Welcome Back (Welcome Back, Welcome Back...)

Monday was our first day back from mid-winter break. Within the first 20 minutes of school, the office calls over the intercom to see one of my students. I sent her to the office. Later, as I'm on my way to the bathroom at recess time (go now or wait a long time until my next break at eith 11:35 or 11:45, depending on the day of the week...), I see my student.

"I'm going home," she said.

"Why?" I ask.

"Because my sister has lice, and now I have to go home," she replied.

"Oh," I said, itching my scalp. I let her back into the room to get her things. Then I itched my head some more, and went to use the restroom. When I returned to my classroom, the office calls over the intercom again.

"We have to check your whole class for lice. When can you do it?" our office manager asked.

"As soon as possible," I said, continuing to itch.

So, when recess was over, I picked the kids up outside. But instead of returning to the classroom, we marched over to the office, and lined up outside the door. Then three-by-three, we had our heads checked for lice. And sure enough, one more case was found. On Lance, though, not on me. But I still itched.

The next day, both students were at school. Lance was wearing a wool hat, even though it was a beautiful, sunny day. I let the kids in. I had just begun to start my day when the office called for Jillian to go home. She looked angry. Not sure what happened, but apparently the lice situation had not been corrected. Lance, though, still wore his hat.

I began to wonder if Lance, too, was supposed to be in class. Had he gotten the "all-clear" to return to school nit-free? I sent an email to our office manager: Lance is here and won't take off his hat. Is he lice-free?

Reply: Yes, he is, and we have a no-hat policy (Yes, I knew that...)

I went over to Lance, and whispered, "You have to take your hat off." So he did. Man, did he ever get his head shaved! I guess his mom had just freaked by the whole thing-they did find a big louse on his head, but no nits, so I guess the shaved head was unnecessary. But shaved he was. And pretty self-conscious, too. Later I told him he looked handsome with his new do.

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back!