We are officially closed for the summer. Honestly I never thought this day would come. This year was like no other year. I have been in the education field for fourteen years but have never encountered a year like this one. There were days that were so long, endless and seemed as though time was lingering. It was hard to keep motivating my staff, it was hard to always be positive when I myself was in the dark!
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Self Reflection
While working on schedules for Hybrid model for the upcoming new academic school year, I get a WhatsApp message from my principal asking “Would you mind doing a reflection for the bulletin this week?” Here I was a little bit confused and thought we had to write what we usually write and asked if that’s what she meant. Clearly I was wrong and she replied back with “ Not your usual. A reflection of your year. What did you enjoy about virtual school and what did you learn about yourself as a leader?” I quickly replied back with absolutely NOT and I got a thank you back. I lost all concentration on schedules and my mind started wondering about her two questions. I let it sink and thought about it a lot. I didn’t write anything down till the next day. I remember thinking about it before I fell asleep.
Next morning I got to the office and started typing away…
Measurement Day!
Measurement day was finally here… I was convinced and was sure my numbers were lower from last month! I was SURE my weight had changed. I woke up and got on the scale. I shut my eyes and was scared to look down! When I finally did I was in SHOCK. I wanted to scream and cry! I got off the scale and got back on to make sure what I saw was true. I did that three times! And all three times I saw the same number! I did NOT go down half a kilo, 1 kilo or 2 kilos! I WAS THE EXACT SAME weight I was when Ondrej last measured me! I was so MAD, annoyed name it… So I thought to myself ok this means my measurements would at least be down! I knew I had gained muscles but figured I’d be down in inches! I remember I had NO appetite for breakfast that day.
Silver Linings of Covid-19!
I can thank Covid for slowing down time for us! I am thankful that it has made time for ourselves. Everything I had on hold and simply could not get to I managed to get through them while being locked down. Once school has ended, it was time to think of myself for the first time EVER! To finally put myself first and not everyone else around me like I usually do felt weird honestly speaking. I worked on myself mentally and physically. I thought to myself if I do not take this opportunity now, then I will never have this chance again and will regret it once and IF life goes back to normal. I started signing up for professional development workshops and conferences that would benefit me as a leader and in my personal life for the best version of me.
Below you will see what I have done and how I have taken every opportunity that came my way this summer.
Virtual School- Week 3-8!
By week 3, I felt I had settled down into a routine with my work/meetings and my kids and their work. It was a bit easier I must admit. Week after week things got better and I was able to have some sort of an organized life. There were a few bumps here and there with new decisions from our Ministry of Education but we managed through. By then our teachers got used to the fact that things might change mid week and when we had a meeting they were expecting it.
Week 7 and 8 were the toughest. Tougher than week 1 and 2 for me. Teachers by then were exhausted, overwhelmed, tired and running on low energy and on very low patience. It was hard. They had to plan and re plan based on a new calendar change. Then they had to assess their students for grades for their report cards that they had to do two weeks later. That week of reporting was difficult, they had so many questions and needed a lot of clarification. It was their first time to assess students virtually which was hard to grasp. But they pulled through and did an amazing job!
Week 8 was dedicated to Virtual Student Led Conferences. As a mother doing both of my kids’ conferences, it felt like it was on another level. It was so emotional and surreal. We couldn’t wrap our heads around the fact that we were saying bye to each other and wishing each other a safe and healthy summer.
Virtual school has now ended. We were in a better place week 8 than week 1. Of course as we all know anything that you do for the first time is always bumpy and crazy. BUT our staff impressed us and we were so proud of all their hard work they put into their 8 weeks of teaching virtually.
Career Day Assembly
In January, we had a Relaxed Dress Day and the theme was “Dress for what you want to be when you grow up.” My principal wanted us to put together an assembly for Career day. So my counselors and I got together and planned. We put together a powerpoint and one of the slides was “All about me”. I had my picture when I was in grade 1 holding my “school bag” which was a briefcase. I had to present it four times to grades 1-4.
The night before I couldn’t sleep well from being so nervous. One thing about me is I do NOT like talking to an audience yet alone my students and staff with a mic! The morning of, my principal came back from recruiting and she was talking and updating me midway. She felt I was off and wasn’t focusing on her. One thing is for sure, my principal knows me so well! She knows when I am not ok, when something is bothering me, when something is on my mind and knows when to leave me alone to cool off for a bit. It is kind of scary after only working with her for a year and a half. I explained that I barely slept and that I felt so nervous about presenting. I told her that I would be fine by 11:30 when this was over and done with. I was pacing in her office and she tried to calm me down and gave me a few pointers when speaking in public. She’s a natural behind that mic. For me, it’s a struggle!
