Saturday, December 1, 2007

Maxine Wise - Simday 20

30 simyears old, (12/01/07):


Simmington Hills College Preparatory School (CPS) is where my family resides. The school was built by GamingMom, Inc., and I must say it is very well built. Justin Starter of SimVannia Waters created our beautiful sign with the CPS crest on it. To all, I say thanks.

The Administration was gracious enough to even furnish our apartment for us! When we walked in, we almost fell over in amazement. It was so beautiful! The only thing left for us to do, was furnish the upstairs kitchen/living area.










My husband couldn't believe he had a baby grand piano. He's a starving musician, who's been playing an old Yamaha keyboard for the longest time. Now, his music comes to life. I'm in awe of how wonderful Jacques sounds on this piano.

When I accepted Nick Michels and Emerita Valdes' offer to come work in the Hills, I had no idea how it would be. Judge Cunningham and his Administration should all be commended on a first class job.

Judge Cunningham says he didn't design my home...a 'Mr. Dalton' did. Well, I must meet this 'Mr. Dalton' and thank him face-to-face. After I get a few paychecks in my purse, maybe I will take them both out to dinner! The Administration pays me $5,000/period to run this school, that should be more than enough for a dinner, don't you think? *smiles*

Meet my family: My husband Jacques, sister Lydia, and my kids Christina and Charles.




We were greeted not only by a Welcoming Committee, but also by several "Congrats on Your New Job" -type of greeting cards. I can clearly see how important education is to this close-knit town, and education is my life. So it's a perfect fit.

They've gone above and beyond to make me and my family feel at home.




It made me anxious to get to work. So, I had Jacques and Lydia, empty our move-in boxes while I went downstairs into my school office. I was surprised that it, too, was already furnished and ready.

I immediately organized my class schedule and curriculum.




We started classes on Monday and our schedule is as follows:

Monday: Daily Assignment (DA), Cooking, Cleaning, Chess Club

Tuesday: Gardening, Mechanical, Debate, Phys. Ed.

Wednesday: Gardening, Chess Club, Recreation, Music/Art Appreciation

Thursday: (Snow Day-Closed) - DA, Debate, Music/Art Appreciation, Recreation

Friday: Cooking, Cleaning, Mechanical, Phys. Ed.

We had a huge snowfall on Wednesday night, causing school to be closed on Thursday.




So because of that, we had to change Friday's schedule to include DA...the students grades were slipping drastically and I didn't want the whole weekend to pass without them doing some homework. (I will also publish a 'report card' before I end my journal so that everyone is aware of how the kids are progressing.)

The students were receptive to me and they liked their new classroom. We started with 5 students, but after his birthday, my son Charles joined us on Friday making the class total- 6.







I have to be mindful not to leave the classroom, otherwise I come back to total chaos! *laughs* But, that's ok.




It never takes me long to get them seated back down and settled into their workbooks.




The kids' report card: Period 4, Simday 16-20

Beginning/Ending Grade - Beginning/Ending Skills

Marchon Cunningham: C/A+, Cooking 0/0, Mech. 1/1, Charisma 6/6, Body 0/0, Logic 3/4, Creativity 5/5, Cleaning 3/3

Rashid Cunningham: A+/A+, Cooking 2/2, Mech. 1/1, Charisma 4/4, Body 2/2, Logic 3/4, Creativity 1/1, Cleaning 0/0

Elmer Valdes: A+/A+, Cooking 5/5, Mech. 1/1, Charisma 5/5, Body 2/2, Logic 6/7, Creativity 1/5, Cleaning 6/6

Erline Valdes: A+/A+, Cooking 2/5, Mech. 1/1, Charisma 4/6, Body 2/2, Logic 3/6, Creativity 1/2, Cleaning 0/3

Charles Wise: C/A+, Cooking 0/0, Mech. 0/0, Charisma 0/3, Body 0/0, Logic 0/0, Creativity 0/1, Cleaning 0/0

Christina Wise: C/A+, Cooking 0/4, Mech. 1/1, Charisma 0/0, Body 0/0, Logic 1/2, Creativity 0/0, Cleaning 1/1

There are extra-curricular classes as you've read above. Here are some pics of those classes:

Gardening:




Recreation: The Smustle




Chess Club:




Debate:




Music/Art Appreciation:




Phys. Ed.:




Now, don't think I work your kids all day without a break! We have a cafeteria that provides tasty lunches and we all get to socialize about our day.




Well, now that you've seen the inner-workings of CPS, I hope you are satisfied that your kids are in great hands.




I do realize that our skill scores are not as high as I would like them to be. There are just not enough hours in a schoolday to see a bigger improvement, so I am urging all parents to continue with their children's education. The next time this class convenes, half of these kids will be teenagers, moving onto Secondary Class...and I'd like them to have gained some skills on their return.

Thank you!

Lydia Sagacious - Simday 20

30 simyears old, (12/01/07):


I came to Simmington Hills for one purpose and that was to help my sister raise her toddler son, Charles, until he became a child. I hadn't thought much about what I would do after that. My dream is to be a Space Pirate in the Adventurer career. I may give that a go when Charles grows up...but, until then, it's cooking, cleaning, taking out the garbage, and being there for the kids.


I'm truly exhausted at the end of the day.

Somehow I managed to meet a couple of new people. One of whom has become my friend.
I met Kimberly Spencer, who's also new to the Hills.



And my friend, Peter Sims...who may be more than friends, once I move outta here.
I'm looking forward to moving out. I'm tired of the bathroom traffic jams. I'm tired of the kitchen jams.

3 young women in a house is brutal.

Jacques Wise - Simday 20

30 simyears old, (12/01/07):


Our first night in town and I start a fire in our brand new place!







It's a good thing Maxine was working in her school office or else she never would've let me hear the end of it.




I cleaned up everything really well, so she never knew...the fireman even helped me re-stain the wood floor!

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I get a glimpse of my wife in the early mornings as she shuffles off to school and I'm up studying music composition before I have to leave for work.

I'm a Piano Tuner right now. Been playing piano my whole life. Started as a kid at my late aunt's house, just plunking around, but the sounds started making sense to me, and I could hear something on the radio and play it. I became my family's dinner-hour entertainment....and loved the attention.




I always knew I had talent, I just didn't have any money to hone that talent. Now that I have my own baby grand, I plan on reaching the top of my Music career and possibly opening up a jazz club. SH doesn't have one, and GameTime is too sporty for jazz enthusiasts.

There is nothing like taking a long bath while playing Ramsey Lewis and EWF's Sun Goddess,Click Here to Listen, in the background...Nothing like it.




I am always so inspired when I hear that song. Take a listen and see if you are too.

I always talk to my son about the crazy jazz piano licks in Sun Goddess, especially towards the end, that can take you beyond the stratosphere if you let them. He understands me, I can see it in his eyes. He's gonna love music just as much as I do.







My daughter's not left out, either...I use her computer to write lyrics and then print them out with a special software program that turns lyrics and music into sheet music. heh. Christina's more interested in princesses and fairy godmothers, right now.




I sometimes get caught up in a new song I've written, and all of sudden hear loud cheers over my shoulder...it's just my wife, going crazy. She's my number one fan. Last night, she threw her panties over by the piano and they got caught on the lid and just dangled there. Heh. Session over. We had music of our own to make after that.