School took on a new look today as everyone traded in their bright, eccentric clothing in order to wear black to support the Jena Six. Kind of cool, actually. If you weren't aware, make sure you update yourself and read about it. It's all over the news, it should be easy to find. Even walking to the metro it was cool to feel like you were part of something, like you knew the guy next to you in his black shirt and tie was thinking the same way you were. As the kids put it, I was "representin' " today.

http://www.freethejena6.org/

It's been a little while, i feel like i have so many great stories i just can't keep track. To start off, the road rage in this city is insane. I walked to school today to see this little old woman in her car at a 4 way stop. She waved on the man next to her even though it was technically her turn, but because she took so long, she received a blaring horn and the bird from her ungrateful neighbor. poor woman looked so sad. Stuff like that.... what's the point, honestly?

I wish you could all hear the announcements every morning at Ellington. 3rd hour rolls around and suddenly you hear this faint beat in the background. Once you really hone in on it, you realize that yes, indeed, it's some kind of music, and the beat gets louder and louder. In the background you hear a smooth voice say something like, "this song is dedicated to all of you;" the funk beat grows stronger; "it goes something like this." And then this song proceeds to play for a good minute before anything else! that's a LONG time, especially just waiting for announcements. Then you hear a loud, booming, super energetic voice, "GOOD MO'NIN', GOOD MO'NIN', GOOD MO'NIN', DUKE ELLINGTON! GET READY FOR YOUR THURSDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS!" after which the principle lays out the unfailingly enthusiastic day planned for each of us. Following this, the funk of course continues for another 2 minutes or so, just long enough to kinda steam the teachers who were actually teaching a class before the interruption. It's great.

So the big thing now is that we're doing a school-wide production of "The Wiz" which will premier in February. Everyone from every major (music, theatre, visual arts, museum studies, literature, tech, ect) can audition so there are kids constantly in and out of the class, asking us to help choose music and get them ready. The best part is just listening to them practice. it isn't like all their classical songs that they have to practice for class, this is where they break out that soul music they all know so well. I'm so completely jealous. I'll be working on some paper, and all of the sudden out of the practice rooms behind me i just hear these immense voices, going to town, with all the runs and flips and turns a voice can do. They are truly great talents around here, it's fun to go to work. It's fun to tease them and have them tease me, to get to know who they are and why they are the way they are. Each child has a story, and it just so happens that here at Ellington i find all of their stories fascinating. Sometimes i feel like i should be closer with them by now but then i realize i've only been here for 2 weeks... i'm doing okay.

I attended parent night last night... one of the funniest nights in a long time. They are the kindest people i've ever met. We discussed, in great detail, the costumes for each child, the fees, and of course, fried chicken. No discussion is complete without it. To be honest, i dunno how it came up but to watch them be so passionate about the program (and their chicken), all while sitting in a room where the paint is peeling badly, there are gaping holes in the walls attempted to be covered up by pictures of the teacher and his family; the chairs are broken, the kids are jamming tunes crazy loud in the hall or singing improv at the tops of their lungs, and the distinct smell of tar and construction from the roof permeates the 99 degree room without AC... it was just really satisfying somehow. ha.

Oh! speaking of which, funny story, "while you were out" is this TV show probably on TLC or something that does makeovers for houses. well, they came to Ellington, did a walk through to see if the school was "worthy" of a makeover. The consensus: they could do an entire season on just one wing of the school. They won't do that but they are giving us a whole new gallery downstairs! They start construction in October and the show will view in February. so keep an eye on it, you can see the school at it's best. it already has the best kids, now it'll be worth showing off.

I won't lie, it's not all kicks and giggles, there are some behavioral issues and curriculum planning that are really bugging right now, but i really love where i'm at. I love it when students walk out of the class and yell my name, "bye miss clark! see you in the mornin!" or "i will surely be back to study with you tomorrow, you're a big help." that's where the pay off comes. there's still much to be learned.

I experienced the heart and soul of the female ensemble today. while pluggin away at the keyboard while they sang a blazing rendition of "Joshua fit the Battle of Jericho," when all of the sudden the movement started. One girl just started swayin and it was like a huge ripple effect, all of the sudden everyone was just moving around, feeling this song in their core. That's something every conductor i've ever worked with wishes would happen eventually, that we'll loosen up and put some heart into it. With these girls it's so natural, so instinctive and SO amazing. i can't get enough of it. They have the voices of angels.

So you may ask about my life outside of school, to that i would simply say... why? actually no, i do have some contact with other people, take today for instance. I forgot that i left my car parked in the metered parking until i was on a bus 40 minutes away from my apartment complex. Woops. That's some big time ticket fees/possible towing fees and i have no way to get back there till 6pm. so through a series of phone calls (thanks dad) the nicest man i've ever (not) met working at my apartment complex takes all the info on the car, runs down to get change for a $5 bill and then goes out in front of the building to hunt down my car and feed the meter, just before the ticketing cop gets to my car. Mohammad, you saved my life. thank you, wherever you are, whoever you are. So yeah, for sure i have a social life.

I went to this amazing jazz concert at the Lincoln theatre on Saturday. for all you jazz buffs, Clark Terry played. he was incredible. and incredibly old. he's the last member of Duke Ellington's Orchestra still alive. pretty sweet.

I have to paint this picture of you of my favorite place here in DC so far... there's a trail head 2 blocks from my house that puts you down onto the Mt. Vernon Trail. There are bikers, runners, bladers of every kind on this train constantly. You wind around for a little while and then all of the sudden the park opens up to this beautiful view of the District across the Potomac River. You see all the monuments and depending on the day, refection's in the water. There are so many people around, but if you lay down on this one piece of grass, the planes taking off and landing in Reagan Airport fly RIGHT over your head. it's so cool. you would think all that noise would be distracting, but it's one of the most peaceful places for me. There are always kids running with kites or masses of people playing flag football near by, but it all just blurs together and becomes incredible background music for whatever i'm needing to think about. I don't know if it qualifies as a new "secret spot," but it's my equivalent.

I think i've written enough for one night... i really only do this cuz it's good procrastination for planning lessons for tomorrow. I realized that i'll never be one of those people who can come home from work and not have to do anything till the next day...lucky people. i'll be in school forever. bah.