Diane Albanese’s Musings

Alex’s CAPE Team Wins State Lacrosse Tournament!

Alex was incredible! One minute and thirty seconds left in the state championship game with a tie score and Sallies controlling the ball. Alex scoops it up and runs down the field handing it to an attack, he scores and CAPE WINS THE GAME!!!

Alex played incredible lacrosse this season. He was chosen FIRST TEAM ALL STATE!   I am so proud of him (as if you couldn’t tell!). He has grown to be an phenomenally talented, competent and confident young man.  He will attend University of Delaware next year and work this summer at the beach shacks in Rehoboth. 

Note! Alex’s Graduation Party has been rescheduled for Saturday, June 21 at 6pm so that he can play in the state wide All Star Lacrosse game on June 14th. 

Cape Wins State LAX Title

This is the happiest picture, the Cape Lacrosse Team Seniors celebrating their victory as #1 in the State!

Simple Thanks

I just wrote a column about thanks. This is the time of year when we honor teachers, moms, dads and even children.  The time of year to slow down, catch our breath and to enjoy the new life popping out all around us.

I am grateful to my readers and listeners for paying attention to my ideas and letting me know that the writing I do has made a difference in their lives.  For me, that is the best thing.  So thanks!

Tech, My Students and Me

I’m at the Tech conference and the same theme keeps emerging: students know more about technology than we do. Students are the digital natives, we are the digital immigrants. Students use the technology in more creative ways and collaborate more than we have ever even imagined. Students use digital tools without thinking about it.

Here’s a scenario. I was driving to the conference in Dover and on the radio was a podcast, a recording, of the American Idol special that aired the night before. The radio announcer provided some commentary about the show and then played a clip from the show that was available on UTube.

American Idol is a show that really interests me. The conversation and information that I received over the traditional radio actually came from a web source - U-tube. I went to a conference session and found out that I could download the American Idol songs from U-Tube to my I-tunes and then my IPod. I didn’t know that. There is so much that I don’t know that I want to just block out a week of my time and do nothing but work on the Internet to find out more about these emerging technologies and how I can use them in the classroom.

Maybe I should ask my students.

Fleeing to Florida

   Just got back from Florida - a time to visit with mom and dad and see how they are doing. The news from Florida is mixed. Yes- it is luscious warm there with tropical palms, warm winds and dreamy seas. There are also a disproportionate number of seniors there, so watch your driving and think ahead.  Seems as if everyone goes to dinner at 4 pm and falls asleep in front of the TV at 10. 

I had the most wonderful moment with my dad. He took me to his YMCA and we took an exercise/dance class called Zumba.  I got to shadow his moves (Dad is quite a dancer even at 80!) and see how the others learned to dance to the Latin rhythm.  The teacher was a fireball of movement!  Dad was having such fun, an ear to ear smile on his face as he mimiced the teacher.

 When the music switched to cha-cha, he turned around and held my hands and we did a few fancy steps together. At once I was 12 again and dancing with my dad. A precious gift I never expected. 

Mary Cleary and Pam Nichols

    Recently I was interviewed by a lovely teacher/writer, Mary Cleary. She teaches in NC County and manages to write for the News Journal as well as DSEA Action. Mary lives in NC County.

We met in Dover at Chinatown Buffet and talked about teaching. The interview can be read in the DSEA Action or on this link at

http://www.dsea.org/Publications/PDF/actionfebruary08.pdf

Go to the last page of the paper.

I just wanted to thank Mary for her patience and kindness. She really can weave a story and make it seem easy.  I appreciate her efforts.

Also, thanks to Pam Nichols who puts together our DSEA Action every month and always manages to keep it fresh and informative!  Two great teachers and writers!

Sparrows

As I write the sun comes up and reveal a sparrow sitting on the tree outside my window. When I open the window I can hear it singing. Then it’s friends come and hang out for awhile.

It is reassuring to know that there are only a limited number of winter days on the calendar and the birds know this.

Svaroopa Yoga Foundations

Didn’t know what to expect when I signed up for a five day intensive yoga workshop at Rehoboth Beach Yoga studios. Our teachers Polly and Jaya from Master Yoga, were so knowledgeable and helpful as we aligned and realigned our bodies and challenged old paradigms of our mind. Terry Gardner our host was gracious and welcoming. If you have never tried yoga, you must get to this studio and try it out!

My biggest surprise was that Yoga could be the answer to many of our health issues and problems. The phrase “Do More Yoga” has real meaning for me and I think this may become a very significant learning experience in my life. My new found friends and Yoga buddies were gracious enough to let me take pictures. We studied the Svaroopa style of Hatha yoga and bonded over the five days. A truly blissful experience.

Here we are: MAry, Heidi, Ruthie, Bern, Mary Ann, Shannon, Susan, Beverly, Mary Lou, Cheryl, David, Alan, Dona, Christine and me. Our teacher in this picture is Polly and Kim, another teacher is shown assisting. We also had Jaya, an excellent teacher, but I didn’t capture her with my camera - sorry.

NEA Magazine In Person - Me!

  Yes, it is true. A picture of me in a national magazine - NEA Today.  http://www.nea.org/neatoday/0801/inperson.html  And a little interview. 

The good folks at NEA found out that I did radio commentary on our local public radio station WSCL and that I write an education column each week for the Cape Gazette. They were curious as to the content. 

I write about life and since my life is two thirds teaching, I write about the students I encounter and the meaning that they bring to my life.  The news column is a great start and the radio is a perfect medium for getting teacher stories across to a wide range of unindoctrinated public.

I have heard many times that most people have no idea what goes on in schools. The newspaper and radio commentary is my attempt to change that. 

So NEA found me out and featured me on page 50. I am grateful for the opportunity to face a camera and smile and accept what the camera gives me back all in the name of teaching, a profession that I am proud to say that I love.

Maureen, A Tribute

Maureen Schab has left us. She was a good friend to me, a wonderful wife and mother. She is a person who was genuine and sincere. I loved her and admired her because she knew what was important in her life and she stayed focused in those places.

I remember her docksiders. Comfortable, soft shoes that reflected her style and approach to life.

I remember how she cared so deeply for Bill.

I remember her concern and wisdom in raising Corey and his devotion and respect for her. She was the wind beneath his wings. His achievements were gently engineered, supervised, guided and celebrated by her. She was his biggest fan and his most ardent believer.

I remember her voice

• on my answering machine
• cheering about a Lacrosse goal
• asking a math question on her answering machine
• tutoring my son
• discussing smoothies.

I can remember meeting up with Maureen on 9-11-01 at the state park Naval Jetty. School was let our early and I couldn’t think of any place I would rather be than with my boys Nicholas and Alex at the beach. Watching them surf the waves on that clear blue day was the only thing that made sense to me. So we pushed back our disbelief and shock and headed for the beach. Maureen Schab came down to the beach also with Cory. We sat on beach chairs side by side and talked about the world that day. She was worried about her brother who worked in one of the twin towers in New York.

I loved her laugh. It was charming and she used it frequently to signal her enjoyment and delight with life.

This picture was taken during a good time we had at the Crosby Stills and Nash concert at Dover Downs on 8-16-04. Friends and music, Maureen. Much Love.