Whoa, what a whirlwind. Week 2 wasn't really a week. It was three days. Anyone can manage a three-day work week, right? Maybe not. All I can say is. Food poisoning. I started feeling off on Saturday night and I don't think I was feeling right again until Friday. I took Monday off, baby still went to daycare because I was a wreck, and then I had Friday off because I don't work every second Friday. It was brutal and I still feel a bit off just thinking about it.
As for my weekly reflection - I am still waiting on keys. As are two of the staff in my faculty. I managed to get a block key, and a classroom key, and I was able to wrangle one more classroom key for a staff member. But that is it until the locksmith returns from holidays in a few days time. So, it is going to be another week and a half, at least, before I can open the book room, get into the staffroom without hunting for one of the cleaning staff in the morning, and tun the electricity back on when it trips the switch. I was asked to type up a list of exactly what keys are needed and pop it in the book where all the jobs are written down. I have returned twice to put the list back in the book. I am hoping by the halfway point of this term that the whole faculty will be able to get into the buildings. Fingers crossed.
As for official duties, I attended my first Executive Meeting, and it went well. I made a few contributions and took the rest of it in - the school is not the same place it was 3-years ago and people have changed in that time. Everyone has grown, the school has grown, and I am just trying to absorb everything, and ask questions to fill the gaps in my knowledge. I have had a few funny looks when I have asked for things but I have been gone a while, and I simply don't remember everything.
As for my personal goals, to write, and ensure I am not existing on caffeine and chocolate, well... My healthy eating has all but gone out the window. My last meal before I was ill was a salad and I can't really stomach the thought of a salad now. I will need to change the ingredients to try to shift the negative association. I guess that is what I am trying to do with my Year 10 class each day - trying to shift their negative associations with the word 'English.' It will be a gradual process for us all.
I have a few tasks still outstanding - collection of mandatory training certificates and contact details, a project outline for one of the school goals. That is my plan for tomorrow morning - just to check where everything is up to and work out who I need to speak with. Mostly, I am just trying to consolidate and ensure we have the resources we need to do our work. I managed to put claims in for items I purchased for the faculty, put a P-Card application through, and compile a large stationery order that I really hope is processed sooner rather than later. We are subsisting on the smell of an oily rag at the moment and it is more difficult than it needs to be.
I am starting to get my head around what writing workshop will look like in class. I think I have resigned myself to the fact that students will be given a period a fortnight or the equivalent for reading - how I wish it were more - but the writing workshop focus will have to do for now. I would love to request more Stage 4 classes next year so that I am able to continue with the process I am starting now but hopefully I will be able to develop the scope and sequence of skill development over Stage 4 this year and it will be ready for staff to use in 2021. Then the next thing to do will be to get stuck into Stage 5.
Some interesting things the kids have said to me so far:
- My husband works at the school as well and I have fielded several, 'Why don't you have the same last name as your husband?' - my response has been - my name is my own, I got married after I had been working for some time so I was already established, and I also mentioned that I'm a feminist.
- I have written my name on the board several times and had the comment, 'You wrote 'Ms' on the whiteboard and you're married. You should write Mrs.' I responded with why write an extra letter when I can get away with two? I didn't mention the hypocrisy of Mr VS. Mrs.
My to do list continues to grow as we move into Week 3.
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