Back to School ~ Back in Business ~ Back to the Monumental Task at Hand

'Tis the season. Today's the day. It's official. Back to school. Back in business.

That annual time has come once again--we are here at end of Phineas & Ferb's "There's 104 days of summer vacation and school comes along just to end it." I didn't count, though I'm pretty sure it did NOT feel like 104 days. It's universal: summer is officially over on that day when backpacks are on backs. That first "photo-worthy" day when kids are back to school.

Summer is over. Sigh.

Luckily for my children, they aren't there yet. Their fateful day is still a week away. But as a teacher, today's the day I head back.  No, no backpack, but my car is packed with goodies collected over the summer that need to go to school.

This back-to-school day is a bittersweet moment, as I already miss the luxury of summer. Pool days. Sleeping in. Reading books. Running around. Adventures. Vacations. Change of pace.

Instead, I know I'm in store for a day of meetings today.

But, there's also energy ahead. I know that today I'll be reuniting with my colleagues. We sit at the cusp of a blank slate, a brand new school year. Electricity is the flip side of that freshness. New ideas & new plans get set into motion. This fervor is what sparks our imagination which leads to inspiration.

As much as I hate to say goodbye to that open schedule of summer, there's something to that "back in business" feel. It's a vitality of that only teachers "get."

As classroom teachers, specials teachers, administrators & others who work with students, we always have a lot on our plates. Though we know the answer to Taylor Mali's ultimate question: "what do teachers make?"  We make a difference.  

Making a difference is quite a challenge...but so worth it!  It feels pretty good when you see "your" kids get it. A pride like no other  And they do "get it!"  I know, because we, as teachers, are rooting for them, pushing them, encouraging them, urging them, and guiding them to "get it."

Back to school. Back to business. Back to the monumental task at hand.

Cheers to all of you educators out there.  Have one heck of a school year.

Images:  Phineas & Ferb pic from http://www.disneygals.com/2015/06/its-been-a-great-summer-an-interview-with-jeff-swampy-marsh-dan-povenmire-phineasandferbevent.html, Teacher quote from http://www.buzzquotes.com/technology-quotes-for-teachers, https://usergeneratededucation.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/the-other-21st-century-skills/: video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuBmSbiVXo0