Especially if, like me, you have a brand spanking new Middle Schooler.
Last week, we went to the middle school for 6th grade orientation. I was looking forward to getting the Howler's schedule and having an idea of what to expect. Since it's been a long time since the Toad went there, and I've been over elementary school since well before the beginning of 5th grade, I want to have my 6th grade/Middle School bearings. I don't need any crap from the school district, and I plan to do exactly as I've been doing all through elementary school: pay attention, act as needed, blah blah blah.
I have already, before school even started, been annoyed beyond belief. My annoyance level may be a bit over the top, but not by much.
It's called "orientation" for a reason! The people talking at me about what to expect, what is expected, how things work, blah blah, should tell me who they are. First and last names would be good.
The Howler and I were not late. We were exactly on time. We were already seated when what appeared to be a random district employee began talking into a microphone. Several minutes into her talk, she told us she was the principal. I caught her first name. Now, maybe I'm expecting too much, but if you've got yourself a microphone, I expect to be able to hear your full name, especially if I'm attending a thing called "Orientation". And when you introduce the other people who will have contact and a direct influence on my child during this school year, I expect to hear their names clearly too. Six people were introduced...I caught 2 first names, the resource officer's full name, and the athletic director's full name.
That's right: I have the first names of the principal; the vice principal; have no clue as to the 6th grade guidance counsellor's name at all; the full name of the police officer serving as the middle school's resource officer; the food service guy luckily gave me his name when he was going over his section of the program because the principal certainly didn't; and the full name of the athletic director, which doesn't count because I know him and recognized him anyway.
I just think that when you announce something as an "orientation" you can be sure that many of the people in attendance are actually there because they aren't familiar with you. And if you have a microphone, you use to be sure you're heard...and if you're part of a list of people who will be talking during the whatever the program is, even if you've been fully-assed (as opposed to half-assed) introduced, you introduce yourself again. The lame-ass wave you gave when being half-ass introduced is not going to win you my confidence. It makes me think that, much like all guidance counsellors I've met before you, you're a waste of space and tax payers dollars. Oh, what I wouldn't give for a guidance counsellor worth his or her paycheck!
I'm annoyed and the school year hasn't even started yet!
