So tell me, young denizens of RHS, how was your school year? Now that you've had a few days to reflect, how will you remember this past school year? Hope you are all well. Is it creepy that I miss classes already?

Well, I'm back for a bit here because I need to speak for a bit about what everyone talked about today in third block. I have to say that I was completely unprepared for the response I received from students in my class. Varsity athletes, top students, all kinds of kids telling me things like "I love to watch fights!" "I couldn't wait to get to the high school to see the fights!" "If they'd let us fight a little we wouldn't have to beat the crap out of someone later." "They need to let us have a fight club at the compost pile again. Since we can't do it there, we bring it to school." Then students told me that the problem has been blown out of proportion by parents outside of the school, but then when I asked the same students later if they had participated in negative discussions with their parents about the school, the said "yes." Which means that these kids support the problem at school by fighting, watching fights, and or encouraging fights, then they go home and agree with their parents when they say we have a violent school. I just feel like we will never be able fix this problem. What do you think, denizens of RHS? I can't say now that it's only a small percentage of "bad kids" who fight, when most of the comments I heard came from so called "good kids." We have been told by members of the community that we are a violent school and that teachers and administrators don't care. But in reality, we're doing all we can. After today's discussion I feel betrayed to think that the very people who encourage violence at school are the ones who are egging their parents on at home to call us a violent place. What is to be done? Where do we go next? What responsiblity do students have to help fix any of this? Or should they bear no responsibility?

"Ask not for whom the bell tolls . . . it tolls for thee." When one is lost, the whole has taken a hit. A harbinger of our own mortality, especially the young. Once again, "every moment is enormous, and it is all we have." So we learn, and bless the soul who left us to teach us so.

Well kids . .. how has school been for everyone so far? I personally feel so much better about this year than I thought I would after all that went on over the summer. The negativity that seemed to surround our school all summer seems to have evaporated. Maybe that's just the view from my little part of the school. What about you all from my school?

Have had hours of nourishing conversation with my newly arrived buddy from Taos, NM - can't tell you what it means to talk on a level other than "safe Midwestern." We stumbled upon what we both believe is a truth: our parents have a tremendous impact on whom we are attracted to in our lives and with whom we end up making a committment (or our inability to make a committment). We are either looking for something in someone that we couldn't get from our parents or are looking for something that we received from our parents and can't live without. I realize for some of you, this will be a depressing realization, but it's the damn truth.

I attended a graduation party this evening of a dear friend's daughter (whom I also count as a dear friend). This is an event that draws the devoted - those devoted to one another as friend and family and both. I loved watching the great variety of kids and adults mingling with each other throughout the night and realized that some of these kids have been great friends since kindergarten. So I ask you tonight, what are the most prominent elements of the friendships you have held the longest? What keeps you tight with someone for years? Give examples! Give detail! I'm curious!

Not in the mood tonight - cut my hand badly on a razor I was using to take a state park sticker off the windshield. I had to go to the hospital and get the cut cleaned and glued shut, then I had to have a tetanus (sp?) shot. I was lucky, though, that it's on my left hand and on the back. I can't swim for five days, which is not cool as I just bought Anna some sweet sand toys that we tried out today at the beach. Well, it could have been worse. I have all my digits. So I ask you, friends, what was the worst injury you've ever received? What happened? How did you have it repaired? Do tell!

Have spent the entire day working on my on-line graduate class and am washed out tonight, but am fascinated by the class which is about the multiple intelligences and different learning styles that students and teachers have. The class is basically trying to get teachers to hit as many different intelligence strengths and learning styles in each lesson so that every kid in the class feels connected to some part of the lesson. Have you ever felt that you cannot connect with a teacher or subject matter, even if you like one or both? I know I have. I now realize that the teacher favored a certain learning style and intelligence that didn't click with mine. Here are the eight intelligences. Which one is your strongest? 1-Verbal Linguistic: speaking, writing, listening and reading. 2-Logical-Mathematical: finding patterns, making calculations, forming and testing hypothoses, using scientific method. 3-Spatial: representing ideas visually, creating mental images, drawing and sketching. 4-Bodily-Kinesthetic: activities require stregth, speed, flexibility, hand-eye coordination. 5-Musical: listening, singing, playing an instrument. 6-Interpersonal: noticing and responding to other people's feelings and personalities. 7-Intrapersonal: setting goals, assessing personal abilities and faults, in-touch with one's feelings 8-Naturalist: identifying and classifying living things and natural objects. So which intelligences are your best? Which types of lessons get you excited? I'm quite curious about this! On a lighter note . . . Anna had her first swim lesson tonight. How cool it is to see her deal with yet another new experience. It's like living life all over again. Kids are cool (except when they have to go in "time out" because they said "no" to GiGi!) Don't do drugs, kids.

I just returned from the Regional Baseball tournament in Suttons Bay where our fine young men from Roscommon were battling - and they won! They won the whole tournament! They will be heading to the state quarterfinals in Gaylord this week! Yea for Roscommon - the Blue and Gold!

So kids . . . we're all officially out of school now, so it's on to summer plans. For those of you reading this summer, what do you plan to tackle? Let's have it! Summer reading lists - pronto! By the way, has anyone heard the new Coldplay CD yet? I have just decided that I will play no other CD this summer (exaggeration, but only slight).

This is the first entry of Miss Young's summer blog. Join me for some lively discussion. I'll accept comments but I will only read blogs I am invited to read, so don't feel I'll be snooping. On with the show!