Who's Got Spirit?

Ok, so we are heading into my favorite week (fine, one of two weeks) of the year. It's SPIRIT WEEK at school. We have one in the fall, and have theme dress days and such, and it's awesome. If there was Halloween every month I would be thrilled. I love costumes and the like (no surprise as I worked as a costumer for more than a few years for a public school system and the renowned Weston Drama Workshop). I think it's so much fun to put on some crazy things and head off into the wild. If you know me in real life you are not at all surprised at this. My favorite part of high school was the musical matinee day, where we did the show for the elementary school kids (or old people- I can't remember) during our academic day. I got out of my classes, got to ride to school with hot rollers in, and putz about in stage makeup after we were done. A win-win. Fast forward three million years, to spirit week. It's a week in schools where we have silly dress days and what-not. Well, that wasn't enough for cuckoo bird me. I had to take it up a (more than one!) notch. It's now COLOR COMPETITION. Because the word "war" just has too much negativity for me. Yeah, we have theme days, field day, bake-offs, door decorating, and scavenger hunts (which include me getting glitter bombed. Oh, how sad. NOT).  I have been planning with a core group of students for MONTHS. Most of my co-workers are thankfully good sports, as our team names are sort of odd. We are pretty competitive, so I know my dear friend, Mrs. Math Teacher, was thrilled that her team chose "Sargeant Hatred and the Carnivorous Lizards" as their moniker. It's cool though, I am the captain of the "Pink Pegasisters and the FIVE GUYS" (there are five boys/men on my team, and then a whole lot o' teenage girls). Bottom line? I work in an alternative school where every kid is from a different sending district, and they have one foot in their local schools but most of their body in mine. That's hard. It's tough to build a sense of camaraderie, and ownership, with so many fragmented youth. Yes, I work with a marginalized population. I wouldn't actually want it any other way. I think my students rock. And I think my colleagues might just rock a little bit more. Work is tough, but SO rewarding. That being said, we work just a wee bit harder to unify our students and staff. That's why I have put so much effort and time into color competition. This week it's going to be a lot of fun too. Tomorrow is cartoon character day, and I could have just worn a shirt with Mickey on it (um, that's not hard I have a billion) but I have gone all out. Full Minnie costume, complete with scads of ruffles, and pink bows. I even made Minnie shoes. I spent HOURS on it. And I can't wait to go to work tomorrow looking foolish  awesome!

Even better? I have a dentist appointment right after school. There will be no changing.