superintendentsblog

A week ago a school parent group asked me if I could be cut in half as a fundraiser at a magic show.  Never been sliced and diced before, I agreed.

On the night of the show, my wife there to comfort me and take me to the hospital if required, my 5 minutes of fame came directly after the intermission.  I made a corny joke about having just bought extra life insurance as the magician had me stretch out on a flat table.

Then he put two boards in place across my belly, so I looked like i was in the middle of a bagel cutter.  He used a crossbow saw to slice down between the two boards so it looked to the audience like I got cut in half.  Then the boards were removed, I stood up, and the crossbow saw was encircling my stomach.  He lifted it over my head to great applause (probably because I was safe since no-one likes to see a superintendent hurt).  He asked if I was okay.  I said it was easier than a Board meeting.

When I got back to my seat, my wife asked how he did it.  I didn’t see a thing so said that I didn’t know.

They raised over a thousand dollars.  I wonder how he did that though.

June 9th and we are into the graduation season.  i have attended three graduations ceremonies so far and given the short extemporaneous speeches that compliment the students, staff, parents.  I am always proud to speak at a graduation ceremony.  Here’s an interesting thing though.  The first ceremony celebrated the success of 25 students in Grade 12 and took 2.5 hours.  Notes about each student and a powerpoint presentation of baby pics to grad.  The second ceremony celebrated 18 students and took 2.5 hours with powerpoint presentation while teachers said a few words about each graduate.  The third celebrated over 200 students and took 2.5 hours with a baby/grad pic and a few words about each student.

Cause and effect tells me that graduation ceremonies are always 2.5 hours regardless of the number graduating.  Good topic for a masters thesis.  What length of ceremony is most appropriate?  There seems to be a right answer.  I wonder why?  Unless it is related to length of time a bum can sit in a chair in an audience :)))))