STARS IN THE MAKING

Today I received a surprised visit by one of "Mrs. Lollar's Exes." Adam Nunley, Admiral Choir President 2003, is on his way to Nashville. His education in music business has landed him an internship for Warner Brothers Records. He thanked me over and over again for the start I gave him in music. A few days ago, Admiral Choir President 2005, Bryan Foreman, came for a visit. With his Friends University senior voice recital DVD in hand, he thanked me for teaching him solfege. He said that he was the best sightreader in his college choir. He returns to Kansas this fall to student teach. He will become a music educator. 2001 Admiral Choir President, Michael Sumuel, never fails to contact me on my birthday. Michael has earned both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in opera. He is currently working for the Houston Grand Opera in the young artist's division. I'll never forget his solo in my TMEA concert in Lila Cockrell Theater in San Antonio. Michael was a little 9th grade boy who walked up to the microphone and brought the house down. He is still bringing down the house. I am proud beyond words of these fine young men and treasure my memories of working with them during the adolescence. You never know when a little face in your choir is a star in the making.

POP SHOW PICS

 
 
 
 

JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU'VE SEEN IT ALL....

How many more silly things can these kids come up with? What 12 year old boy even wants to floss his teeth.....much less do it at school! Today was locker clean out day for my 7th grade boys class. They brought all kinds of treasures back to the choir room. There were tennis balls (great for throwing against the wall), rubber bands (just perfect for smacking your neighbor), but I've never even imagined a middleschooler keeping dental floss in his locker. Thank you, Blake, for making me smile. I'm sure your dentist is smiling too!

CHOREOGRAPHY

There is a reason why I save choreography for the end of school!! It takes all the patience that I have to get everyone doing the same thing at the same time. I used to choreograph the pop show myself...... since I only had a handful of moves, all the songs seemed to look alike. We named my work "Lollar-ography." Now my kids are so talented that I can always find a real choreographer or two in the group. They are amazing. So much for "Lollar-ography!"

FASHION-ISTAS

Not to be outdone, look at the ladies' footwear!!! Today was awards assembly day and the honorees were allowed the privilege of wearing their Sunday dress for the presentation. When females wear khaki pants and polos to school every day for three years, the chance to dress up is an event! I enjoyed seeing the pretty clothes that the girls chose to wear. Finally a chance to see their own fashion style. What entertained me the most, however, was the shoes!!! Look at these heels. I don't know how these gals could possibly walk on these stilts, but they did it and looked beautiful. Here's to you, ladies, fashion-istas.

FASHION ORIGINALITY DESPITE STANDARD ATTIRE

Every school day for thirteen years, I have looked at kids wearing standard attire. Navy, gold, yellow, white and khaki........that's it!!! No other colors allowed in school wear. Our dress code leaves students little room for creativity in their wardrobe. But kids will find a way for self-expression. This year, our fashion statements revolve around our SOCKS. For some time now, the style among the boys has been short socks in non-matching colors. This is a good look with any type of shoe, but especially with MJ's. The latest fad has become "the double NIKE." In case that needs explanation, it consists of TWO pairs of Nike socks carefully arranged so that both swooshes are visible. In a world of standard attire, I welcome the variety of foot fashion. Thanks guys.

MANFEST / MANFEAST 2010

The choir room was full of music and laughter on Saturday morning. Nearly thirty Nimitz boys and their "older musical male role models" filled the room with singing. Ages ranged from 12 to 58.... we had siblings, cousins, dads, and grand-dads. We had accomplished musicians and a boy's brother-in-law who had no vocal experience at all. I had exes from the freshman classes of 2000, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Watching and hearing these men blend their voices on Rollo Dilworth's "Shine On Me," and Michael Jackson's "Man In The Mirror" was a treat for me on a Saturday morning. It was the beginning of the upcoming weeks of saying good-bye. It was a sweet time. One I will always remember. Thanks, men.

REMINDER WHY I AM RETIRING!

During our boys choir rehearsal today, one particular young man found it difficult to remain "on task." (That is educational jargon meaning "doing as he is told.") While working on a new piece for our spring concert, I noticed that he was not holding his music. "A musical genius!" you might suspect......... but ALAS........ that was not the case. You see, he was holding a pair of scissors in the hand that should have been holding his music. Why the scissors? Very understandable..... he needed this particular apparatus in order to finish CUTTING THE BLACK VINYL OFF OF HIS THREE RING FOLDER!!!! Why? I cannot explain, but I CAN explain why I've had enough!

SEVENTH GRADE BOYS - A CLASS OF THEIR OWN

Today the seventh grade boys were really cute. During the beginning of our class time, we have "home room" period. I give them about 15 minutes to finish up homework and prepare for the day. Today was too funny. One group worked to prepare a "stagecoach" for a social studies presentation. I have to brag and say that my grandson came up with the idea of using his sister's red wagon, three hula hoops and a cover to create the stagecoach. While they worked on their creation, other students rustled up the stick horses which were to adorn the stagecoach. They had a little stick horse rodeo. I love to see children being children. They will grow up soon enough.

MY GRADUATION

I started attending school in 1963! After completing high school, I went immediately to college. From college, straight into the classroom as a teacher. You could say that I have been in school for FORTY-SIX YEARS!!!

46 first days of school;
46 last days of school;
46 summer vacations;
8,582 days of school!!!

It is time to say "enough is enough." I have announced my retirement as of May 28, 2010. I will miss so much about my career, but I am eager to begin my life after school. After 46 years, I think I will graduate now.

WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO?

I went to high school with a girl who now teaches junior high school. Although I haven't seen her in 35 years, we have connected through social networking and we share our teaching joys and pains. I mentioned to her about the kind of commitment it takes to work with teens all day. Here is her comment:

"I do just love those jr high kids....there's just something about them that keeps me "real" every day! one day you love em' and the next day you want to strangle em'! haha guess that's why i have always been a middle school teacher.......never a dull day!! and somebody's got to love those darlings and try to "understand" them!! Takes a real special person to work with them if I do say so myself... I just look at it as God’s mission field for me everyday that I get up out of bed and go to school."

This summarizes the life of a middle school teacher and the special calling that it takes to be a good one. May our tribe increase!