I know I just submitted an incident that happened to me at a Seattle school a few years ago, but this happened to me today so I wanted to share it. Ironically this incident had to do with music too. This occurred in Spokane, WA where I currently teach/live.
This morning I was asked to fill in for a music teacher who went home sick. I had never been to this school before but thought I'd check it out. It was a beautiful newer school and everyone was really friendly and I got settled in the music room. I immediately noticed that I started feeling some stress, and a strong feeling of sadness. I couldn't quite figure out why since I love teaching music and everyone was really nice. I had a group of first graders come in and for the most part were pretty good. When their class time was over I had the kids line up to wait for their teacher. Just then a little boy came up to me and very quietly said to me, "Who's that who just walked in right now?" I was trying to give another student a behavior check sheet so just answered "Oh, it's the second graders, they are up next." But then the little boy said, "No, I mean who's that over there?" I turned around and noticed he was pointing to the corner of the room and had a really puzzled look on his face. This little boy by the way was really sweet and quiet throughout the entire class and didn't seem like a trouble maker. I didn't see anyone so I said, "There's no one there." He just looked at me and kept staring at the corner. The 2nd graders had not even arrived yet. Just then his teacher arrived and left, but I got chills.
The 2nd graders arrived and we were going to watch a movie. As the students were getting seated, a boy asked if he could turn off the lights once the movie began and I told him to wait a sec until I hit play on the DVD. Once I got it set I looked towards the light switch and saw another boy standing by it, so I told him "Ok, you can turn off the lights..." Then the boy who had asked in the first place got up and went to turn them off. I quickly glanced at the boy getting up and then I looked back at the light switch and boy I had seen standing there was gone. I remember vividly he was wearing a kelly green shirt and no one in the 2nd grade had a green shirt on... I know it wasn't a first grader from the previous class because I was by myself for about a minute between classes. I also know it wasn't a kid who had left the 2nd grade class because the door was closed and never heard it open. The students also need to ask permission before leaving. I got more chills! I don't think any of the other students saw him because they didn't say anything, but I do wonder if that is who the 1st grader saw.
I had an hour prep time after and felt really uneasy. I kept hearing banging noises but didn't know if it was the heater since I was not familiar with this school. I finally went to library and hung out there. I asked a teacher if this was a new building and she told me no, that it was an older building that was remodeled. I mentioned this to a friend and she reminded me that today is All Souls Day (in the Catholic tradition) She thought maybe it was a family member or even guardian angel of one of the students who came for a "visit." I don't know what it was, but it was non-threatening. I should have asked the first grader what he saw, but didn't think of it until much later.
I've been asked to go back to this school on Friday, so I'll see if I experience anything again. Of course I might be more paranoid, but I won't go looking for anything on purpose. That is not something I ever do.
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