So today was the day to set up the bookfair. I did as much as I could beforehand that wouldn't interfere with the few classes I had, and then the 8th graders came about 2:30. They all worked pretty hard for the most part (a few I had to encourage.) That's not the frustration/dissapointment -- it is the amount of merchandise which was sent to our school. We have NO merchandise bags, there were not merchandise signs for all the different sections, there were at least two less bookcases, and that means also about ten boxes less of books as well. Everything is set up and put out ... and it looks bare. The past two years I begged and borrowed tables from everywhere, and they were all full to overflowing. Walking room around the library was negilble. This year ... I actually have two tables that are not being used at all ... and the table that ARE being used have stuff spread out to make them look fuller.
This is partly my fault because I didn't confirm the dates for our book fair early enough (although I had said the general idea of when we'd want our next bookfair LAST year - I just didn't know for sure when our PT conferences would be.) But even with limited books (due to many schools having their fair at the same time) there is NO excuse for not sending the bags or all the signs - and to have at least two (maybe three) less bookcases???
The main problem I forsee this causing is that we won't make the $2k mark - which is what you have to do in order to take your earnings in cash rather than Schl Dollars. I do NOT want to have to take ANY of my profits in Sch$.
I guess I'm just going to have to try to promote the online fair option harder this year ... though there aren't a lot of families with computers/internet access. Sigh.
I'm not really sure why, but this has really upset me. Intellectually I know there really is nothing to be done about it at this point in time, but emotionally/librariny it is a deep dissapointing feeling. I really liked how full we were the last two years and how people exclaimed over how much stuff we had available. I really liked there being so many options for the kids to choose from. I also really liked being *very* close to the $3k mark two years in a row.
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This morning my church friend dropped off her dog. Her name is Joplin (as in Janice J) and is 16 years old. Kari doesn't quite know what to make of her yet, and Joplin is still quite confused I think as to what is going on. Hopefully she'll settle down soon.
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Okay, now for my Halloween costume. For some background info -- two years ago my costume was static cling (black pants/shirt, safety pinned on bits of cloth); one year ago my costume was black eyed pea (printed out a large picture of an eye which I safety pinned on, and then cut out a large P out of black construction paper, which I also safety pinned on.) So I think the kids are expecting me to have something a bit weird/eccentric. I found the perfect costume idea tonight in this link:
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/costumeideas/Costume_Ideas.htm
I will be going as ..... Smarty Pants! (Safety pin or sew on packages of Smarties.) I'll be safety pinning them of course and then be able to reuse them later that night for the Halloween party.
Dissapointment/Frustration and Found My Halloween Costume :)
October 18th, 2013 at 03:09 am
October 18th, 2013 at 03:16 am 1382062602
October 18th, 2013 at 03:31 am 1382063502
I did send an email to my representative expressing my disappointment, however at this point in time I really doubt there is much they can do. (Maybe express ship sales bags and some books?)
I was thinking when the guy was taking the bookcases off the truck that it didn't seem like they were all there, but until I saw them actually set up today it wasn't 100% apparent.
October 18th, 2013 at 04:17 am 1382066223
Your costume sounds so fun. I bet the kids enjoy trying to guess what your costume means each year!!
October 18th, 2013 at 12:15 pm 1382094910
October 18th, 2013 at 12:17 pm 1382095049
Good luck with the bookfair. I hope you make the 2k mark!
October 18th, 2013 at 04:25 pm 1382109937
Good luck with the bookfair and with making the best of the less-than-ideal circumstances.
I wonder if the "no bags" was an oversight or if they ran out ... You'd think they'd want you to have them since they are a marketing tool for them.
October 18th, 2013 at 08:27 pm 1382124476
Great costume idea!!