I am going to write a welcome back to school letter to parents now! It should be LOTS of FUN! (Hmmm, what's the appropriate soundtrack for this task? I'm thinking....Garbage!)

Hey, parents -- what would you like to have known from a back to school letter from a teacher?

{{Bev}} Continued thoughts and ~ma to you, love.

{{S and Sean}}

Go, Kristin with the moving! Woot! (Trying to cheerlead and encourage.)

I have been at work less than an hour and have spilled coffee on my shirt. A tiny dot of coffee right in the cleavage of a pink shirt.

Dear Parents:

It's time to send your kids back to school and I'm their fantastic English teacher. I will teach them, but I need you to support their educational efforts. Be interested in what they do and how they're doing. If they have problems, let's work together to solve them. Also, I accept cash bribes.

Love and kisses,

Ms. G.

Dear Parents

Your children did read over the summer, didn't they? If not, get them to a library. Stat.

And, um, welcome back.

Teacup Guy wants me to "poll buffista nation": If he is made an offer today, is it acceptable for him to say that he will think about it on the weekend and give her a decision on Monday? Is it acceptable or expected that he should make a counter offer on the salary? If so, when should one make the counter offer?

Ugh. Internet banking for my bank is down, and I need to transfer money so I can make my grocery order. I'm going to have to actually talk to someone. Blech.

It is acceptable to give an answer on Monday.

I think it is also acceptable to counteroffer on salary, though I would counteroffer sooner than later. I am, however, less sure about this bit.

sj -- Happy Getting the Car Back Day! Also, it is perfectly acceptable for Teacup Guy to say that he's going to take some time to think over the offer for a couple of days. I think it's also perfectly acceptable for him to ask for more salary/perqs -- so long as he's comfortable with getting a "no" answer.

Hee. I'm gonna write it in English and Spanish, explain homework policies, encourage them to get their kids a lib card if they don't already have it, and give a list of materials their kids need for my class. Many (most) of my students are from low-income households, so it's basically a folder, a spiral notebooks, pens, highlighters, and two floppy disks,

Do you think it would be rude to also ask that each student also bring in a box of Kleenex, and that if anyone wants to send some hand sanitizer? I probably spent at least $40 buying Kleenes, hand sanitizer, floppies and hand lotion for my classroom last year. My students practically drink hand sanitzer, and eat Kleenex.

I think that you could add a line like "I am often asked if there is anything that the classroom needs. If you'd like, I would really appreciate Kleenex and/or hand sanitizer for the classroom. This helps everyone (including you!) stay healthy.