfolded, and we were stripping because it was so hot, and...yeah. Good times.

I'm in Christine's advisory and it's marvelous! It consists of Landon, Zach, Connor, Zeb, me, and Joey. (Her name is Johana, she's the German exchange student who's staying for six months). Everyone is either funny, nice, or rather attractive (I'm such a hormonal teenager haha) so I'm very pleased with my advisory. :)

So Wednesday morning we left and had a three hour car ride, which was a pleasant surprise considering we were informed of a four hour ride. The mornings and nights were below 40 and the afternoons were above 70, but there were a few brief moments in the day when we weren't fretting over the temperature. Sleeping in that tent was freezing, the guys lucked out with ones made out of metal and plywood so they were actually warm. But oh well, we toughed it out, because that's how chicks do it.

As I knew would happen, I am a Caring person. There are these things called Facilitation teams, and I know them a little bit more than I did last week. Apparently there's a facilitator who runs the meeting, a speaker's list who writes down who has their hand raised so the facilitator can call on the next person, a note taker (too obvious for explanations), and a time keeper. There might be a moderator, but I'm not sure. Each facilitation team is about four or five people. The ideal team has at least one person from each corner (Action, Caring, Structure, and Meaning). Since there were a few students who didn't go on the retreat some kids aren't in a team yet. That means mine's missing one person, but I like it. I have Cody, Nick, Noah, and myself. Cody's a redheaded redneck, one of the people who lives on a farm and tells lots of hay stories. Nick is really interesting, in a completely awesome way. Both of them are nice and extremely funny. Then there's Noah, who's alright. I can't complain. He just happens to brag with all his drug and sex stories, trying to impress the upperclassmen (he's a frosh). Coincidentally, all of my team is from York except for me. Marilyn said something like "3 Yorkies and a Bunker" and Flora asked "Is that a joke?" "Where's the punch line?" haha

Something that really boosted my self esteem was when the senior leaders (Landon, who technically should be a senior, Tim, Connor, Cody, and Zach) were picking their team: playground style. They were going around in a circle and started with Action because that's who they were closest to, and then instead of going in any logical order Connor skipped over the next group to Caring and chose me by pointing and saying "I pick Sara". (In elementary school not only was I picked last, sometimes the others would act like I was invisible and not pick me at all, even in gym class when the teacher was there. It felt so great to sever that part of my life.) But there were two Sara's, (we both spell our name the same, have red hair, and don't eat meat haha) and she wasn't looking. She thought he meant her, so she sat down right next to me and we were both confused as to who Connor was motioning to. After everyone had been picked we asked him for clarification. Cody said he wanted me, too, so Connor gave me up to him. Somehow I ended up on three teams. haha it felt so great to be wanted! Especially because I thought Connor didn't like me. He's another redneck, go figure.

Then white water rafting! It was awesome!! I was in a raft with all adults and new kids (except for Rhiannon) including Will (Cody's little redheaded brother), Nate, Jamie, me, an alumna, Flora and our awesome guide. That was when I first realized Nate was new, for some reason I was under the impression he wasn't because the other kids knew who he was. But it turns out he had taken some classes there but he was no officially a freshman. He's a Caring person like myself and has a wicked throwing arm that all the guys marvel over. He was the only person who was walking around in shorts and a t-shirt at night while we were all bundled up in our winter coats. I really like him, even if he should live in Antarctica.

All in all I had a great time, learned a lot about most of the kids, and even made a few friends. I'm so glad I'm not as shy as I used to be. Next week is health week, more on that when it happens.

kajergodfhg I love The New School, I'm actually looking forward to Monday. I don't know what's gotten into me.

Much easier to read

Here's the schedule. :) I'm taking Ecology, Public Policy, Singing, the purple block is my free period, and French.

http://www.tnsk.org/Schedule2009.htm

Xine is Christine, like Xmas and Christmas. haha

Monster post of the new schedule (haha puns)

I woke up yesterday and felt a little sick. I shrugged it off, still feeling stuffy the rest of the day.

This morning I woke up really sick. I don't think it helps that I was surrounded by sneezers, snifflers, and coughers yesterday. I thought "If I'm careful I can get out alive." The constant phlegm-stirring coughs emanating from Flora was really reassuring. But after some Airborne, several tissues, and a butt-load of food I'm as right as rain, if rain was actually right.

I probably shouldn't use the words "butt" and "food" in the same sentence. :/

I'm about to give you way too much information about TNS, but I'm so enthused that I can't stop. haha

Yesterday was the school's planning day. About 11 students attended, which was a great turnout. That's more than a third of the school. We believe this year we'll have between 28-32 students, a lot better than the 22 we had in July, but a little less than last year.

I'm amazed at how incredible TNS's program is. School hasn't even started yet and I can already feel an inner leader in me attempting to claw its way to the surface. The discussions and activities that we participated in were almost completely student-run, it's such a nice change of pace from the zombie-mentality inducing effects of other schools.

