I’ve been on a blogging hiatus. Too much going on, most of it I can’t blog about because it’s grindingly mundane or just too damn personal to be spreading all over the internet, especially in light of the sorts of people who have been looking me up in recent weeks.
I may take the time to blog some recipes again, but they’ll be without photo support because Kate brought my camera to school with her (with my permission) and someone stole it. The little assholes also stole her iPod, and we have no recourse because the school just says she’s not supposed to have those things at school anyway. I guess that’s true but since they rearranged the school bus routes she now spends up to half an hour more on the bus than she used to and it now takes her almost an hour to get home (whereas it takes about 10 minutes for me to drive to the school, in traffic even) and it seems unfair to tell her she’s not allowed to listen to music to block out the little hoodlums-in-training while they scream and yell out the windows that passersby are "whores" or "gay" and other behaviors that are technically not allowed on the bus (and are grounds for having your bus privileges suspended) but no one does anything about.
In my last post I said I wouldn’t mention Orca school fundraising again but I’m going back on that, just briefly. Since I am also of a mind to do less consumeristic giving and more charitable and uplifting giving this season, I’m passing this along for any like-minded readers.
Orca K-8 is partnering with the nonprofit organization Global Goods Partners (GGP) to offer beautiful handmade products- handspun silk scarves, home accessories and gifts for special occasions, – that are produced by women artisans in Africa, Asia, and Latin America according to fair trade principles.
From now through December 15th, 30% of each sale we make goes directly to support our school (20% thereafter). The remaining proceeds are invested in the community based organizations that partner with GGP to support advances in health care, education, and other social and economic programs within these communities. To make a purchase count for our school, please select “ORCA” from the drop down list on the home page under “Shop for a School or Nonprofit”. You can then click on “Shop for Change” to continue browsing and shopping, knowing that you are benefiting Orca K-8.
I’ve already been doing some of my planning for Christmas gifts, shopping through The Hunger Site and Heifer International. The items available from Global Goods Partners may not be to everyone’s taste (I’m pretty sure the redneck cowboy side of the family would not be interested in Nelson Mandela dolls) but I know some tweens who would definitely dig some zebra keychains, or orange peel treasure boxes in their Christmas stockings.
Not to be contrary, but I’m wondering why I’d want to send money to support a school that’s willing to condone theft in the name of arbitrary zero
thoughttolerance policies.Not to be contrary, but I’m wondering why I’d want to send money to support a school that’s willing to condone theft in the name of arbitrary zero
thoughttolerance policies.It’s a district policy, just like the student dress codes and “behavior contract”. Sadly, as much as I bitch about this hippie school, the other schools in the south end of Seattle are waaaaay worse.
Both the state and the school district have huge projected budget deficits and the PTA has to raise the funds to keep programs from getting any worse. Our fund raising pays for all sorts of stuff, including staff salaries for positions that the district doesn’t support (like having an actual on-staff librarian or a technology assistant who keeps the less-than-state-of-the-art computers running).
Ah, the drearily familiar stuff. I’ll see what I can pitch in come the start of the month. It’s a worthy cause.
It’s a district policy, just like the student dress codes and “behavior contract”. Sadly, as much as I bitch about this hippie school, the other schools in the south end of Seattle are waaaaay worse.
Both the state and the school district have huge projected budget deficits and the PTA has to raise the funds to keep programs from getting any worse. Our fund raising pays for all sorts of stuff, including staff salaries for positions that the district doesn’t support (like having an actual on-staff librarian or a technology assistant who keeps the less-than-state-of-the-art computers running).
Ah, the drearily familiar stuff. I’ll see what I can pitch in come the start of the month. It’s a worthy cause.
That’s too bad stuff got stolen from Kate. I remember the stuff that happened when I was in elementary school – it got so my Mom didn’t want to buy me stuff, because it all got stolen (nothing like an ipod, I’m talking fake jewelry and stuff). My daughter’s only 2 1/2, and I’m already worried about sending her to school! It’s too bad Kate can’t walk home. I was able to do that in High School, and it made things much more pleasant for me.
Yeah, the economy is sucky for those of us who work for the local gov’t and with kids. I’m getting a 2% raise (and my health ins went up 22%), and they are talking about cutting down the librarians at each branch, because they don’t “need” us. Makes you walk nervous.
That’s too bad stuff got stolen from Kate. I remember the stuff that happened when I was in elementary school – it got so my Mom didn’t want to buy me stuff, because it all got stolen (nothing like an ipod, I’m talking fake jewelry and stuff). My daughter’s only 2 1/2, and I’m already worried about sending her to school! It’s too bad Kate can’t walk home. I was able to do that in High School, and it made things much more pleasant for me.
Yeah, the economy is sucky for those of us who work for the local gov’t and with kids. I’m getting a 2% raise (and my health ins went up 22%), and they are talking about cutting down the librarians at each branch, because they don’t “need” us. Makes you walk nervous.
That’s too bad stuff got stolen from Kate. I remember the stuff that happened when I was in elementary school – it got so my Mom didn’t want to buy me stuff, because it all got stolen (nothing like an ipod, I’m talking fake jewelry and stuff). My daughter’s only 2 1/2, and I’m already worried about sending her to school! It’s too bad Kate can’t walk home. I was able to do that in High School, and it made things much more pleasant for me.
Yeah, the economy is sucky for those of us who work for the local gov’t and with kids. I’m getting a 2% raise (and my health ins went up 22%), and they are talking about cutting down the librarians at each branch, because they don’t “need” us. Makes you walk nervous.
That’s too bad stuff got stolen from Kate. I remember the stuff that happened when I was in elementary school – it got so my Mom didn’t want to buy me stuff, because it all got stolen (nothing like an ipod, I’m talking fake jewelry and stuff). My daughter’s only 2 1/2, and I’m already worried about sending her to school! It’s too bad Kate can’t walk home. I was able to do that in High School, and it made things much more pleasant for me.
Yeah, the economy is sucky for those of us who work for the local gov’t and with kids. I’m getting a 2% raise (and my health ins went up 22%), and they are talking about cutting down the librarians at each branch, because they don’t “need” us. Makes you walk nervous.