End of an 'era'

Have you ever taken a step 'backwards' in your career to consciously chase more balance in your life and to be able to do things that will make you happy and not doing things, trying to please or appease others? 

Well... I have and therefore officially resigned from my position [4 December 2020] at the school where I have had various roles and responsibilities for 12 years! I just couldn't go with the 'flow' any longer and a lot of things that I saw broke my heart, but fixed my vision.

I have decided to stop saying yes to people and situations that don't support my well-being. Instead, I decided to say yes to my happiness, and yes to my growth, and yes to all the people and things that inspired me to be authentic and whole, while at the same time accepting me just as I am.

This was my message to the community...

Today, I also noted [some] of my original work published under some other staff member's name...

If you [for whatever reason] read this post, I just want to let you know that 'your poster' which is my work, recycled, is plagiarism. Sadly some education 'leaders' need to reflect on what it means to ask permission and give credit. You've left a bad taste in my mouth and I'm glad I no longer associate with you. 

No one does any work in our field for anything other than the children and communities we serve (which is a privilege), but passing off someone else’s work as your own and sharing it with no credit to the original source as your own idea is just sad.

I'm honestly happy to say this is the end to an 'era' for me and I leave with the following...

Quitting is for winners.

"Contrary to popular opinion, quitting is for winners.

Knowing when to quit, change direction, leave a toxic situation, 

demand more from life, give up on something that isn't working

and move on, is a very important skill that people who win at life

all seem to have.

But don't quit because it's hard.

Quit because it sucks."

(Source: Unknown)

Change is in the air...

Today all came to a full circle. I finally decided to make a decision on what will be best for myself from here onwards... therefore, I can relate to this Poem in so many ways.

"She sat at the back and they said she was shy,

She led from the front and they hated her pride,

They asked her advice and then questioned her guidance,

They branded her loud, then were shocked by her silence,

When she shared no ambition they said it was sad,

So she told them her dreams and they said she was mad,

They told her they'd listen, then covered their ears,

And gave her a hug while they laughed at her fears,

And she listened to all of it thinking she should,

Be the girl they told her to be best as she could,

But one day she asked what was best for herself,

Instead of trying to please everyone else,

So she walked to the forest and stood with the trees,

She heard the wind whisper and dance with the leaves,

She spoke to the willow, the elm and the pine,

And she told them what she'd been told time after time,

She told them she felt she was never enough,

She was either too little or far far too much,

Too loud or too quiet, too fierce or too weak,

Too wise or too foolish, too bold or too meek,

Then she found a small clearing surrounded by firs,

And she stopped...and she heard what the trees said to her,

And she sat there for hours not wanting to leave,

For the forest said nothing, it just let her breathe."

~ Author : Becky Hemsley - Talking to the Wild ~

Thank you, teacher

Lovely to be receiving this during Lockdown: Alert Level 3 - Day 10! Thank you so much @AppleEDU!

We appreciate you today and every day. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our students and in our communities.

We made this video to celebrate you

Apple Education

Distance Learning - T.O.D. Week 3 (Term 2, 2020)

Lockdown: Alert Level 3 - Day 1

We had our T.O.D. this morning through Zoom. We also reflected on the last two weeks' online learning and looked at [some] next steps.

Our school is very fortunate to have no students attending on-site classes from Wednesday 29 April to Monday 11 May 2020.

We will therefore continue to drive online learning for our students over the next two weeks. 

~ "Teachers are the guardians of spaces that allow students to breathe and be curious and explore the world and be who they are without suffocation." - Brené Brown ~

Distance Learning - End of Week 2 (Term 2, 2020)

Lockdown: Alert Level 4 - Day 30

Another week of online learning done and dusted. I've truly settled in and enjoy this new routine of living and working from home! However, I do miss the students and am thankful that we have technology to stay in touch... 

Students have been showing great engagement in their learning activities. Just loving some of the 'How are you feeling' responses I received from the 5 year old's during the week!

~ "What we know matters, but who we are matters more." - Brené Brown ~

Distance Learning - First Day (Term 2, 2020)

Our Distance Learning ('Home Learning') started today... first day of Term 2, 2020! I sent my students a little message yesterday... and really enjoyed listening to all their responses! They were all heartwarming and made me smile.

I feel very so proud of the way they handled their online learning activities today! Using devices in class definitely helped, so this 'experience' was nothing new to them... I am sure that they will ace their learning during this COVID-19 time.

~ “It’s not about ‘what can I accomplish?’ but ‘what do I want to accomplish?’  Paradigm shift.” 

- Brené Brown ~

Term 1 - An abrupt stop

Term 1 came to an abrupt stop two weeks earlier due to COVID-19. On Monday 23 March, we will still at school, when towards the end of day we learned that NZ are moving into Level 3... 

The announcement...

"From Tuesday 24 March 2020 - SCHOOL CLOSED for ALL students with the exception of essential services personnel such as medical staff 

From Wednesday 25 March 2020 - ALL NZ schools will be CLOSED until further notice and that from Tuesday 24 March, there all schools will be closed. Teacher had to teach 'online'."

Then, the next announcement came...

"School holidays brought forward 

School holidays are being brought forward so that they are completed within the 4 week period. Holidays will now begin from Monday 30 March to Tuesday 14 April inclusive (a reminder that the Tuesday after Easter Monday is always a closed day for schools).  However, although the nationwide lockdown is for a period of four weeks which will extend beyond this holiday period, the return date will not be known until the full and ongoing impact of COVID-19 is known. You will be advised in due course when this return date will be following advice from the Ministry of Education.

 Term 2 begins on Wednesday 15 April through Distance Learning (Home Learning)." 

An interesting time for all...

~ "Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation , creativity and change." - Brené Brown ~