The curriculum at TNS has changed several times since June, but they've finally decided on the one that shall be used this year.

For who it may concern, this is what my schedule looks like:

We have a half an hour of advisory every morning except Wednesday.

First block is Ecology, second block is Public Policy, third block on Mondays/Thursdays is Singing and on Tuesdays/Fridays is a free block. After that on Tuesdays/Fridays I have French. (Mondays are Committees and Thursdays are All School Meetings)

Committees are like clubs. Some of them are necessary, like fundraising, and others aren't, like the yearbook committee I'm thinking of starting. It's about keeping the school running by democracy and the students, so it's great that they allow time in the actual school day instead of forcing students to stay after.

All School Meetings are great. They talk about how to help the school and/or make it function better, current events, they even give compliments, which is like thanking people.

"Compliments to Flora's advisory for running the booth at the fair all on their own."

"Compliments to Ross's hair, just 'cause it's awesome."

"Compliments to Jen for designing the friggen SWEET costumes, they make me feel pretty." (a boy said that haha)

During discussions they have a gesture called "Sparkle" where they wave their hands (it's pretty much jazz hands) when they like something that was just said. Such as if Landon suggested an ingenious idea to a problem, Cody could wave his hands, showing that he likes what Landon just said/agrees with Landon while being silent and not interrupting him. If I'm not mistaken it's American Sign Language (ASL is offered as a class :)) for "Applause".

Wednesdays you don't have to go to school. They leave that open for apprenticeships, self-directed learning seminars, art and photography classes, greenhouse/gardening classes, independent studies, gateway preps (you complete gateways to move up to the next phase/grade), and senior projects.

Gateways are what you complete to move onto the next phase/grade. They're like examinations, except you just have to demonstrate that you know the skills and/or information you've been taught, not take an hour long test that doesn't pertain to the study sheet the teacher gave you. It's just you and the teacher, no pressure, because you can re-do it whenever you feel like you're ready. There are gateways to meet the Maine Learning Results for all core subjects like math, science, etc. Every student they've ever had has met the results, it's such a great system.

Senior Project is a big cookie. Seniors work on it all year long. It's a presentation of some sort about a passion of theirs. Some kids who really like art create an exhibit that's showcased in museums or in their own homes. One students built the greenhouse and set up the garden. There really aren't any limits. And the project is kind of optional, but most students want to do it because it's about what they love. It furthers their knowledge of what they hope to do the rest of their lives or maybe just their beloved hobbies.

For those who are interested in apprenticeships the people at the school personally help find a suitable place/person for the student to learn from. Sara (she's also a redhead haha) is working at a tea shop which is run by an extremely knowledgeable woman, because Sara really likes tea and growing the plants for the leaves and such. (She also goes to Flora the vegan social studies teacher's farm, because the teachers are chill like that.)

For the first couple of months I'll be taking a required SDLS for incoming students on Wednesdays from 9:00-2:00. It's about moral/ethical problems and writing about them. Such as "Is stealing always bad?" (it seems like is has a little but of Psychology thrown in for kicks and giggles). I think it sounds cool. :)

For ten minutes everyday after school we clean up the place, since there isn't any custodial staff. Doing chores is lame, but when you're with your friends it's alright, so I don't mind. When we were talking about cleaning most of the students seemed to be nonchalant, as if every teenager should be taking charge on a regular basis and it would be strange to rely on a janitor for their own mess. They take pride in being independent and taking care of not only the school but the Earth as well. Even the redneck-est of men felt ashamed when he accidentally put a paper bag in the trash, only to take it out moments later and place it in the correct recycling bin.

PLUS they have a compost! It's so oddly wonderful to go to school and be cooking tofu (totes vegan) stir fry using vegetables from their garden with your principal, who you call by her first name. I don't know any of the teachers last names. haha

Getting back to my schedule...oh God I get side-tracked so easily. I've always been interested in flora + fauna and the environment, especially how we're destroying the planet that we were blessed with, so I'm glad I'll be able to educate myself by taking Ecology. That's a really long sentence... Oh well too late now.

Public Policy is a required class, but you only have to take it once throughout high school. It's about getting involved locally, state-wide, and even sometimes nationally. It looks into the government and how we have a say in what goes on. The really cool thing is that it's actually doing something. One of the students who took it last year did a lot of work on getting the equality bill passed in Maine. I can thank her when I marry the love of my life, be it man or woman. :)

Ecology and Public Policy are both classes that change after Session 1 because I have them every morning.

I'll refuse to stay on topic by explaining Sessions. There are four of 'em. Session 1 goes until November/December, Session 2 goes until March-ish, Session 3 is most of March, and Session 4 is 'til the end of the year. Session 3 is three weeks long and is called Intensives, where people usually travel around the world, the country, or the state and do something big they've been planning for several months. Some students decide to just stay at home, though.

