Back to School Blues

朗读者：Mark Skinner StarInYou 读者剧场故事，爱上有声朗读 Narrator #1: The first day of school had finally arrived. The majority of teachers, students, and parents had been waiting intently for this day to arrive. Narrator #2: Students were wearing their newest clothes, shoes, hair styles, and couldn’t wait to find out exactly where their school supplies would be unloaded. Who will I sit next to? Who will be the easiest teacher? Just a few of the questions on the minds of the fervent minded students. Narrator #1: Every year prior to the first day of school is “Meet the Teacher Night.” It is an ideal time for parents and students to come to school, grab a bite to eat, and acclimate with the new components of the upcoming school year. The parents and students love the opportunity to see the classrooms and the teachers love having the chance to welcome the families to the year in an informal way. Narrator #2: This year’s “Meet the Teacher” was no different than previous years. Enthusiastic students and parents flooded the school building with excitement at 6:30 PM, and then headed home promptly at 8:00 PM to rest up for the very first school day of the year. It was what happened after this event in the late night hours that caused the most downtrodden first day of the school year ever. Kelsey: Eve, does it look like there is a police car in front of school? Eve: (raising her head and looking up from her phone) Ummm, yes! Kelsey: (nudging Eve) So...do you think that seems odd? Eve: (frustrated by Kelsey and not looking away from her phone) The police usually aren’t at our school, but maybe they are doing something with the security system or making sure they building is safe. Who cares? Kelsey: (annoyed by Eve’s indifference) It is the first day of school and I think it is a bit odd that the police would be at our school! Eve: (texting and irritated by Kelsey’s questions and tone) OK! I am sure if it is something important, we will find out about it from Principal Irving or the rest of our sixth grade teachers. Narrator #1: The girls proceeded to school and headed into the building with a bunch of other fourth through sixth graders. The students were all ushered through the main hallway and into the cafeteria for breakfast. Students grabbed their tray of breakfast and headed to find a seat in the vast sea of tables. After getting their food, Kelsey and Eve were waved down by Cam, Calvin, Jemma, and Clark who had already found a table. The girls took the last two seats at the table. Cam: (talking with his mouth full of mini-waffles) Hey girls! You ready for class? Jemma: (disgusted) Feel free to chew your food and hold off on the chitchat! Calvin: (in agreement) Yea, dude! Say it, don’t spray it! Kelsey: (questioning the others) Did you guys see the police car in front of the building? Any idea what it is doing here? Clark: I overheard my mom talking to my dad this morning. I guess Principal Irving called her last night. There was a break-in at school and a boatload of stuff was stolen. Jemma: Seriously? I thought the school had an alarm system? Clark: It does. There is even a security guard that comes into the building to make sure everything is secure: windows are checked, doors are checked, and the system is turned on. I heard my mom say that they think someone hid in the building and when they were sure that everyone was gone, took IPads, laptops, and other classroom supplies, and climbed out of a first floor window. Kelsey: (to Eve) See, I told you it was odd that the police were here! Eve: I guess I never would have thought that something crazy like that would happen! Calvin: (to Clark) Don’t they have a security camera? Clark: I am not sure of all of the details because my mom wasn’t talking to me, she hates when I interrupt her conversations with my dad when what they are talking about is none of my business. She was talking privately to my dad. This is all just what I eavesdropped. I am sure we will learn more as the day goes on. Jemma: (wondering out loud) Who takes learning tools and materials from a school? That is totally wretched! Cam: Agreed! I heard that we were supposed to do some really cool things on the iPads this year. I’m not sad about the laptops because I hate those stupid weekly tests. Kelsey: I hate those tests, too, but we our service projects and research reports have to be typed using the laptops. I hope they get returned. ...or at least replaced! Clark: I don’t know what is going to happen. I wonder if any of our teachers will be talking about it today. My mom’s classroom is on the first floor, so I have a feeling those had the most taken. Since the sixth grade classrooms are on the third floor, I wonder if anything got taken. Cam: I guess we will find out in a few minutes. Narrator #1: The group of friends finished their breakfast, threw away their trash, and headed upstairs to their classrooms. Narrator #2: When the students arrived upstairs and headed to their assigned classrooms, they were greeted by the 6th grade teachers standing in the hallway. This was the first group to arrive upstairs after finishing breakfast. Mrs. Boone: Good Morning! Welcome to 6th grade! Mrs. Brink: Long time no see, huh?! It was so good to meet your families last night. Mr. Zanders: (Jokingly) Oh, man! If I’d have known you were all going to show up, I would have stayed home! Mrs. Boone: Do you all know which classroom you are assigned to for homeroom? Cam: I know I have Mrs. Brink. Jemma and Kelsey, you are with me, right? Kelsey: Yup! Let’s head in and find out where we are sitting? Clark: Calvin, Eve, and I are all in Mrs. Brink’s homeroom. Mr. Zanders: (laughing) Looks like I lucked out until I see you for math. Narrator #1: The group of friends parted ways and headed into their classrooms. Narrator #2: Clark, Calvin, and Eve headed into Mrs. Brink’s classroom and found their seats. Students continued to enter the different