At 8:15 I went upstairs to set up everything and make sure that everything was working. At 8:30, my grade 1s came up. As they were walking and getting seated I had music playing and the students were dancing while getting seated. When all 7 classes were seated I began. All eyes were on me, teachers and students. I felt my legs wobble and hands getting sweaty. I stuck to the powerpoint and then that slide about me came up and I had to explain to them that since I was their age, I knew that I wanted to become a teacher. The teachers and students laughed and the students couldn’t believe that was me when I was their age. 20 minutes ended and that felt like an hour. My principal was sitting in the back listening and that had me even more nervous but I continued. While getting ready for the grade 2s, I debriefed with my counselors and felt that the grades 2, 3, and 4 went smoother than grade 1. The Grade 1 teachers enjoyed it and told me that they liked learning something about me. After I finished all four presentations, I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I felt that I could finally eat as I didn’t eat the whole day.
My principal came to me with a smile and said “well done”. I smiled and said “Now you can speak to me” and we both laughed. I hope with time I will get over this fear of speaking in public. Many teachers gave me positive feedback and enjoyed getting to know me better. Many students came to me days and weeks later talking about it and discussing “Why I didn’t like that red pen.” I did enjoy it but took a lot out of me to get up there and speak.
Deadlines!
In high school I was all about meeting the deadlines! I am not a last minute person nor do I procrastinate. I made sure I planned it out and gave myself my own deadline and that was normally 2 days before the original date. There were probably only two times when I was in highschool/university that maybe I couldn’t meet a deadline and asked for an extension and I absolutely hated that. I remember going to my professor and asking him for an extra day, just ONE DAY! I remember I was sweating and couldn’t sleep the night before.
Being in the working world and needing to be organized and having deadlines makes a huge difference. I remember as a Grade Level Leader when I had my meetings I used to give my team 2 days before the original deadline that was given to me by my principal. You are probably wondering why? As a GLL I had to make sure that I had time to go through everything before handing it in to my principal. After all, I was representing the grade 3 team and did not want anyone speaking about us. I wanted to ensure that we got nothing but positive feedback at all times. I remember one of the Grade Level Leader’s asked me once, “How do you manage getting everything in on time or before your deadline?” I simply answered with, “I create a plan for my team, divide it between everyone and then give a deadline 2 days before the original one. This way it gives you time to go through it and turn it in the day before the deadline.” She smiled and applied it on her team and it worked.
Now as an AP this makes more sense than ever and shows your department is on top of everything. I don’t have a team of 7 but a team of 30+ educators. My principal is all about meeting the deadlines and always gives me PLENTY of time to work on my tasks. I remember recently she asked for something and did not give me a deadline to when she needed the documents and when I asked she brushed it off and never gave me an answer. I remember that I felt lost and went crazy, I felt like I was left hanging! So I emailed my staff and gave them my own deadline not knowing if it was too early or late. A simple deadline makes all the difference. It organizes everyone around you and you’re always on top of everything. I give my staff plenty of time to work on a task and never last minute tasks with a deadline. I expect they meet the deadline in a professional manner.
Some might agree with me and some might disagree with me which is fine. But trust me when I say giving your team a deadline makes a huge difference. It shows that you are organized, on top of it and no one slacks off. I assure you that things get done the minute you assign them a deadline. Try it!
Phones: An addiction or a must?
Recently I was sitting with my principal and KG AP. We were having lunch before Parent conferences in my principal’s office. I had left my phone in my office. It was the last 45 minutes of the day. What could possibly go wrong? What emergency could take place?!
We were chit chatting about the days event and catching up. I looked at both ladies and said, “I feel naked without my phone.” My principal looked at me in shock and couldn’t believe the words that just came out of my mouth and that I really didn’t have my phone on me. She finally replied “WHAT? You don’t? You’re addicted to that phone!” I replied back and said “It’s the 21st century, everyone is addicted to their phones, don’t just say it is me. I need it in school because there are so many staff members messaging me asking for me to come really quickly to their class or to tell me something that has happened with a parent.” My staff know they can count on me.
Two days ago, I went to the bathroom and got stopped 3 times and didn’t get back to my office till 30 minutes later and I had 3 missed calls and 10 messages. This time round I purposefully left it because I needed a 15-minute break. She replied back, “You are addicted. I know I can message you at any given time of day when you are awake, and you will answer within a few minutes.” I paused and knew she was right. But does that mean I am addicted? Is it only me? There are so many weekends especially on a Friday I do disconnect and do not answer my phone messages or emails. A 15-minute break turned out to be a 30-minute break. I went back to my office and I kid you not, I had 3 missed calls and 20 messages. Only 1 was an emergency and the rest could wait. Yes, I might be on my phone BUT it’s definitely not for fun or chit chatting with my friends. It is all work related and being there for my staff and helping them out. Is that wrong?
In today’s world I have yet to see someone that is not on their phones nor not answering back. We do need time to switch off and disconnect. Otherwise work will eat us up alive. After this Inclusive and Wellness conference I attended, I am definitely switching off more during the weekends and taking a 20-minute break from my phone during the school day. As they said, self-care and wellbeing is very important. I need to take care of MYSELF and wellbeing before being able to take care of my staff.
A Typical Day in Paradise!
