The Prices Write

Spring Time

Melanie — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:27:57 +0000

It seems like only days ago it was 20 degrees, freezing cold in the mornings.. Oh wait.. That was this morning. Yep. Its still rather chilly around here. There are days in between that get a little warmer. A month ago, we had a day that was 77 degrees. We went to the park, had a BBQ, I had on shorts, a t-shirt, and bare feet. The next day, it was 23 degrees, and 5 inches of snow on the ground. The best way I have heard to describe it has been, “That’s Colorado”. Its not to bad on the average these days. Its been 30 at night, but 50-60 during the day. The suns coming out alot more. Overall, I’m happy it’s spring…

Brad Paisley, Rodney Atkins, and -1 degrees

Melanie — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 02:16:32 +0000

The concert was an absolute blast.. It was the first time I’ve been to a country concert since… the last time I went to a Brad Paisley concert in Hawaii. We met Steve “Mudflap” McGrew and the rest of the KYGO morning show posse (the local country radio station) outside the concert last night, which was pretty cool. They were really nice. After the concert, we got on the train to home, had a train swap stop, sat there for 15 mins outside, (it was about 3 degrees above 0) freezing our buns off. By the time we got home, the temp on the car temp reader thingy, finally clicked over to -1… Wow.. With the wind chill it was around -7 or so.. That would officially be the coldest weather Ive been in, ever.. Brrrrrrr….. No big deal though. Its not that bad if you are dressed for it. I know this is my first post in about 2000 days, but maybe one of these days I’ll get a little more consistant with it.. Love yall… GET A LITTLE MUD ON THE TIRES!!! p1160029.jpg p1160015.jpg

Standing Ovation

Melanie — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:20:08 +0000

I’m pretty sure everyone on here knows that I used to sing. A lot in fact. Well, this little nugget of information has leaked out to my students…and oh the consequences!

Yesterday after school, the choir and band teacher came into my classroom and begged me to sing the national anthem for the VALIDATE assembly today. I tried to wiggle my way out of it, but the man just would not take no for an answer…so I sang it.

I was sooo nervous! Why is it that singing for huge crowds of people is no biggie, but singing for students is like jumping off a cliff?! I don’t know how it got out but by the time I got to the school this morning the whole student body was abuzz with the news. I told them I was scared and they reassured me all day long.

When the moment of truth finally came I stood and walked up to the podium in the middle of the gym. My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my throat. I took about 4 steps forward and the gym errupted. The boys all jumped up and started cheering. It was my first standing ovation since performing in college. Not a peep in over 400 adolescent boys the whole time, except for giggles with me when my voice cracked at “Rockets Red Glare.” Before I even finished the last line they were out of control again.

I felt like a celebrity. I went out an a tiny, shakey limb for them and I know that the fruit I was reaching for will be oh-so sweet. I have proven to them that I will go the distance for them and you know what… It makes all the difference.

I feel so very honored.

Appreciated…at last!

Melanie — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 03:41:12 +0000

Appreciated…at last!

So, as we all know teaching is a very thankless job. Everyday I taught in Hawaii I felt like my students would be just as happy to see me hanging from the banyon tree behind my classroom as they would come to my classroom. Interstingly enough, it has taken me teaching convicted criminals to finally be appreciated.

My students call to me from across the quad, they peek their head in to say hi between classes and they defend me to the end of the Earth. If a visitor comes into my class-they cover like you can’t believe! I let them talk about controversial topics (ex: “Are Americans terrorists because of the bombing of Hiroshima?) that are not usually tackled by classrooms. But guess what…they are LEARNING…and even more…they’re EXCITED about it!!!

Several students have come to me for help recently. Some for additional help to pass the GED and others to get info on colleges. All of the kids who I’ve helped with the GED writing portion have passed!!! One guy after failing twice finally got it after our study session. I was so proud.

My most recent anticdote happened on Friday right before I left for the weekend. One of my favorite (shhh) students has been talking to me about college. He never thought he’d be able to go and figured he’d be in and out of jail forever. After many prep periods labored over the laptop with him, he has nailed down a plan. He knows what he wants to study. He has a timeline. He is going to make it! He came by my room yesterday afternoon grinning ear to ear and practically bouncing. He told me he was going to college. He took my hand, shook it, looked into my eyes and told me, “Thanks Mrs. Price. I never could have gone to college if it wasn’t for you.”

Tears are coming to my eyes even as I write this. Nobody ever seems to understand why on Earth I would ever teach criminals…this is why.

