Category Archives: High School

Class of 2017

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Hello Friends,

Roughly a week and a half after prom, we had graduation. This year was the 166th graduating class of Notre Dame. It was held at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose, which was a gorgeous historical building. A few days prior we had had baccalaureate mass at the Cathedral Basilica in the evening and it was such a special moment seeing my first seniors in their blue cap and gowns.

June 3rd was a hot Saturday, but the theatre was cooler than outside. This year was my first year teaching almost all freshman, so my few seniors were very precious to me. Most years prior, I taught juniors and senior exclusively. I know they are going on to amazing school, but I will miss these friendly familiar faces. Congratulations class of 2017!

A few days later I was invited to see a few students from my old school graduate at City Hall. It was such a bittersweet moment seeing a few of my juniors as about to graduate seniors! I wish I had been there during their senior years.

A few of my students had selected to finish out their senior year with a combination of online and college course. The above student stuck together in a cohort class. It was fantastic to see Joe, the very man that had hired me to teach at this school four years ago at the last graduation ever for LPS San Jose.

These two students were my most troublesome, and I was very hard on them. I was very hard on them because I knew they could do better, and I knew how smart they were. I didn’t want them to waste their education or their future with silly actions. I am so proud of all their work and can’t wait to hear all about their adventures at Evergreen and Ithaca College! 

These five hard working and devoted people brought the 15 students up to the finish line of graduation. I worked beside them for the last few years and I missed them so much during this past year of new experiences and changes as I transitioned to my new school. I wish them all the best as they now go off to new places!

To all my darling students of the class of 2017, I am so proud of you!

Love,

-S

2017 Prom

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Hello Friends,

The end of the school year is always a busy time. The weekend after I was in Seattle was prom! Our school hosted it at a downtown location called the Corinthian Ballroom which was a great venue. It had a bunch of rooms on the main level, and upstairs was the photographers for the formal photos.

It was wicked hot that day, and I decided to get my hair done at Drybar just to keep it off my shoulders (it’s getting so long now!). It turned out so elegant. The theme of Prom was Beauty and the Beast, so all the students working the dance were dressed up as little maids and forks/spoons.

Downstairs they had a photo-book room, dinner and dancing in the main ballroom, and a lounge area with the drinks and dessert. Everyone looked their very best, and all the dresses were gorgeous. I was surprised by how many girls went floor-length like I did. Although I wasn’t chaperoning it, I stopped by to say hello to some of my seniors and of course to the other teachers. I snapped a few photos with some of my seniors that are from the class of 2017!

Love,

-S

Downtown Doors

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Hello Friends,

When you walk around downtown San Jose, you’ll notice that there is large posters of student artwork on many utility boxes and doors. The San Jose Downtown Foundation has a program called Downtown Doors where it invites high school students to submit their artwork to be printed and placed around various sections of downtown. This is the 13th year, and 189 students submitted work from various San Jose public, private and charter high schools. 20 students are selected, bringing the total from the last 13 years to 252.

We invited students from the school I work at to submit to the art committee, and one of my students was selected! They had a small celebration for all the student winners a few weeks ago. It was a very exciting day, and I was so proud of her work. She had created this piece of work during a graphic design course taught by my department chair. I know this student from my Yearbook class. Her artwork hangs right by a popular Starbucks that I frequent when I need more caffeine in my life. Apparently the artwork Downtown Doors features will hang up for 3-5 years, which is quite a legacy!

I snapped the photo above of all the winners, which was a very exciting day I’m sure. I was a proud mamma standing there with my student!

Have you ever submitted anything to an art competition? Have you ever won anything?

Love,

-S

Life Lately

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Hello Friends!

The end of the school year is closing just like any other- with a flurry of activity and events! I’m so looking forward to summer, some fun trips planned, lots of sleep and working out hopefully! I’d love to get back on track with regularly working out, grading has taken a bit of a priority lately as I only have a few days left with my seniors.

So here is a quick view into what has been going on in the last few weeks.

I had our apartment handyman put up some shoe shelves for me, and my Type-A heart is so happy. I can see them all so I know what I haven’t work recently, and it’s wicked easy to put them back as I can quickly spot an open space on the shelf.

I went with O to the farmers market a week or two back and these strawberries were out of this world good and so bright in color.

I chaperoned a field-trip to Chinatown in San Francisco and we got dim sum and fortune cookies. So tasty!

My family has finally figured out how to make the best chilaquiles ever! Yum.

