Week 25 of 52

This is the 25th week of my 52 Project but it is also the 36th and last week of school. The students have all gone home for the Summer. There are so many song lyrics that come to mind with the end of school and coming of Summer Vacation. The first, is the classic by Alice Cooper, School's Out for Summer. It comes to mind just as Alice sang it, in that heavy metal, shock rock manner, screaming and raging in excitement at the end of authority. When Alice sang this song his point of view was of the students. I am here to tell you that many of the teachers, staff and administrators are thinking and sing that song as well, in the same manner and vigor.

For us on this level of education, primary K-12, there is a small transitional period where we wind down, close out and purge the current year to prepare for the coming year. This is usually done on our 'Pupil Free Day'. A day just like it sounds, there are no students and we can focus on non student tasks like, completing student records, turning in materials, packing up equipment and prepare the room for summer cleaning. This year we lost our 'Pupil Free Day' to the budget cuts, so many of us have found ourselves with a lot of stuff still to do. The next song that comes to mind is War's Summer which reflects all of the activities and feel of a California Summer, which is never really far from memory. The song is sort of the prelude of things to come.

As summer vacation days loom, and we say good-bye to our duties, I was a little more focused on the theme of the MCP 52 Project. Week 25's theme was Crave or Craving. We are in a rush to meet deadlines to students, parents, families and district offices to get report cards, last minute transfers, collect textbooks, annual reports and other materials before the all offices close. So I was craving more time so that my professional duties don't spill into the summer. I was craving, spare time for photography, bike rides, reading, sitting in the sun or just sharing a meal with friends.

This week's photo show you my craving. It also, fits my theme for 2011, Structure. There is nothing more structured than time. There never seems to be enough of it, nor can it be replaced so I am always craving it. I shot this in black and white to give the feel of age. Old photos are usually in black and white. Time is also black and white. Once it is gone... it is gone! When I finish all of my house cleaning duties on Tuesday is week I will be thinking of the song by Sly and the Family Stone, my all time favorite, Hot Fun in the Summertime. I hope you enjoy this photo along with my others on my flickr site. Enjoy your summer, I know I will. If you don't know these songs, please click on them and listen. I will see what I mean.