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.