Unsung Heroes
I usually come into work shortly after 7am and on my way up the path will see our groundsman, well into the Sisyphus-like task of collecting fallen leaves. On entering the building, the security guard gives me a warm welcome, no matter how cold it is outside and I head upstairs to a clean and tidy corridor. Opening emails, I approve purchase orders of educational resources for our business office to source and start to respond to requests from various members of our community. Many of those requests such as desks for exams, turning on water fountains etc will have to be passed on and dealt with by our custodians. Whilst in my office our secretary will stop by to check in on any unexpected teacher absences we have to cover. I will then head out with Sarah Cusworth to one of the Covid-form check points. There, whilst overexuberantly saying good morning to sleepy teenagers, I use an auto-updating Google Sheet created by our tech department to monitor form completion until the last of the bus rolls in just ahead of 8.15am under the watchful eye of our transport coordinator. Our aquatics manager will have walked past at 8.10am from the additional pick-ups he has been making in the school minibus for students impacted by a long term road closure. On my way back into the building I will say hello to our chef who is preparing lunches and any additional food requests for the day, and will stop for a hot drink from our temporary baristas from the cafeteria who have been raising staff spirits by serving fresh coffee and snacks each morning.....and then classes begin.
A popular activity undertaken during YESvember was showing appreciation and gratitude and on Thanksgiving colleagues wrote anonymous notes to one another recognising the small things everyone was doing. It was pleasing to see several slips from teachers end up in support staff pigeon holes. Many of our support staff have had their roles significantly redefined since March 2020 but they have worked diligently and with a positive attitude to help our community through a difficult period. These important people often don't get the recognition they deserve and I hope our students appreciate all these individuals do for them.
Semester exams for High School start on Tuesday 8th and our facilities manager has been working hard setting up InVentry pass cards for the students. During the exam week, HS students will need to sign in and out of the building using this system as there won't be the regular morning advisory for registration. Students in Grades 10-12 will be able to leave when they don't have an examination or scheduled meeting. This study leave is also possible for Grade 9s whose parents have completed the permission slip in Power School. We are hoping to use the InVentry system for all students later in the school year so that we have more accurate and timely records of who is on campus. Please make sure your child keeps their card safe and brings it each day. The cards can be used as identification elsewhere but students will need to pay for replacements.
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