2007-2008 The One Where I got a School Daughter

THE ONE WHERE I GOT A SCHOOL DAUGHTER 2007-2008: Wichita Public Schools: White PreK-5 Library.


The years that my children were in late Middle School/early high school are a blur to me. I simply do not have too many memories of them. I do know that our family had left St. Cecelia's church to follow our beloved Father Andy to St. Peters. We had discussed the idea of the boys attending Bishop Carroll for high school but decided that it would be too hard of a transition for the boys going from public school to private school. I do believe that this was the school year that Brad joined the Catholic Church. It was also around this time period that my circle of friends centered around my faith and church. I really enjoyed the friendship of these women when it was just us girls alone. When it turned into couples activities it changed things for me. I have to honestly admit that during this time period if you were not a member of my church/faith, you were not my friend. I was a Holy Roller. I made our boys attend CYO which was so uncomfortable for them as they were the long haired kids from public school and did not attend the Catholic High School. At the time I felt like I was being a good parent.  Years later they told me how much they hated it. Both boys now no longer attend church. My pushing them probably contributed to this?  Did you know that in most Catholic Churches those of us that chose public schools are often ostracized by the church congregation ? Because I finally had “church” friends I felt like I had been accepted and broke that stereotype. Brads and my support of public schools goes way back. Both of us attend public schools and both of us worked in them. Years later I can honestly say that during this time period and up until 2012 I was a judgemental/far to the Right Catholic. Lessons in life between 2007 and now have allowed my heart to soften and become more moderate in my thinking and acceptance of people. For those of you that knew me during these years, I hope you now see the different person that I am. 


At school we got two brand new PE Teachers. I'm going to be real honest here and let you know that one of them was pretty lazy and the other one was outstanding. The outstanding one was Mary Dix. I liked her immediately. Since she was 21  years old, and I was 45 I dubbed her my School Daughter.  We had so much in common. We worked together for 9 years at White Elementary. Often in a large school in USD 259 two of the same Specialists are assigned to the same building. Mary was the star of the two PE Teachers. I would go as far to say that she ran the show and the other teacher rode on her coattails. Mary has pretty much been my school daughter ever since. When I left White Elementary for USD 261 in 2016 she also left for a Haysville job.


Thinking about what a great PE Teacher Mary was got me to thinking about the MANY great Specialists that I have worked with throughout the years. My next bog entry is dedicated to them. Be looking for THE ONE WHERE I TELL YOU ABOUT MY GREAT SPECIALS TEAMMATES 2008-2009: Wichita Public Schools: White PreK-5 Library in two weeks. 

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