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Friday, April 17, 2026

Friday, April 17

4:49 a.m. - Yesterday was another long, long day.  Donuts for Grownups started the day, and it was mass chaos.  Among the chaos, the event was good for everybody.  The kids enjoyed the grown-ups there, and the adults enjoyed the opportunity to do something with the kids at school.  After that, it was one fire after another after another after another.  But...we got through it.  I did use the grill a little last night, which was nice, and I watched a movie to end the night.  

Today is a half day with students.  That means it's a professional development day.  So it's going to be a long, long day again.  I just hope there aren't as many fires to put out.  Of course the weather forecast is supposed to include storms again this afternoon, so I won't be able to get to mowing the yard.  And tomorrow apparently we have a Catholic wedding and reception that is pretty much all afternoon and evening.  Maybe I'll be able to get something done with the yard on Sunday....and then go back to work the next day.  Just keep swimming.

 Things to do for School

  • make a  daily contact with Mrs. Sywassink and document
  • update attendance each week in SDS
  • send any IEP notices to Mrs. Saey
  • Apr 22 - PTO meeting at Andalusia 6 p.m.

OTHER THINGS

  • pick up eye drops at Walgreens on Wednesday, April 15
  • pay middle of month bills
  • register for IHSA stuff - after May 1
  • renew my teaching license can start doing it on April 1
  • use Dick's gift certificate
  • a hood light switch for the Ford
  • April 15 - Dr. Wang pre-op physical (surgical clearance) 8:45 a.m.
  • April 28 - 9:40 a.m. at ORA Silvis
  • April 28 - Dentist 8 a.m. - CANCELLED
  • April 30 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical
  • May 4 - surgery on left knee at Trinity Moline
  • May 6 - 9:20 a.m. - ORA physical therapy
  • May 8 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA physical therapy
  • May 11 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA physical therapy
  • May 13 - 8:45 a.m. Post-Op Appt Hussein; 9:40 a.m. - ORA physical therapy
  • May 15 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA physical therapy
  • July 3-5 - Possible Trip to Bear Creek Cabins near Decorah - https://www.bearcreekcabinsia.com/store-campground
  • July 19-27 - Trip to Branson, MO (and Strawberry, AK) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D3BB0_IuwRs0WDKqm1Euor9WUH84SeF1DIwKi7OWeS4/edit?tab=t.0
  • July 28 - Bus Refresher Course
    Things To Do for History Page
    • What/Where is South Buffalo Prairie School and for that matter West Buffalo School and East Taylor Ridge School?  ugh.
    • Friday Tidbit on the RR History Network Page

    Knee Surgery Dates Completed
    • March 11 - 10:25 a.m. - ORA Moline - Consult
    • April 1 - 1:45 p.m. - ORA Moline - MRI
    • April 9 - Walk in labs at Tr

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Thursday, April 16

4:51 a.m. - Wow, it's been a long week, and today is going to be long too.  Well...the morning is going to be long.  It's Donuts for Grownups morning, and I missed this event last year.  In fact, this is the one-year anniversary of my knee surgery, which is why I missed the event last year.  So I get to experience the chaos today!  And the good news is that Keven Phelps is forecasting a nice morning this morning.  There has been a lot of storms and crazy weather in April, but so far Mother Nature has timed it fairly well for us at IC Elementary.  Survive and advance!

Yesterday was long, but only because it was a "hodge-podge".  I had a doctor's appointment to get a physical for the surgery, and I needed to run time sheets to the district office which then included a conversation with Mr. Bush.  And then at school I had to work through some troubling things with a student.

 Things to do for School

  • make a  daily contact with Mrs. Sywassink and document
  • update attendance each week in SDS
  • send any IEP notices to Mrs. Saey
  • Apr 22 - PTO meeting at Andalusia 6 p.m.

