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Staff Appreciation

While sitting on the balcony enjoying the beautiful weather and working, I suddenly came up with an idea. I wanted to do something different. I didn’t do this last summer nor the summer before. I decided that I wanted to send a message to every staff member to check in on them and their families and to wish them a great rest of the break before starting a new year in August. I mean there is no harm to wish them well and to show them that I am thinking about them. I wish I had a camera to see their reaction as I was very curious!

I started sending my messages a few nights ago. Each night I would send the same message to at least 10 staff members of mine but of course changed their names. The message was as simple as this: “Hi (name) How are you? Just wanted to check in. Hope you are enjoying your last stretch of your vacation and your family are all well. See you soon.” It was as simple as that. There was nothing to it right? As for my Arabic and Religion staff, I sent them each a voice note in Arabic saying the exact same thing I wrote in English. I had informed my principal that this is what I was doing and showed her the message and she loved it.

The reactions and messages I got were so worth it. They thanked me. Some were shocked and surprised and thought, Uh-oh my AP is messaging, whats up? Some thought that it was such a sweet gesture. Some replied, “Wow I never got this, thank you.” Their responses surely put a smile on my face.

If you know me, you know that my staff comes first. Their well being and happiness is what I truly care about. It is important for me that they know that I am always there to support them. I am so happy this idea popped into my head and I followed through with it. I have now sent out my message out to all my staff. I made sure to have a checklist to ensure that I left NO ONE out!

It’s the small things a leader can do to show their staff how much they are appreciated!

As a leader what have you done over the summer to show you appreciate your staff?

My Fitness & Health

I wanted to really shock my body and break this plateau that has been with me for over a year. I either gain a kilo or lose a kilo. To lose more than 3-4 kilos seemed impossible and so hard! Yet, people who saw me once a week or once a month would say, “OMG you have lost weight, wow!” I always feel like saying, “please get your eyes checked, I clearly have NOT lost anything.” But instead I smile and say thanks. My principal who sees me everyday single day also has said that I have shrunk.

I decided to go to a dietitian and do a month of meal prep and increase my cardio. I made an appointment and went to see her. She took my measurements and I picked my food for a month. With work being hectic, I had no time to think of what I wanted to eat and what to prepare the night before. So I thought that I would kill two birds with one stone. I was eating 1250 calories a day and my goodness, I was starving the first 3 days but then got I got used to it. I tried to go running twice a week with some colleagues and see my trainer twice a week. That plan only worked for 1 week. The end of the school year got so busy and I barely had any time for myself. I was tracking my weight with my scale and did NOT go down.

It was time to go and check in with the dietitian and to measure myself. My scale was the same that morning yet when she measured me I went down all over. After 1 month of meal prep and 50 days of Lent I did my blood test and everything went down, in particular my cholesterol. Boy was I happy for that! The scale continues to be the end of me. Summer is now here which means that I will have some more time for myself. I tend to take care of myself more, I exercise more often and eat a lot more healthier. We shall see at the end of the summer if there is any difference in my weight.

Yearly Surveys

Every year a survey goes out to all staff to fill out for each admin. Last year was my first time reading the surveys about myself. Reading the mean comments for the first time didn’t go well obviously. However, I read them several times, I let them sink in, reflected on them and then shredded the papers. As my second year in the role as AP I promised myself that I wouldn’t let these surveys get to me like they did last year. I knew that I was a lot stronger.

This is an opportunity for staff to write whatever they wish, whether it’s positive or negative feedback. I know myself and I know what areas I need to improve in. I really do not need a survey to tell me that. An educator knows their weaknesses and strengths and it’s up to the individual if they choose to work on those areas or to ignore them. Out of 13 comments, I felt that 3 were pretty unfair as I felt that those comments didn’t even describe me as a person. The other 10 comments were great and positive as they knew me inside and out. Last year there were a lot more negative comments than this year. For me, I feel like that’s a HUGE improvement. I felt that those 3 comments didn’t describe me as an administrator, but I read their feedback and will continue to reflect on it.

I know for next year what I need to work on and having my principal pushing me to be a better leader will get me there. There is always room for improvement. No one is perfect. I am already eager to read next year’s feedback in order to see what is said and where I can improve. Until then, I shall continue growing and improving in a few areas that is needed.

My First 5K Fun Run!

