To some of the greatest kids on earth...

As you may or may not have known, today was my birthday. 26. Whee.

Anyway, I wasn't really planning much. In fact, I hadn't given the day too much thought. Erin asked me what I wanted and I couldn't even think of something to suggest. We had a nice meal at home tonight. Cheeseburger pie & brownies. Erin cooked. It was very good. I know it seems plain, but it's stuff that isn't all that common here, so it was very nice and quite tasty.

The picture to the left here is grade 10.3. This is a class made up of entirely new 10th graders to the school. Half of them are in my homeroom. As you may be aware, last week Erin & I, along with all the other teachers took all the kids to a mountain resort for something called CB (Character Building) Camp. This picture was actually taken in my classroom shortly before we left.

While there, Erin was in a villa with some of the 10th grade girls. One night while they were all chatting, apparently the subject of birthdays came up. It was soon revealed when mine was.

Monday during her English class, some of them where quizzing her on my likes and dislikes. "Ma'am, does Mr. Travis like chocolate?"

Hmm... I figured something may be afoot.

This morning, during our morning meeting, Kale and I were treated to a round of "Happy Birthday." (His birthday was on Saturday) Pretty standard. Afterward, I received several handshakes. Once again, pretty standard.

When I arrived at my homeroom, nothing much was really said. I didn't think much of it and figured that whatever plans that may or may not have been had fizzled out.

My first & second period class was a group of 10 7th graders for English. We're working on short stories so we went to a computer lab up in the dorm. (The other labs were booked and it's nice and secluded up there, so the kids didn't have any distractions) Erin needed our computer during second period and I had to use it at the beginning of first period. Since I was going to be up in the dorm, I decided I'd leave her my keys so she could get the computer from my room.

After second period we have a 15 minute break. I made my way down to my room. I stopped by Kale's room to ask him a question, grabbed my keys from Erin and headed to my classroom. Waiting outside my door was one of my homeroom kids. She had left a bag of gym clothes in my room and was asking for it. When I went to let her into my room, I noticed the lights were off in my room. Very strange. The light switch in my room controls the lights in my room & Erin's, so it's on all day. (Our rooms used to be one large room that has since been divided. I get the light switch; she gets the air conditioner control. It works out ok. If I get warm, she gets dark.)

I turned and looked at Erin who smiled and said, "I know nothing." The room was unlocked. When I got in and turned on the lights, out jumped 21 10th graders singing Happy Birthday. They had a cake with candles and everything.

Needless to say, I was touched. I wasn't expecting anything and wouldn't have given it a second thought if they'd done nothing. But there they were excited and grinning and insisting I blow out the candles. (After I shook 21 hands!) It was a nice surprise. I actually only teach four of them in drama and I have a couple others in my drama activity. I'm still at a bit of a loss for words.

This afternoon in homeroom, my kids had a bouquet of flowers in a vase. I was told that these were only from the 10.3b's (my homeroom) because they paid for them! Not the 10.3a's.

It's been very entertaining to work with these kids this year. They're bright, energetic and absolutely hilarious. My only hope is that I have the privilege to teach kids like this every year.

So even though I seriously doubt any of them read this, thanks a lot 10.3s for being such an exuberantly weird bunch. It's been a joy to work with you so far and I'm sure will continue to be.