Still a Wanderer

I've been subbing too long. That's what this is. Because today's story has quite a bit of backstory. 

Wednesday. Senior government, special ed. Third period. 

It was day one of a three-day assignment for a teacher I did a long-term assignment for three years ago. So, I knew what the lesson plan would be going in. (And I was right.) 

As the class filed in, I greeted many students I already knew. They had been sophomores in that special ed world history class I covered in February/March of 2025. They had been a good group. A fun group. So, I wasn't too worried. 

Well, except for Ariyah. She's not a bad kid, but she had a wandering problem. 

We were to go to a launch event in the gym. California is doing a free community college thing, and there's a community college just down the street from this high school. That community college has partnered with the high school, and so personnel from the college spend the year getting the seniors all set up so they can slide right into college after graduation. 

(I ran into the end of the sequence last school year. This was the beginning.) 

I got roll taken (quickly, as I already knew most of the kiddos), and we headed out to the gym. 

Remembering the last time I was in this position, I made sure to keep an eye on Ariyah. Did she follow along to the gym? Of course not. She "had to use the restroom", which was code for meeting up with a friend. I walked on ahead to keep up with the rest of the class, but I did note when Ariyah did arrive in the gym. She took a seat in the bleachers. Whew. 

The group from the community college ran through their program. A lot of it would be new information for the seniors. 

I saw when Ariyah got up (with a friend) and walked out of the gym. Deep sigh. 

Did she return? Of course not.

But the program didn't take the whole period, so the kiddos went back to class. And Ariyah did actually return. 

So, I asked. She claimed that she had not left. I said I saw her leave. She said she had been outside with security. I could call and check. 

(Which security person? If I just call "security", I wouldn't get an answer.) 

Uh huh. Sure. But again, she's only hurting herself missing things that will be useful for her. 

Ms. M, the instructional assistant, said Mr. B gives her a long leash. So, I mentioned this in the note. The next time I had Ariyah in class, she only left for a reasonably timed restroom break. So, maybe not a major issue? I don't know for sure. Mr. B will take care of it.

College Orientation

Wednesday. Twelfth grade English. 

I unlocked the door to the classroom, and I walked in to find the teacher there. She was just getting ready to leave. She'd be on campus reading essays (as they do once a quarter). So, while she said I could call if I needed her, it'd be unlikely as counselors and administrators from the nearby Cerritos College would be in class to help the kiddos register for classes. 

I do love a day where outside presenters are there to take over the class. 

First period. As the kiddos were arriving, an entourage of eleven arrived to present. Cerritos College is one of the local community colleges. I'm not sure of details, but the local high schoolers can get reduced (or free) cost tuition if they meet certain qualifications. (Being a local recent grad is the main one.) 

We are at the point in the year where the seniors are just about done. And so, the community college is ready to welcome them. 

In previous classes, they had gone through the application process, and they had done the FAFSA. This day the counselors and such were there to explain things like getting into a program that would give them priority registration and how to register for classes. They made sure they could access the college's student portal and that they had their new student ID numbers. 

Not all of the kiddos are going to go to that college. There are several community colleges in the area. (Off the top of my head, I know of Long Beach, Goldenwest, Fullerton, and Cypress. I just did a Google search, and found something like seventeen.) Some are going to universities (we also have a few of those in the area). Some may be joining the military. Others might already have jobs or apprenticeships lined up. And others might not have any plans yet. 

But, as it is close, and many will go, they found it worked better to just do an orientation for them in their high school. Very convenient, that. 

I wish I had had something like this when I started college. I don't know if the kiddos realize how nice this is for this transition for them. 

It made for an easy day for me. My biggest challenge was staying awake. 

But it was a little bittersweet. I've had many of these kiddos in various classes over the last several years. They're growing up. And they'll be leaving. 

Did you go to college? If your high school had done something like this, would you have been more likely to (if you did not)? 

Today's A to Z Challenge post brought to you by the letter...