Back to the ranch (such a Bruce Lewia expression), I'm excited for singing. It's going to be acapella and we'll be singing a wide range (haha more puns) of genres, including some contemporary music. The teacher's not only going to help with voice strengthening but she's going to tackle performance anxiety, which I greatly need assistance with. I'm very thankful. :)

So on Tuesdays/Fridays I finish Public Policy at 11:50, and then because of lunch, my free block, and then a regular ten minute break in between each class, I don't have to go back to school until 2:00. That's more than two hours that I get to drive home and then chill, make some lunch and take a nap, finish homework that I didn't do the night before, even laze in front of thetv while I unwind. Ahh the perks of being senior. Can I get an amen?

Singing changes after Session 1 because of the arrangements for the instructor (which may be switched) and my free block changes after session 2 because I don't have it every day. I have it half the time I have Ecology and Public Policy, but it goes a whole extra Session so it's all the same time. It's like late start Wednesdays at KHS and how it affects the first two blocks (which are longer than the others) so it all evens out...sorta.

Then after my free block I have French, which I'm excited for. It should be refreshing after all these years of Spanish. I can't wait to be able to correctly sing Coeur de Pirate songs. haha

After those TNS offers classes to the public. I'm going to take ball room dancing. I've always wanted to learn how to Salsa and Tango, and waltzing reminds me of the Harry Potter Yule Ball so that's a definite plus. haha

Speaking of Harry Potter, Christine (one of my favorite teachers) said "I'm in a Harry Potter mood because I just reread the series, and I think an inter-advisory competition would be great!" Then Ross replied "Like the House Cup?"

"Yeah! And we can add and dock points for behavior."

"Like professors and prefects?"

"Yeah!!! And whoever wins the activities garners points."

"Like the Quidditch Cup?"

"YEAH!!"

I love her. She's so happy but still very mature, it's hard to find people like that these days, because gaining maturity usually has the consequence of losing your inner child. She's the super cool English teacher. Ross is the teacher for random subjects ranging from Philosophy to Japanese to World Religions to Robotics, since all those things are so similar. He graduated from Bonny Eagle a few years ago.

I realize now that I'm rather fond of all the teachers except Ruth. She's the only old one (Marylyn the principal doesn't count since she acts so youthful). Luckily Ruth's the math teacher, so I won't ever have her. haha triumph! That sounded mean. :( sorry!

Due to the fact that I'm giving all you pretty people a quick rundown of how the school works, I might as well explain phases. This is why I'm writing what has got to be my longest blog post to date. haha

In order to graduate students move through phases, not grades. There are three phases, I, II, and III (to point out the obvious). Incoming students start at Phase I, which is for students at the very beginning, so it mostly consists of freshmen and sophomores and the occasional junior. I'm gonna fit in great.

Phase II is almost all juniors and seniors. This is the advisory I'm going to be put into because Christine thought this is where I would be most comfortable, since I'm thinking about doing 3-4 semesters before I graduate instead of just 1 year. I'm gonna be a super senior, it'll be sooosick! There was a girl who just graduated from her five years at TNS and she taught an AP level Soviet History class. Now she's going to Mt. Holyoke, therefore, she's wicked smaht. My nanaattended college there. :/

Phase III is made up of students thinking about graduating close to the end of the year, so it contains the seniors, the possible super seniors, and the random "wth are you doing here?" junior.

Each phase has an advisory, Phase I has two just because that's where the majority of the school is placed. I'll either have Flora (the newly-wed vegan one) or Christine (<3)

OMG I forgot to tell about the most Harry Potter-ish part of the school!

There's this system they have called "4 corners". It's pretty much having the disgruntled sorting hat placed on your pretty little head while you sit awkwardly on a stool in front your magical schoolmates who aren't paying attention, except there's no pms-y hat, no stool of doom, and no magic.

Darn it.

There are four categories: Action (Gryffindor), Caring (Hufflepuff), Meaning (Ravenclaw?), and Structure (???). Most of the school is Action. There are some Caring, but almost no Meaning and/or Structure. Good thing google already knows I'm going to be in Caring since I puff your mom's huff.

Then, based on what you fit best into, you find people of other houses--I mean categories--to function well with. There are groups of four people called Facilitations, and during meetings one person is the Facilitator, one is the Note Taker, and I can't remember the other two for the life of me. haha

I've been told on multiple occasions that it's "cliche" to like Gryffindor, but this just totally re-affirms my belief. I want to be like all the Action people! They're all people I admire greatly. If I had to change myself, I would be more leader-ish/public speaker-y. Hurray for words that actually exist!

So I'm pretty much going to Hogwarts...psh I wish.

One time when Wolfie was still around I was 11 and hadn't received my Hogwarts letter, and he had just turned 10. We both hoped that he was a muggle born and would get his letter next year. He didn't. Oh the woes of life.