OTHER THINGS

  • pick up eye drops at Walgreens on Wednesday, April 15
  • pay middle of month bills
  • register for IHSA stuff - after May 1
  • renew my teaching license can start doing it on April 1
  • use Dick's gift certificate
  • a hood light switch for the Ford
  • April 15 - Dr. Wang pre-op physical (surgical clearance) 8:45 a.m.
  • April 28 - 9:40 a.m. at ORA Silvis
  • April 28 - Dentist 8 a.m. - CANCELLED
  • April 30 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical
  • May 4 - surgery on left knee at Trinity Moline
  • May 6 - 9:20 a.m. - ORA physical therapy
  • May 8 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA physical therapy
  • May 11 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA physical therapy
  • May 13 - 8:45 a.m. Post-Op Appt Hussein; 9:40 a.m. - ORA physical therapy
  • May 15 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA physical therapy
  • July 3-5 - Possible Trip to Bear Creek Cabins near Decorah - https://www.bearcreekcabinsia.com/store-campground
  • July 19-27 - Trip to Branson, MO (and Strawberry, AK) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D3BB0_IuwRs0WDKqm1Euor9WUH84SeF1DIwKi7OWeS4/edit?tab=t.0
  • July 28 - Bus Refresher Course
    Things To Do for History Page
    • What/Where is South Buffalo Prairie School and for that matter West Buffalo School and East Taylor Ridge School?  ugh.
    • Friday Tidbit on the RR History Network Page

    Knee Surgery Dates Completed
    • March 11 - 10:25 a.m. - ORA Moline - Consult
    • April 1 - 1:45 p.m. - ORA Moline - MRI
    • April 9 - Walk in labs at Tr

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Wednesday, April 15

4:46 a.m. - Yesterday was a long day.  Brinley was actually in my office in the afternoon, as Kenzie needed to sub in our building but Brinley was having sugar problems.  We navigated through everything, though.  After school there was a staff meeting, which was an adventure.  I'm not sure if I'm facilitating positive change or not, and to be honest, I'm not sure it's even possible with the combination of staff members that are in the building.  After that, we had science night, and unfortunately I was assigned to one of the stations.  It was a challenge, but I got through it.  I got home around 7:30 p.m., so that was a 7:30-to-7:30 day yesterday.  

This morning it's raining - again.  It's been one of those weeks with on and off rains pretty much every day.  Kevin Phelps is saying that the active weather is supposed to quiet down next week.  Today, I have a student council meeting to start the day, and then I'm off to get a pre-op physical at Dr. Wang's office in Coal Valley.  Then it's back to school to see what awaits there.  

Things to do for School

  • make a  daily contact with Mrs. Sywassink and document
  • update attendance each week in SDS
  • send any IEP notices to Mrs. Saey
  • Apr 22 - PTO meeting at Andalusia 6 p.m.

OTHER THINGS

  • pick up eye drops at Walgreens on Wednesday, April 15
  • pay middle of month bills
  • register for IHSA stuff - after May 1
  • renew my teaching license can start doing it on April 1
  • use Dick's gift certificate
  • a hood light switch for the Ford
  • April 15 - Dr. Wang pre-op physical (surgical clearance) 8:45 a.m.
  • April 28 - 9:40 a.m. at ORA Silvis
  • April 28 - Dentist 8 a.m. - CANCELLED
  • April 30 - 10 a.m. - Milan Optical
  • May 4 - surgery on left knee at Trinity Moline
  • May 6 - 9:20 a.m. - ORA physical therapy
  • May 8 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA physical therapy
  • May 11 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA physical therapy
  • May 13 - 8:45 a.m. Post-Op Appt Hussein; 9:40 a.m. - ORA physical therapy
  • May 15 - 8:20 a.m. - ORA physical therapy
  • July 3-5 - Possible Trip to Bear Creek Cabins near Decorah - https://www.bearcreekcabinsia.com/store-campground
  • July 19-27 - Trip to Branson, MO (and Strawberry, AK) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D3BB0_IuwRs0WDKqm1Euor9WUH84SeF1DIwKi7OWeS4/edit?tab=t.0
  • July 28 - Bus Refresher Course
    Things To Do for History Page
    • What/Where is South Buffalo Prairie School and for that matter West Buffalo School and East Taylor Ridge School?  ugh.
    • Friday Tidbit on the RR History Network Page

    Knee Surgery Dates Completed
    • March 11 - 10:25 a.m. - ORA Moline - Consult
    • April 1 - 1:45 p.m. - ORA Moline - MRI
    • April 9 - Walk in labs at Tr