school lunch

So I stopped by the junior high today to eat lunch with some 7th and 8th graders. This picture is not the actual lunch... I didn't have a camera with me.

Today's lunch was pizza and I was in the second half of the line so they were out of salad by the time I got to the salad bar. Still, $2.35 for a carton of chocolate milk, a slice of pizza and a little bit of canned fruit might be a deal. I've spent the rest of the afternoon fighting heartburn, trying to digest the food I wolfed down in the super short lunch period that the kids get. I walked with the eighth graders to class following lunch, feeling like part of the herd as the teachers and aides opened and closed doors to control the flow of energetic adolescents.

Pof me that loves the chance to see junior high youth in their natural habitat. It's good to be reminded that the kids I see at church don't hang out in the same groups at school. I am more in touch with the mood swings and drama when I'm in their environment. Though it's annoying to have to follow the same rules the students follow, maybe it's good to see how easy it is to feel insignificant in our school system structure.

I didn't take my camera or phone in because I didn't want to be disruptful or jeopardize my chance to return to the schools. Still, I wanted to take pictures so I could show what kids actually eat for lunch. I think the bowl of empty lettuce on the salad bar would make a point. I know the school lunch program is on a tight budget, but I get concerned when I see some of the cross country runners, volleyball players and football players eat so little. I wonder if they get a snack before practice or the games. I also wonder if parents know that sometimes they pay for an extra chocolate milk for a kid who ends up tossing it in the trash because he doesn't have time to drink it before class. Ditto with the "milkshakes."

These are just thoughts-- not well written or well thought through yet. I guess my main question is how are kids able to focus on learning when they're so rushed through the nourishment part of their day? How can they be ready to learn in the afternoon on part of a slice of cheese pizza and shredded lettuce drenched in ranch? (You know-- for the fortunate who got lettuce before it ran out.)

the rhythm is gonna get you

Finally, the rhythm of the school year is in full swing. Next week will be the first full 5 day week with the usual activities. Huzzah! Youth groups started last night and I left the church feeling very excited about the possibilities and potentials with all 3 groups.

And in other random news, I'm finding it hard to blog. I've become so used to shortening thoughts to fit in the 140 characters of a twitter update. Bear with me. I'll get there. :)

Blindfolded Connect 4

So Connect 4 is one of my favorite games. What's not to love? It's simple so anyone can play it but the strategy involved makes it a mind game. Today in the Underground, I had the kids try something new... Connect 4... BLINDFOLDED.

We did it two ways. In one version, the blindfolded youth had a teammate who could tell them where to move but not help them by guiding their hand. They had to listen to the voice pretty close. The other way, they were on their own and it was sensory memory and luck that led to a win. Fun stuff.

I wanted to see if the game part worked. I'll build on this sometime for a lesson. I think it could be debriefed like a trust walk. The whole idea of having to listen to a voice... the voice telling you the right thing to do instead of all of the other distracting voices.

highlights from Monday

Monday was unofficially a snack and run sort of day. Several youth stopped in, grabbed a snack and then headed to the library or home or just away. By 4 or so, we were down to about 8 youth.

A group of them gathered in the couch area and created a new Oprah-ish talk show. They discussed problems and solutions. I was half paying attention to them as I colored at the tall table with two other youth. Coloring, for the record, is so calming. I think it's the less creative alternative to drawing bunny rabbits. You'll recall that drawing bunny rabbits helps lose a bad temper like that. *insert snap*

I'm not sure how many days and weeks it takes to get into a groove. While I don't feel the Underground is there yet for the school year, I think we're making progress. I'm incredibly thankful for the leadership skills coming from a few of the 8th and 9th graders. Don't tell them, but I never thought the Underground would still be a fun hang out spot for junior high and high school. It's awesome to see them stick around.

Anyway, I need to update the work calendar and get to some other things. Today the adventure is going to be making popcorn from actual non-microwave popcorn. It's cheaper. Hopefully I can figure out a way to make it taste okay still.

later,
Sara