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Friday, February 13, 2026

Cough-Wink-Cough

Tuesday. Photography. 

Mr. S arrived shortly after I did. He explained that the art department was having their yearly planning session (which I was there for last year, covering a different teacher), and that he wanted to explain the assignment to the class. Okay, then... 

Their "open house" was the next day, only they call it something different now. They've shifted it to now as the students are getting ready to choose their classes for next school year, and the event is more about the various elective teachers and other programs promoting their offerings. 

Mr. S instructed his students to pick their best photograph and upload it to the slideshow that Mr. S was going to use for his open house presentation, to try to entice students to choose photography next year. They had to do it in a certain way so that Mr. S didn't have to go through and fix it later. 

I completely understood what the kiddos needed to do, but it kind of did need to come from him. 

While he was explaining the assignment, he had another announcement for the class. 

Mr. S: "Oh, and before I forget, and in case I forget to mention this on Thursday... So, you know how sometimes your teachers will tell you they feel like they're coming down with something, so they're going to miss school the next day? Yeah, well, I feel like I'm coming down with something, so I won't be here... Monday and Tuesday..."

The class? Crickets. 

I don't know if they got what Mr. S was hinting at, but whatever. I did. I really hope he had something fun planned. 

Then Mr. S went to his planning meeting, which was practically next door to the classroom, and he didn't return at all. (Unlike the teacher I covered last year.) 

19 comments:

  1. Mr. S seems like he has a bit of Spring Fever!

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  2. I like the idea of students picking out their favorite photo to use in the open house.

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  3. Interesting work for the kids ... Nice way for Mr S to announce his impending absence.

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  4. Replies
    1. Oh, I'm all for it. I would have grabbed that job if I didn't already have something scheduled for Tuesday.

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  5. I had to smile at this. That cough wink moment was so obvious to us, even if the students missed it completely. One of those classic teacher hints that fly right over teenage heads. I hope he had something fun planned too.

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    1. Some may have gotten it and not reacted, but sadly I think most of them missed the hint.

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  6. "Coming down with something" reminded me of something that used to be a thing where I work, although not the same thing. People would call in sick (yeah, right) the day after the Super Bowl and I think the best excuse given was a co-worker who "ate some bad salad". i hope the teacher you subbed for had something better he was planning for than a bad hangover!

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    1. Well, I doubt he was anticipating a hangover. I hope he wasn't anticipating a hangover.

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  7. Happy Valentines Day 💝 💓 💖 to you, Liz.

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  8. Replies
    1. Many teachers do. But even when they do, there's always some students who are taken by surprise.

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  9. My son has been thinking he might be "coming down with something" for the past few weeks, but so far, he's managed to make it to work! Oh, the kids asked him a subtraction problem at recess, he foolishly gave them the answer, 67. That set them off. So, it's still around.

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    1. Every time I hear it, I shake my head and say, "I thought six-seven was over." It is not, but the more I tell them that, the more I hope to make it be over.

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  10. That cough‑wink announcement was classic.
    The kids may have missed it, but you caught it perfectly.

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  11. Ah, yes, "coming down with something." At least you got it, even if the students didn't.

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