Sharing Our Stories

     

It is "Back to School" Eve. After over 30 years in education, the feelings of excitement and apprehension are pretty familiar. It's an incredible responsibility to help support a student's journey to success. And an amazing privilege. So it is no wonder that so many of us experience this mix of emotions in the days that lead up to the start of a school year.

But this year is also a bit different for me. For the first time, I am embarking on this journey in the role of Principal. So perhaps a wee bit heavier on the apprehensive side than most years...

Although I am in a different role, my core beliefs remain the same. Relationships are foundational. Trust and transparency through the sharing of our stories is essential. 

The quote by Richard Wagamese has guided my own personal journey. It is a reminder to me to take the time to learn the stories of others. If we can ensure that our students, families and staff feel connected, feel like they belong, then learning and growth will happen. 

Connections before content. 

I know there is an almost overwhelming sense of urgency as we start the school year. So much to accomplish. So many "to do" lists. I am feeling this even more now than in previous years. But  I am reminding myself to slow down, to take the time to listen. 

And I have no doubt that together, "we will change the world, one story at a time."

Gratitude for the Positives

 My last blog post was in June 2021. That is an indication of the kind of year it has been. 

Dare I say, unprecedented?

With the easing of COVID restrictions in BC, and the removal of masks on the horizon, I am finally allowing myself to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Because it's been pretty darn dark at times.

I read somewhere that the human brain likes to focus on the negative. It's our "comfy place". However with conscious effort, we can shift to a focus on the positives. This a key component of resilience.

As George Couros says, "We need to make the positive so loud that the negative becomes almost impossible to hear." I have this on a poster on the wall of my office. 

To be honest, I haven't always done a great job of this over the past two years. I haven't always been my "best self" at work, or at home. 

But fortunately, I have not gone through this journey alone. 

At home, I have a loving family who inspires and supports me, especially in those moments when I have lost faith in myself. 

At work, I have an incredible staff who have come up with creative, innovative and flexible ways to support students' academic, social and emotional growth. It has reinforced what I have always known to be true: every single individual in a school community plays a role in supporting a student's success.

So I am taking this moment to pause amidst the craziness to say a heartfelt thank you.

Thank you to our office staff who are unfailingly kind, patient and professional to every single person who walks through the doors of our school - students and adults alike. 

Thank you to our support staff who work tirelessly with students, adapting to individual needs, strengths, challenges and stories. 

Thank you to our teaching staff who have moved mountains to connect with students and families through the ever changing Covid landscape. They have adapted, pivoted, flexed and adjusted...all this with incredible empathy and compassion. 

Thank you to our custodial staff who go to great lengths to ensure that our buildings are safe and welcoming for students and staff.

Thank you to my Admin partners who share the load, share the laughs, and occasionally share some colourful language behind closed doors. 

Thank you to our district staff who do their best to understand and support our individual school contexts and needs. 

Thank you to our families who trust us with their most precious possession, their children.

And finally, thank you to our students who almost always have patiently and respectfully complied with all of our endless protocols and procedures to ensure that we have been able to keep schools open and safe. With minimal grumbling and eye rolls.

YOU make it all worthwhile.