Just a Taste

Since I'm down here earlier than everyone else, I thought I'd give those of you that might actually read this before you come an idea of whats happening in Gaston.

I made the drive in about three hours, taking the Gaston exit off of 95, which takes you past the school on your way to town. Town is used loosely here of course. I met all of Pat's new roommates, reminded some of the old ones of my name, and we had a nice big family dinner- ham, cornbread, this wonderful pineapple dish, bluebox, and beans.

I set my alarm for 5:45am and left about an hour later, getting to school a little after 7. The drive was freezing and I had a strong internal battle going over whether I wanted to listen to gospel or country that early in the morning, because those were pretty much my only options.
Students start arriving at 7:30, and the 5th and 6th graders sit in the cafeteria doing 'morning work' until just after 8, while the 7th and 8th graders do it in their homerooms. I spent the whole day observing different classes- Band, 6th grade reading, 6th grade history and writing, 6th grade math, 7th grade math, and 5th grade math. I also watched 7th grade Pride Time, where students did some improv, a game called What are You Doing? Teachers did some improv too, but mostly Pride Time was focused on getting students ready and prepped (mentally) to take their benchmarks this week. If students do well they may be able to play in a students v. teachers game of dodgeball, or later go on an iceskating trip if their average paycheck is high enough over the next three weeks. (A lot of weird terms I know, but it'll make sense later.) The school day ended at 4pm, after which students stay to get extra help in the subjects they needed help in, and then they are dismissed to buses at 5pm, which is when I left the school. Right now its about 6:15pm and I'm still the only person in the house, and there are 8 (and a half) people that live here.

Towards the end of last night I had a great conversation with one of the teachers, who has been at GCP for 4 years, about why she teaches here. No matter what other school she goes to on visits, be it KIPP or otherwise, she always leaves there more reaffirmed that GCP is the best school out there. She knows for some people its hard to reconcile the lifestyle for the job, but she said shes one of her only friends that LOVES her job. And if other friends do like their job, they still would never bring work home past 5pm, which every single teacher here does. People don't move to Gaston for the waterfront property, for the serene countryside, for the amazing sunrises you see as you drive to work, and most definitely not for the night life. People move here because of GCP. People sign up for an hour and a half commute to work at this school. (Yes, there's a 5th grade teacher that wakes up at 4:30 every morning to get here.) That's how amazing this place is.

Can't wait for everyone to join me!