classrooms until the tardy bell rand promptly at 8:35. As soon as the bell rang, Principal Irving could be heard clear as a bell throughout the entire building over the loud speaker. Welcome back, students, faculty, and staff! I am so thrilled to have you back. It has been quite lonely during these summer months without the familiar faces, sounds on the playground, and the excellent instruction that fills our building during the school year. I am so pleased everyone is back here at Sharpland Intermediate School. While it is a day full of excitement and anticipation of what is to come, I am distressed by some things that were taken from our building following “Meet the Teacher” Night last night. While I will not be sharing specific details about the troubling scenario, I will share that a great number of things were taken from your teacher’s classrooms that not only belonged to the school, but were items that your teachers spent their hard- earned money purchasing to make each of your classrooms the best possible environment for optimal learning. It is a shame that some of the materials that were going to be used today and for the rest of the school year for exciting learning activities are not able to be utilized because they have been taken. It truly saddens me. We are Sharpland Intermediate and we can overcome this! I will be sending a letter home in your home folders today explaining why the police were outside of our building today. You are safe at school, they are just doing everything in their power to get back the items that belong to us. Despite this, we will achieve and we will succeed! Have the best rest of your day! Narrator #2: The students in Mrs. Brink’s homeroom sat with stunned appearances on each of their faces. Mrs. Brink: First, I am thrilled that each of you is here. We are going to have an amazing year and I can hardly wait to begin the fun I have planned for our new 6th grade crew today! However, I will share that we are not going to spend a great deal of time focusing on this issue. I have had enough learning tools and supplies taken from me, which is out of my control, but the one thing that won’t be taken is the valuable instructional time that I have with each of you. The police are involved as Principal Irving shared, and I promise that the community police are doing their best to find the individual or individuals that are responsible for taking items that belong to us. I refuse to put any more energy into that which I can’t control. Narrator #1: A few different students raised hands. Ms. Brink: (sternly) As long as this does not have anything to do with theft, I am happy to answer any question. Eve, do you have a question? Eve: (thoughtfully) More of a comment, if that is ok? Mrs. Brink: I am all ears. While my mom had no idea that this took place, she did tell me that if you were in need of any items for the class that had not been brought in or were needed, she would be happy to supply whatever was needed. She mentioned desk wipes, bags, hand sanitizer, tissues, and paper towels. Mrs. Brink: How thoughtful of your mom, Eve. I will keep you and your most generous mom posted on any needs we have. Thank you so much! Calvin, did I see your hand? Calvin: Yes, Ma’am! My mom wanted me to ask you where we can find an orange three-pronged folder. We couldn’t find that color anywhere. Mrs. Brink: Good news, Calvin! I believe I bought every last one at the school supply store, so I am happy to trade you whichever color your found for an orange one. Calvin: Awesome, because I don’t really like this pink one my mom sent me with. Narrator #2: The class got a chuckle as Calvin pulled out his pink folder and traded it with Mrs. Brink. The rest of the hour and 45-minutes was spent going over classroom rules, different procedures, and 6th grade expectations. The final activity was an interest inventory that students got to move around the room trying to complete as quickly as possible, in order to be the winner of a pack of Extra gum. Many students were most excited about having Mrs. Brink as a teacher because she allowed gum chewing in her class. Narrator #1: Clark was the winner of the Extra gum because he was able to get the most signatures of his classmates in the designated spots. Clark: Thanks, Mrs. Brink! Selfishly, I am glad the gum wasn’t one of the things taken. Mrs. Brink: (chuckling) Me too, Clark. Ladies and gentlemen, I need you to quickly organize your desks, and line up in alphabetical order for specials. You have physical education today. After specials, you will head to lunch and recess, gather your supplies to finish out the rest of your day with Mrs. Boone, and then Mr. Zanders. Narrator #2: The students were bursting with energy at the thought of having gym. They quickly organized and got right into line in order to head to the gym. Mrs. Gooley was awaiting their arrival at the gymnasium doors. (enthusiastically) Good Morning, Sixth Graders! How exciting to be the top dogs! Please stay in your line order, walk your line around the center circle, and get ready to stretch just like we always do. Narrator #1: Mrs. Gooley loved having the sixth grade students because they took no time to learn procedures. Except for any new students to the building, they had been doing the same thing since they started at Sharpland Intermediate in fourth grade. She quickly took attendance, had the students lead the stretching, and had them sit down to give them further directions and information. Mrs. Gooley: While I am beyond thrilled to see you all and begin a fun year of activity, I do have a bit of bad news. My plan was to start our year off with tennis. Last school year, I wrote a special grant for an entire class set of new tennis rackets and containers of tennis balls. I was elated when I learned that the grant was approved and we were receiving all of this new equipment. However, when I arrived to school today and walked in the