To the teachers (OT)

[Cheesecake7]

Hello teachers!  I am hoping that you can give me a little guidance about a couple of things.  Next month I will be starting my first year as a teacher, this is my first job after college, and I am currently 16 weeks pregnant. Of course I want to make a really good impression on my principal and do everything as I am expected to.  My principal knows that I am pregnant and was really supportive when I told her, but I havent talked to her at all over the summer.  I just found out that I need to have my anatomy scan during our second week of school (first full week).  I have an irritable uterus so my doctor said that the timing is important. I booked it at 8 am so I will only miss the first couple hours of school, but I am really nervous she is going to think that it is unprofessional of me to duck out for an appointment so early after school starts. Thankfully, all of my other appointments for the year are scheduled for after school hours.  Do you think that it is unprofessional, or a bad thing that my scan will be done so early in the school year, considering that I am a new teacher?

Second: (way ot)   I remember that hairspray gets off permanent marker, this does apply to sharpie markers, right?

Thank you so much for any thoughts, I really appreciate it, I am really nervous!!

[martikadragoon]

can you maybe schedule it for a saturday or after school hrs???

since she knows your pregnant as long as you don't call out all the time you won't be considered unprofessional.

[jusrobin]

Hi ,

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I am a newly assistant principal at an elementary school and just recentely found out that I was 8.5 weeks pregnant, and I've taught for 4 years prior to this move. As long as your principal was understanding from day one then you should have no problem, and there are laws in place that say you can not be mistreated because of your pregnancy, so read up on those and keep those in mind. As far as being professional, sometimes we as educators forget that school starts at 8 (for me) and lets out 2.30 and we need to remember that we do have personal and family matters to take care of, so you should keep that in mind as well. As long as your open and honest about your situation then you shouldn't have a problem, you'll soon find out that most educators are like family and we want whats best for you and for the children, and we'll all do what we can to make sure that both are taken care of, and if youre principal still hired you, even though you are pregnant, then guess what you're entering a very good school and school system. SO DON'T WORRY! As far as taking off the second week of school, it's only a day and she'll understand especially since you've gone through the trouble of scheduling all subsequent apointments after school hours. I hope this helps, and also keep me posted if the mistreatment starts, I have a few friends in a few places that will be more than willing to help you out! Take care of yourself, good luck this year with the children and good luck with your baby! Congratulations on both new and exciting ventures!

Oh yeah never heard a thing about the hairspray, but thanks for tip!

[sweetangel7]

Well, I'm in my fourth year of teaching and for my first two years I went in with fevers, pink eye, etc. because I wanted to be professional and show my commitment to my career.  I was also in every committee and group.  Where I teach, they can terminate you within the first 90 days if they don't feel you are performing up to par, and every year you have to have your contract renewed BUT they don't have to...they can essentially get rid of you at any point during your first three years, so it is like a three year long job interview.  Last year, I ended up using sick days because my mom had brain surgery and I had my mc and I had a horrid case of viral bronchial pneumonia with fevers of 106...even if I wanted to go to work, I could barely sit up, nonetheless run around like I have to all day-every day (don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job) but a lot of the people I work with were really supportive about me taking sick days even though I was paranoid to use them...I think it is only natural to want to make a good impression and be responsible with your sick time but I also think that at some level your principal and school committee or superintendent expects people to use their sick days.  SO, I guess what I am saying is that as a first year teacher you want to be cautious of using sick days if not necessary because you are making a first impression...BUT if you need it you need it and thats the bottom line!  Like I ended up with life causing me situations where I NEEDED to be out whether I wanted to or not.  What grade will you be teaching?  I'm switching grade levels so I am in the midst of moving my classroom and setting it up ALL over again =(  At least I am getting some good reorganization done and coming across things that I forgot I had!  It is amazing how quickly you accumulate materials for your classroom!  It is like a money pit!  

About the hairspray and sharpies, I've never tried it, but I'm sure it'd work if it works with other permanent markers...