THE GREAT AMERICAN SHAKE-OUT

What's really strange is that whenever we participate in the statewide Shake Out in October,

it always feels like earthquake weather.

The Santa Ana's (heavy blowing winds) have dried out the humidity from summer,

it's unusually warm that day,

and if you are a native Californian it just feels like earthquake weather in your gut.

This feeling was debunked the other day on the radio,

but a lot of us Californians feel this way.

Here is my class in the middle row surrounded by 6 other classes.

This just represents a small portion of the entire school.

I couldn't get my camera to shoot all the classes out in the field.

Notice how we are the only group sitting on the grass?

It's because I told the students to bring their stitching out with them

 so we wouldn't lose any class time on their Eco-Dye Banners,

their current final.

Here is our team leader of the class,

senior Chloe Chang,

a ceramics and crafts student extraordinaire.

She actually took it upon herself to grab the helmet that each teacher has in their room,

and our first aid kit,

something she knew I'd probably forget to bring out.

She knows me well,

ha ha!

She looks so adorable in the cap that I told her to keep it on.

Notice her stitching in her hand?

:)

Here is a close-up of all my cuties stitching away.

And below we have a group of senior beauties happy to be out in the beautiful weather;

Denise, Victoria, Taylor, Hailey and Valeree.

I've known these sweet young women since they were little 7th graders.

It's such a treat to have them back with me all grown up.

The Great Shake Out

A couple of weeks ago all the schools in the state of California participated in The Great Shake Out to practice for the "Big One" that's coming.  I was in my classroom during "The Whittier Narrows" quake and let me tell you it was a loo-loo.  Clay pieces were falling off shelves, glass was breaking in my kiln room, and I actually fell down trying to get to the door jam.  So we will be prepared!

Above are seniors Fernie Jacinto and Rita Labib sitting pretty under one of my larger tables.

Not so comfortable are my students who sit at the smaller desks, below.  That was a much tighter squeeze.  But you can tell they are all enjoying this exercise by the smiles on their faces.  After the all clear bell we marched the kids outside to stand a good distance from the buildings, and pretended to asses the damage.  

Another successful Shake Out.