It amazes me what I go through as an AP in my school. From the minute I step into the office to the minute I leave. For one, I try my best to do the subbing before I sleep for those who have taken a personal leave or for the ones who are sick and fighting a flu. That for me is an extra 10 minutes of sleep. The minute I wake up I take my phone off of silent mode so that I don’t miss any messages about who is not able to come in. If anyone does happen to message, while my kids are having their breakfast, I continue planning the subbing for the current day. We leave for school and for anyone that messages me on my way to school I just add it onto the document and then find their coverage in order to send it to my staff. I try my best to send it by 7am to give my teachers a heads up as I don’t like sending anything at the last minute when I know they are busy preparing for their classes.
When that is done, I check my calendar for the day and see what meetings I have scheduled. My staff usually start walking in from 6:30 onwards. At any given time I get teachers walking in asking questions or helping them out with certain dilemmas. At 7:15 the bell rings and I head out to greet teachers who are on duty and students who run to hug me. While doing that I might get a teacher looking for me, a parent who needs to see me or students waiting for me because they were playing aggressively. The bell rings at 7:35 and then everyone lines up ready to begin their day of learning.
Back in the office if I have no one waiting for me, I finish whatever I need to finish before my scheduled meetings and try to have my breakfast. My ideal morning would be to be in classrooms during Guided Reading for 10 minutes and try to see a grade each day but that RARELY happens. While working in my office, I either receive a message from a teacher, have students walk into my office or my phone will be ringing. That’s the norm. Everything happens all at once. WHY? Is beyond me. I am definitely becoming quite the multitasker. I step out into the hallways and whoever sees me stops to chit chat or to ask certain questions. During a meeting, I normally receive messages from teachers and I try my best to respond on the spot. That could happen every 5 to 15 minutes. I am still focused during the meeting. When the meeting is done, the bell rings for recess and I make it a point to make my rounds at least once. I like to ensure that all duty zones are covered and if anyone forgets I call them to remind them.If everyone is in their zones, I try to touch base with my staff. I do that while many students stop me to say something or to solve their problems. I am 95% out during recess 1 and 2. I do not schedule any meetings during recesses. If by any chance I cannot make it, I ask one of my counsellors to be outside. Those little things make a difference!
Mid to end of day is the exact same routine. There could be a parent who wants to see me, students in my office, or having a meeting and with all that happening I am answering messages or answering my office phone. Next thing you know, the bell rings at 2:30 and the student day is over. However, this is where for me I feel like it just begins.I get to do my work from 2:30pm to 4pm without 101 interruptions in order to meet my own deadlines. I always get my staff members saying to me when they walk in, “remind me never to be an admin” or “Dana, I don’t know how you do your job and keep your head up high, you make it look so easy!” If they only knew how it’s far from that. It’s so hard changing hats every second for whomever walks into my office.
That is my typical day in paradise… DO I love it? YES! Why? Because I make sure I am ALWAYS there for my staff when they need me and I make sure that my students are happy and safe and love coming to school each day!
How does your AP day look/feel like? 🙂
Off track… On track….
I turned 37 in October but felt as though I turned 90 years old. I felt that everything went downhill since. Two days after turning 37, I was at the Dr’s checking why I was getting these terrible headaches. She asked me to do an X ray for my neck and it seemed that my disc moved but I hadn’t noticed. I had an MRI done and it showed the exact same thing. I then went to an orthopedic and he advised me to take some strong medications. I then decided to get the cyst on my back checked out which then lead the Dr having to remove it. I did it on the spot with 14 shots of anesthesia and 6 stitches later but I still wasn’t convinced that this was all related to my headaches. I had to stop my workouts as I couldn’t move my arms nor was I allowed to sweat because of the stitches. I then traveled for work and came back very sick. I have never in my life been absent for 5 days from work! I was forced to stay in bed as I got food poisoning and the flu. It was 2 full months of one thing happening after the other. I feel super grateful to have close friends and family who supported and checked in on me during this time.
Meanwhile I was frustrated, depressed and annoyed. Everytime I seemed to get back on track with my workouts something out of nowhere popped up. I worked out throughout the entire summer and nothing happened to me. I started believing that work/stress plus working out didn’t sit well with me. We live in a world where everything is moving so fast beyond our control. We are always rushing trying to finish things and meet deadlines and at the end of the day we are exhausted from being constantly on the go. There is no time for self care nor time to think about ourselves. I promised myself once I am healthy and back on track, that I come first.
I got on a plan for my workout. Instead of doing my workouts at 7pm twice a week, I am now doing these exercise classes at school right after work hours. My workouts at 7pm always left me feeling exhausted. Now I workout at school 3 times a week. I am trying to stick to it as much as I can but there are times where I have to cancel because of work. I am trying to do something for me, myself and I at least once a week.
2020 is the year of self care and self awareness. Applying it is so hard at times in today’s world. There are things I have been putting on hold that I am finally able to do. For one, I need to get into the habit of blogging once a week.
This is a start….