Morning duty

Due to some scheduling changes this year, I picked up a morning duty. I supervise in the gymnasium for about 15 minutes before the start of the school day. As students come in early, the gym is a holding area until time for release to classrooms.

Thankfully I’m a morning person, so this isn’t too much of a shock to my system. It begins with a trickle, 10 or 15 early arrivers, then picks up—40, 70, 85, a hundred—as more walkers and car-riders flow in, culminating with bus riders disembarking in a flood. Students sit in line by grade, lending some organization to potential bedlam.

I’ve yet to meet a teacher who relishes such tasks, and I must admit my preference would be to sit in my office preparing for the day, but such duties do not come without some perks. For me, it’s being one of the first adults to greet each student on his or her arrival at school.

Some prance in bright and bubbly (sometimes a bit too bubbly, even for a morning person); others saunter in somber and groggy. Some dressed and groomed immaculately, others looking as if they rolled out of bed directly onto the bus. Some obviously happy to be here, others noncommittal at this early hour, and (especially young ones early in the year) a few teary-eyed.

I play a little game (I’m easily amused) where I say “Good morning” to each entering student and see how many children pass me before my greeting is returned. (In fairness, many students eat breakfast in the gym and are more intent on getting to the head of the line than greeting a teacher. Can’t say I blame them.) “Happy Monday” provokes some scowls; “Happy Friday” may prompt a smile.

One student takes great joy in dodging my high fives. This has become a great amusement to her. (One could reasonably ask why a “mature” adult would keep trying.)

Fifth and sixth graders tend to form clusters within their “lines.” Some teachers might insist on more proper line protocol; I enjoy eavesdropping on their conversations, finding out what’s on their radars for the day.

What have I observed in my first few weeks of “morning duty”? First, we have wonderfully well-mannered, well-behaved students in my school. Of course, some need a few behavioral reminders (they’re kids, after all), but considering we have upwards of 300 students in one place at one time (no, I haven’t been able to count), it’s a remarkably easy duty. And the ones who don’t return my “Good mornings”? If I repeat myself and break through that pre-8:00 fog, they invariably respond, usually with a smile!