Saturday, September 18, 2010

Miss Slaughter :)

From the second I stepped foot into Cascade Elementary School, I knew I loved it. I loved the outside of the school, I loved that their were little children that hopefully I would be teaching walking around outside with their little backpacks on, I loved that the secretary was so so so nice when I went in a introduced myself, I loved seeing rules and kids work hanging on the walls in the halls of the school...everything was awesome. And now I love having a key to my very own classroom. It's like my own little world in there! I can set it up however I want to, rearrange the desks so that the kids come in frantically trying to find the right seat everyday while being timed to see how fast they can move...it's just the most wonderful thing ever. The kids come everyday now knowing that the teacher who they once thought locked kids in closets and murdered people because of her last name and now gives them tootsie rolls and is the most wonderful teacher the world has ever seen (ok, maybe that was an over exaggeration). It's truly a beautiful thing, and I love love love every second of it. Hopefully pictures of my classroom soon to come :)

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Where I Belong....Apparently :)

Where to even begin...I don't know really, but I have picture this time to prove that I actually have been quite busy the past couple of weeks! I guess it all started when I came to visit Chelsea in Provo to check out my options and see if I really felt good about moving to Utah...and can you guess what finally made my ultimate decision?? ;) Chelsea is an amazing cook, and she made me the most delicious food when I came to visit her, and I don't have a picture of it, but the sandwiches that we had were divine! I couldn't say no to moving in with this wonderful girl!



We went to check out our options of choosing which apartment we wanted to move in to, and the following pictures are the result of our final move! I love love love our apartment! It did not come furnished, but through acquiring a few things, stealing...I mean borrowing...a few things, and just adjusting until we can find better furniture...I would say we are doing pretty good. The apartment came with a refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer, we couldn't really say no! What a great location as well!


And we love to make yummy treats in our awesome kitchen!! Sour cream sugar cookies, with purple frosting!


 And what will make this blog post what it is today...is the wonderful news that I am about to share with you. I GOT A JOB!!!! After a lot of hard work and dedication on my part...just kidding...I really just got this job because of the following people in this story. So I moved to Orem really thinking that I would probably be able to find a job, not quickly and not a teaching job, but that I would find one that would pay my bills and I would be able to live here. So I started applying for everything...from Olive Garden to Famous Footwear to this really interesting teaching position teaching Koreans English over the internet at really crazy times in the morning...still checking up on actual teaching positions in the Alpine School District. Well, there was actually a 3rd grade position that I had applied to and was quickly sent an automatic email saying that the position had been filled. Later on in the week, however, the 3rd grade position was open again, so of course I applied. I ended up talking to my grandma on Wednesday I think, and she told me that I needed to go introduce myself to the principal at that school. So I went to Cascade Elementary on Thursday to introduce myself. Mapquest is my best friend...and told me that this particular school was 4.96 miles (9 minutes) from my apartment approximately, which is a pretty awesome little detail in this story. I got to the school and introduced myself to the secretary...Hi, my name is Megan Slaughter. I just moved to the Orem area and I applied for the third grade teaching position at this school and just wanted to come introduce myself. I saw that the principals door was open and I heard him ask the secretary...Does she have a resume? Secretary: Do you have a resume? Me: I actually have one in my car (I know...I am awesome). So I turned in my resume....a few hours later...I received a phone call from the principal thanking me for dropping by to introduce myself and if I would be interested in coming in for an interview the following day, Friday, at 4 15 for an interview. I said of course and that was that. Chelsea's mom just happens to be a teacher and so we decided to call her for some interview tips and find out some of the possible questions that they might ask me so that I would be prepared for the interview. She helped A TON!!! So all day Friday I applied for more jobs just waiting for my interview...actually dreading it....but excited as well. I got ready for my interview....wore by far the cutest outfit I probably own right now....said a very sincere prayer that I would not massacre the interview and that everything would work out how it is supposed to....and set off to conquer that interview! I walked in actually feeling very confident...which is unusual for me. The interview went really well, and I left feeling really great. I wowed those interviewers like it was the easiest thing I had ever done....haha...just kidding. But I did feel surprisingly great about how the interview had gone. The principal had also said that the interview should only last about 15-20 minutes and I was there for 30, so I think that is a positive thing. Chelsea and I then left to go to Green River for Afton's baptism, and as 7:00 p.m. rolled around and while we were driving through Heber, I received a phone call where I did not recognize the number...and by the way, I don't really remember everything he said because I was trying to keep my composure rather than scream into the phone, so this conversation is being paraphrased...."Is this Megan" yes "This is Doug Finch (the principal)" Oh hi. "I was just calling to thank you again for being proactive and bringing your resume in and introducing yourself" Oh it was no problem. "Well I was just calling to let you know that we were very impressed with you in the interview today, and to see once again how interested you are in the teaching position." I am still very interested. I feel that it is a very great program that you are implementing. "Well then I just wanted to let you know I can't offer you the position until I have spoken with the human resources department and had you application approved, but read between the lines, I want you to be there on Tuesday morning. The other teacher who was in the interview also wanted me to tell you that she would come in anytime on Monday to help you organize your classroom and your lesson plans for the week." I couldn't even believe what I was hearing, and Chelsea could hear what he was saying and she was practically screaming as well while texting everyone that we knew to tell them that I had gotten the job. I think I spoke with him for at least 20 minutes...but it seemed like an eternity before we finally ended the conversation and Chelsea and I screamed for what also seemed like an eternity!!! What an exciting day though!!! I still am in shock, but I am excited, but still terrified. It is going to be a great experience, and I can hardly wait to get started. I will have lots to share after this week, and I just can't wait!

When we got to Green River, our good friend Ruth came over and we stayed up until 4:30 in the morning just catching up! What a great person that Ruth is. Then we got up and I prepared my talk for Afton's baptism, and then we ate delicious spaghetti that my Aunt Nancy made. Afton's baptism was really great, and my talk actually went well....after I stopped crying. All I have to do is look at my sister Kristy and I start crying. My good friend Kimberly Wilding sang a really beautiful song...even though she said she was so parched. Lynzi gave a really good talk too, and it was just a special experience for Afton I think. Then we had to get ready to head back to Orem, but first we had to take silly pictures :)

Chelsea couldn't wait to get out of there!
Cute little parents

And that is where I am at as of this moment...wish me luck...even though I know that no one makes any comments on any of my posts, so I really don't even think that anyone reads them. But this is mostly for me anyways, because I love writing...so there you go.