Ode de Mrs. Price

Melanie — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:37:38 +0000

I assigned my students an acrostic over the weekend. Those are the poems where you spell something vertically and make a poem around that word. Here’s what one of my students wrote about me:

Mysterious and humorous, outspoken

Respected for all her kindness

She shows us a side of her

People would be scared to, normally.

Reason being she runs her own program.

I wondered if she would last this long

Clearly, I underestemated her will

Explanations are not needed because…

…Mrs. Price is here to stay!

Turkey Bowl 07

Melanie — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:37:53 +0000

Happy Holidays everyone. Even though we couldn’t be with our families the sibling trio made it through the first in the long line of holidays this season in stride.

We literally kicked off Thanksgiving by getting up early in the morning and driving to the park by Britt’s house for “Turkey Bowl 07.” It had just snowed 2 days earlier so there was still plenty to play in. We have since decided to make this an anual tradition since it helps you feel less guilty about taking that second slice of pumkin pie later.

Afterward, Adam & I went to his aunt and uncle’s for an early lunch. I made yams…because you can’t have Thanksgiving without them. They were not a very big hit as I didn’t know southerners don’t like yams? But they were scarfed down back at Brittany’s that night.

We drove back to Brittany’s with warm southern biscuits in tow. Ironically enough, these were not a very big hit over there. Maybe next year I will just reverse what I take where. lol. We stayed up late playing card games and guitar hero. A fabulous time was had by all. A neat twist to the meal at Brit’s was we each brought something unique from our family to contribute and wrote out a placecard to explain what it is and whose family it came from.

It was a tough holiday for Brit and I since we were the only 2 out of all of our friends whose families didn’t fly in for the holiday. That coupled with Brit’s mom passing on last year right after her favorite holiday made the day and those leading up to it very emotional. We both missed our families immensely, but are thankful for eachother and long distance cellular service!

Here are some pictures from our day. Hope you enjoy. Much love from our makeshift family to yours.

The few, the proud in Colorado

Melanie — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 01:29:47 +0000

Adam & I (along with 3 other chaperones) took a group of our guys to see the filming of the new Marine Corps commercial. The silent drill platoon was filming up in Leadville (which I loving call Rockville & Nowhereville because it is so far in the middle of nowhere). 20 students enjoyed meeting real Marines and asking them questions. We even made the Marine Times. You can check out the article at www.our.marines.com

Here are some pictures from the event…it was freezing!!!

Short Antecdote: I was standing with our guys when an old Marine came up and said he wished he’d had hot teachers like me when he was in high school. (eye roll…I’m so sick of this line I could puke!) One of my students came up to me and said, “Do you want me to assault him Mrs. Price because I would go back to Orientation for you.” It may have been one of the sweetest things a kid has ever told me!

October Snow

Melanie — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 01:14:59 +0000

It snowed over 4 inches on Sunday morning/afternoon here in Denver. I couldn’t believe it. Ya know what else I can’t believe? It was 85 degrees today and there is still snow on the ground at the school.

I know we have been neglectful on our blog…sorry. It’s been super busy around here. Adam got his new job at the school and is now a full-time sub, which often means very long days for the two of us.

The Rockies are in the World Series!!! They may have lost last night, but as I write this now they up 1-0 in game 2. No, we do not have tickets for the Denver games unfortunately. Many of us were on our laptops at noon on Tuesday, but no one we know actually got tickets, except Uncle Randy & Greg who apparently paid “an arm and a leg” for 2. All we know is that a pair went for $200,000!!! That’s like buying a freakin’ house!!!

We will be enjoying the festivities somewhere with alcohol downtown this weekend with a bunch of friends.

Here are some pictures to tide you over until we get stupid in the snow again! Love you all.

Poor Loke was FREAKED out!!!

This was our awesome snowman…Hawaii style since we didn’t have the traditional stuff to put on him…

The “Big Time”

Melanie — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 04:07:19 +0000

The “Big Time”

Some people get a star on Hollywood Boulevard, others win a grammy. But, when you’re a teacher how do you know you’ve made it big?

Someone draws a nasty picture of you in the boys’ locker room.

Yessirree…ladies and gentlemen I have made it big. I’d like to thank the academy for this fine award.

Goodnight!

New Jeep!!!

Melanie — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 22:32:48 +0000

Everyone together now…say…4 Wheel Drive!!!

We finally broke down and bought a jeep because the road out to the school doesn’t get plowed and we were informed that it is nearly impossible to get down it without 4WD…so we found a screamin’ deal and snatched it up. Not as good on gas as my car, but will be helpful when the winter comes.