“On the Other Side of the Door”

You can find me in Portable One.  My home away from home is tucked neatly between the ball fields and the music wing of the building.  On any given day, my class can hear a distant marching band practice, sing along with Annie rehearsal, smell the day’s entrée in the cafeteria, or see any number of service trucks driving by the window.

I am often asked how I like life in the portable.  I think it is great! It’s quiet, my students get a breath of fresh air, and it’s rather cozy. The downside has to be the rain.  Everything outside gets soaked.  For this reason, I cannot put anything on my door the way that I once did.

When I eventually have a door that is not regularly tormented by the elements, I will post this lovely poem by Jeff Moss right on it!  It is called “On the Other Side of the Door.”

On the other side of the door

I can be a different me,

As smart and as brave and as funny or strong

As a person could want to be.

There’s nothing too hard for me to do.

There’s no place I can’t explore

Because everything can happen

On the other side of the door.

On the other side of the door

I don’t have to go alone.

If you come, too, we can sail tall ships

And fly where the wind has flown.

And wherever we go, it is almost sure

We’ll find what we’re looking for

Because everything can happen

On the other side of the door.

I want my students to know that on the other side of my door there will be kindness, support, encouragement, and endless possibilities. I want them to know that I will honor who they are and what they bring.  I will let them see that I too can be myself on the other side of the door. I can be the singing, dancing, silly self that my colleagues may not see!  On the other side of the door…