Future Plans

Meetings finance people, realtors, property owners, property sellers and so many others. In the midst of a great year with so many positives that, I've found it frustrating to not know where the school will be in the next few years. We have five new students starting next week and so Atala is growing strong. Keeping my chin up and working hard for the future.

Spread Your Wings!

Frustrated

Searching for a permanent home for the school. Actively looking at properties. We're in that state where you don't want to get excited when you see a place, but you are. Then you see it and you hit bottom. Ack.  We'll find our place when the time is right. That's how it's always worked at Atala. But patience is not my strongest trait.  :)

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Not in Kansas Anymore

Attending in Appleton, Wisconsin with weather in the teens and snow falling outside. The Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS) national conference is this weekend and I have had the great privilege of serving as its president for the past four years.

Hanging out with academics the whole weekend. While the transition out of FIU has been an easy one, I still hold onto the ties to outside organizations like this one. Been fun seeing longtime (don't want to say "old") friends and having a good time. Tomorrow is my last day of serving as president of this group, which will again solidify the movement away from academia. It's sad that more non-academics are not part of this group. I think they would find it worthwhile--trading information, software, performances, etc. Can't wait to be back home working with the kids.

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Picture of me before leaving academia...

Picture of me now...

Crazy, but I get random people coming up to me telling me how beautiful my silver hair is! Whether it's at a professional conference, in Walmart, or at the grocery store, I appreciate the kudos for going natural. It's a lot easier than dying it every month, putting heels everyday, and trying to pretend I like a job I didn't. At Atala, I love everyday and consider myself so very fortunate to be working in an environment promoting a positive attitude and making a difference in the world.

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Coming out of the walls!

Have been having an awesome January so far at Atala! One small set back with a competitor making "anonymous parent" calls to various groups. But as the inspectors all say, 'the calls are completely unfounded.' When you run a clean business, you will always come out on top.

Now the great news: we have had 7 new students enroll since November and another 2-4 will start this month! We are splitting the Upper Elementary and Middle School so each will have their own room next year. And if things keep moving the way they are, we will be needing a third preschool rooms. We have even discussed having an infant room if the need arises. All in all we have been extremely busy and the phone is ringing off the hook.

This month is our Rodeo Days celebration so we'll be heading to Redland Riding Academy for the festivities. We will also have a party for our parents and start an Atala Family Appreciation Week at the end of the month. Can't talk too much more about that right now as I know many of our parents read my "Diary."  :)

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Simply Amazing

I am continually amazed at the fact that people who we thought were out of lives, had moved on with theirs, pop back up again. But really, we are doing what we need to do, keeping our noses clean, and completely above board. We have the City of Homestead's support and blessings, yet some very petty people find the need to try to derail our beautiful school at every turn. Fortunately none of these lame attempts have work. We have a clean operation and that's that. Bad business practices will never win over good. Always take the high road and stay positive.

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Crazy times...

We are having a terrific winter so far. Only 8 more school days until our Winter break. The kids were invited to sing at the Historic Downtown Homestead Christmas Tree Lighting again this year. So much fun!

Five new children started this week and the phone has literally been ringing off the hook the last few days. Tours are being given 2-3 times each day, every day. Crazy times, but awesome.

Got some news that may be good, but we haven't figured out how and when to move forward. More on that when I have a bit more information.

I love my family, my job, my colleagues, the Atala kids, and my life. Couldn't ask for anything more. Just needing a little guidance on the future. But that will come.

Spread Your Wings!