I just got back from a whirlwind weekend in Seattle for an amazing wedding to two cuties, so that post will be coming soon. How is your week going?

Love,

-S

 

Spirit Week

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Hello Friends,

So, Spirit Week! It’s a big deal here at my new school. We started planning things roughly two months before this week. We practiced songs, took polls on themes, created design sketches for our “decks”, created banners to explain our theme. The week or so before, we have a banner reveal day to showcase each grade’s deck theme.

The weekend before is a big creative event where they build the “decks”, which is a physical background. I’ll show them a little bit later on in the post.

Each day was a themed costumed day. We had an hour or so long assembly each day, where they each sang a class song, skits, cheerleaders performed dances, etc. ASB pulled together a pretty amazing week.

Day 1: Zoo/Tourist

I borrowed a friend’s lion onesie. It was comfy and cozy, and best of all had pockets!

But I think the real hero of the day was my department chair, who came as……..a dinosaur!!

Day 2: Pajama Day

I wore my christmas flannel but somehow forgot to take a pic. But my department chair and I were opposites in both our flannel and robe colors, but his zombie slippers were the best!

For some reason on Day 3: I only took pictures on Snapchat and forget to save them. Whoops!

Day 4: “Er Day” Anything that ends in er, which ran the gamut of reindeer, Easter, nerdy teacher (me!) a character from Stranger things etc.

 My favorite part is that a student dressed up as me!

On Friday it was rep your deck day. One of our mentors pulled together shirts and we all matched. It was pretty great. He is a picture of us in front of our amazing deck.

The freshman were Candyland.

Sophomores were Wizard of Oz, Juniors were Battlestar Galactica, and the Seniors were my absolute favorite as Lilo and Stitch.


The decks were pretty amazing. In fact the whole week was pretty amazing. I’m looking forward to next’s years spirit week as I will actually know what to expect this time.

How was your week?

Love,

-S

 

MLK Weekend in Tahoe

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Hello Friends

A few weekends back, I gathered as many friends as I could to enjoy the long weekend up in Tahoe. We have been drenched in the amazing amount of rain we have enjoyed in the last month or two. I love a good rainy day as much as the next gal, but I’m ready for spring and some sun!

But that weekend we had a big dump a few days before and a few days after. It was cold, but with glorious blue skies. Most people didn’t have a sturdy snow care and backed out, so it was a smaller group than expected that made the long drive up there. We relaxed a ton this weekend, eating well, watching movies, sledding and baking! It was a certain someones birthday (Ahem, Joey!!) so we celebrated by baking and eating a delicious cake.

Lake Tahoe MLK Weekend in TahoeMLK Weekend in Tahoe MLK Weekend in Tahoe

My dad and I were talking a few days back and apparently Tahoe has gotten a record breaking 24 feet of snow in the month of January alone, which totally makes up for the last two years with basically no snow!

Love,

-S

The Best of 2016

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Hello Friends,

Happy New Years! We spent the evening at our neighborhood party, and then relaxed at our house playing boardgames. It’s very homey with the fire roaring and we drink tons of thai iced tea to last us til midnight. It’s always very festive and fun. How was your New Year’s Eve? Do anything fun?

best-of-2016

Looking back on 2016, it was a very full and exciting year, with many highs and quite a few lows.

From left to right, I had amazing time with A flying to Florida and having the time of my life at Harry Potter World in January.

Relaxing on the beach in Hawaii with A in February was exactly what I needed heading into a busy time prepping my students to submit their AP portfolios. In June I watched my prides and joy (all 45 of them) walk down the aisle and receive their diplomas. I also said goodbye to the school that made me into the teacher that I am today, and hugged & waved goodbye to all my LPS Phoenix’s (and my classroom) for the last time ever.

In July we took a family trip and fulfilled a childhood dream of mine to return to the island where I had spent a glorious summer (#sweet15) in Nantucket. In July we spent some time with my Grandfather in Pennsylvania.

In August, I lounged at an amazing lake house and soaked up every last bit of summer before starting school at my new job. In September we enjoyed glorious weather on many walks in San Francisco. In October A and I cajoled our friends into eating the brunch buffet at the Ritz in Half Moon Bay. I also saw my favorite musician Ingrid Michaelson on her latest musical tour.

In November A and I took a food eating tour through Portland, and I got to explore the beauty of the Northwest (and see Shannon!). For Thanksgiving Week I joined Aaron and Kim and her family on a week-long sunny stay in Cancun, Mexico.