I never thought in a million years I would register and complete a 5km run. My husband’s bank organizes an Environment 5km. So I registered in order to support him. Every year my friends would nag me to register to any runs that was happening, but I never did. It is out of my comfort zone I must say. I don’t like running and never thought I’d ever do it. Once I registered for the event, I sent out an email to my staff at school to register if they were interested. Next thing I knew, most of my P.E. department had already registered. They were already training daily. Was I? NOPE! I kept telling everyone I am going to support my husband and that I didn’t care, nor minded being the last. As the day got closer and closer everyone was talking about it and I still couldn’t believe that I had registered.

A dear friend of mine also registered and we said that we would walk it as princesses and that we would not worry even if we were last.

There were about 10 of us from AIS – it was so good to see people there, some that I didn’t even know had registered. We took pictures, stretched and waited to begin. Right at 8am we started. I began my walk with my friend. We jogged, then walked, and stayed like that till the end. After the first lap I was ready to stop, everyone was passing us on their second round while we were still on our first. We laughed and enjoyed it. When the final round came I kept saying, “Let’s go, 1, 2, 3 run!” We ran for 20 seconds and then she stopped, I continued then walked. I was tired, exhausted and ready to collapse. Mid way on my final round I saw my husband who waited for me so that we could finish together. He said that we were going to

run to the finish line. When we hit the corner, we ran but mid way I stopped because I got cramps in my legs and stomach. He continued and then my friend caught up. As we got closer the cheering and clapping gave me that adrenaline rush and I sprinted the last 30 seconds. I wanted to finish and catch my breath! As I ran through the finish line, seeing everyone felt so good. Next thing I knew, my PE staff came running and hugged me!

I was so happy. It turns out that we weren’t the last and we finished the 5km in 53 minutes. I was shocked because in my mind I thought it would take about 1.5 hours. I was so excited when I saw my name and saw that I wasn’t the last to finish.

Would I do it again? I don’t know. Maybe for next year’s run I will train properly and try to beat 53 minutes and beat 204/211. Who knows?! But I loved the experience and loved that we were all there and the support I got from everyone. I didn’t think I’d complete it and never thought I’d do such a run!

Until my next run!

Behavior Support Plan (BSP)

One of the very first questions my principal asked me was, “What does ES need after being an AP for a year?” So many things started running through my head and I didn’t know where to begin or what to say. I listed four or five things and then she asked, “Which one is the most important one you think that needs immediate action?” I immediately responded with, “a behavior plan.”

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Frustration…

As many of you know, when I came back after the summer holidays from Lebanon, my trainer measured me. Even after an active summer, my measurements and weight had increased. I felt defeated and felt that I would never reach that figure I have always wanted in my head.

I began to not care if I trained or not. When I would train, I wasn’t focused and my trainer would begin to lecture me. I’d listen but wouldn’t say a word. One day something flipped after chatting with a friend of mine. After our conversation, I called my nutritionist and booked an appointment.

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A Decision

This year I followed through with a decision I had in mind last year. Admin decided, that we would take soccer away as a consequence since it was causing so many problems. Once I got the green light, I went ahead and sent out the email to all the duty teachers letting them know that there will be NO soccer for 1 week for grades 3 and 4.

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Change

As many of you know and read in my June blog posts, my old principal left and a new one came. When it comes to international schools and education there is always a turn over with either staff or admin/leadership. With that being said there are always changes when someone new enters admin.

My question is, why is it a fight or really hard for some to accept a simple change? Why are people hesitant to give chances and trust the process? I feel that the ones who always have barriers are the ones who do not want to improve professionally or be risk takers and try something that they are NOT used to.

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Lost weight or NOT lost?! That is the question…

Four days after I arrived from Lebanon, I got on the scale. Ondrej was coming and I knew that he would be asking me for my weight after doing my measurements. When I got on the scale I didn’t want to look down. When I did, I was shocked and couldn’t believe the number that I saw. I checked it about 3 times and each time it showed the same number. I felt like crying. How did I manage to gain 4 kilos 4!? I was so active this summer and worked out every other day! My clothes fit well and I didn’t goof off with food. WHAT IS GOING ON?!! There’s no way that it’s all muscle! If that’s the case then no more workouts for me! As my mind was racing with 101 things I heard the door open and I knew it was Ondrej.

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An Active Summer!

With not having PTC this summer, it meant that I actually had 2 months off without having to worry about anything. I took this summer to focus on my mental health and myself. After the rollercoaster year that I just experienced as my first year as an AP, I wanted to do nothing, see no one and just be a couch potato for the first week of my summer vacation. The school ended and we traveled to Lebanon. When I arrived, I was physically and mentally exhausted. I saw no one and spoke to no one for the first 7 days. I was in my pjs for 3 days straight and all I did was sleep, eat and play with my children. It felt so good since I didn’t have any days like that during the school year.

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