Mr. Scott & the After School Sillies

Since the last time you heard from this guy, I…

- proctored an ACT exam
- introduced 30 inner-city school kids to the work of Woody Guthrie
- tried to do the Stanky Leg
- directed a neighborhood trash pick-up with a group of Johns Hopkins students
- was told to “make like horse droppings and hit the road” –a direct quote from Mr. Moore
- enjoyed a delectable dinner (with meat!) with 9 Jesuit priests
- took the news of Donovan McNabb’s broken ribs with a grain of salt
- debated as to whether or not breaking Brad Lidge’s ribs would be a good idea.
- finished perhaps the best-written book I’ve ever read, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
- made a purchase(?) at a free bookstore

(And so goes a week in the life of a Jesuit Volunteer).

In other news, our After School program started last week, and let me tell you, these kids are a RIOT. Every day at 2:30, around 30 kids from the neighborhood elementary schools (mostly from St. James & and John and Johnston Square) descend upon the Community Center in a fit of unbridled energy reminiscent of certain types of rocket thrusters (I bet you didn’t know I dabble in nuclear rocketry! Well, I don’t!) Irregardless, the little bundles of joy tend to run around the gym haphazardly while I throw perfectly spiraling Hail Mary’s to the boys, and dominate in double-dutch with the girls.

When the little stinkers are plum-tuckered out, we wrangle the lil’ doggies up and feed them snacks (usually a combination of Sunny D and goldfish..mmmmm!) as they work on their homework. Then they take part in some sort of educationally-geared constructive activity (look at me with thess professional-sounding terms! Someone give me an education degree!). Usually it’s art time, computer time, or music time. And guess who is in charge of exposing these little ears and brains to the joy of melodic sounds and words? That’s right, it’s this guy. Details are sketchy, but I’m thinking of creating a 30-piece band that will tour the countryside and win the hearts of millions. Be on the lookout for “Mr. Scott and the After-School Sillies” at an arena near you!

This week is crunch time for Ralph and myself, as the OSP 180th Anniversary Banquet- complete with a speech from Soledad O’Brien!- is on Friday. Much work need be done.