And finally, I’ve been here in Tahoe for the last week and a half, being as lazy as I possibly can before starting back to work on the 3rd. The snow has been kind to us, and I’ve been able to get in 3!! days of skiing in between the hot tub, reading books, watching movies and boardgames.

I’m sure 2017 will keep me just as busy as 2016 did, as I know I already have a few trips planned with A, seeing my first crop of seniors at Notre Dame graduate in May, and adding a few new things to the new pad in Santa Clara (like finally owning a Tv.)

Are you looking forward to 2017? Any fun things you are looking forward to? Thanks so much for reading the blog these last 12 months, I couldn’t do it without you guys!

Love,

-S

 

 

 

On My Radar for October

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Hello Friends,

There are so many good things going on right now!

Luke’s Diner [Gilmore Girls Revival]

Town Updates

I cannot wait for the release of the new Gilmore Girls episodes. It’s on my rainy day to-do list to rewatch the last season (or many three…) to prepare for the release after Thanksgiving. To hype the upcoming even, many coffeshops were transformed into mini Luke’s diners, and guys, IT HAPPENED ON MY BIRTHDAY. It’s like they knew my extreme love for this show. It was kinda a crazy day for me, so I didn’t get to make it over to one of the coffee shops (there were only 2 decorated here in the Bay) but a girl can dream! There’s also a web-page (linked from photo above) that is all about the fictional town of Stars Hollow that is also pretty darn cute.

Jackie- Natalie Portman [Movie Trailer]

I’m hoping I can convince my mom to come see this movie with me. The acting looks amazing, I’m sure the style and clothes on point, and just the history behind it is so important. Let’s make it a dinner & a movie plan, okay Mom?

Calvin Klein Trenchcoat

Every winter I get look at coats and try to pick up a new one. Usually I wear them into the ground. My mom does a great job on cleaning up whatever art messes I get on it (#teacherlife) but usually it looks like it’s been through a rough messy life by the end of one California winter in an art classroom. I’ve been looking online and I kinda love the Aubergine color, what do you think?

Gwyneth Paltrow’s NY Apartment for Sale

So I first heard about this article on Young House Love’s Podcast. They play this fun game where the husband describes multiple things in a category (some true, some false) and the wife has to guess what’s a lie. It’s great and funny and this time it was about the sentences used to describe rooms in Gwyneth Paltrow’s apartment, which is now up for sale. I love the photos, the styling of the apartment, and the excessive use of carrera marble in her kitchen. Check it out and let me know what you think of her design style in the comments below!

Pixar Short: Borrowed Time

I adore Pixar. Their ability to tell a story (for example Ellie’s life story in Up) is absolutely incredible and I saw this short recently. It is much darker than their normal shorts, but still captivating. I might have shed a tear over one particular moment. Have you seen any of their other shorts?

I still need to decorate my little apartment for fall. It was a busy first few weeks with my birthday, the freshman sleepover, Open House, grades being due etc!

How’s your October going?

Love,

-S

 

Turning 28

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Hello Friends, My birthday fell on a Wednesday, which was pretty exciting to liven up a midweek day. My co-workers were very sweet, and got me flowers, balloons and even a chai tea latte (they know my love of chai … Continue reading →

Currently Lovin’

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Hello loves,

I had a great weekend. A good mix of friend time, exercise and family time. I love long weekends! Were you able to fit in a little bit of time for everything that you wanted to? These are all the things I’m currently wishing were in my closet.

 

I tend to wear a lot of black pants to work when I do choose to wear pants, which is mostly in the winter time when it’s too chilly for skirts and dresses. I think these flats seem perfect with black pants for fall, and I love a good cap toe. I’m trying to decide which I like more: the burgundy, the beige, or the grey! Which do you like? Which would you were the most to work?

 

How cute would this purse be with an all black outfit? Or a cute plaid shirt and jeans? I’ve been looking to invest in a cute blue purse, but haven’t yet pulled the trigger. I ended up getting my work purse for the new school year from them, and have loved it so far! It’s sturdy, roomy and the navy color gorgeously goes with everything. Do you have a blush purse yet?

It’s starting to be pretty chilly here in the mornings as I head off to work, and even though this sweater is out of my budget (#teacherlife) I love the look of it.

Off the Shoulder Sweater

The off the shoulder sweater look is a notch above a regular sweater, and can take a great classic creamy sweater from night to day easily.

What do you think about these pieces? Do any of them belong in your closet?

Love,

-S