May Is On Its Way

Over the past weeks, there have been significant changes in the local landscape. The pale green of budding trees mixed with the shades of white, yellow and purple from the blooming flowers are wonderful to behold. Last week as I was rushing across the open area between sections of the school, I had to stop and just enjoy the fragrance of the ornamental cherry blossoms in the court yard. Winter was not white or brown (when the snow doesn’t cover everything) like in the Canadian Prairies, rather a dull green. The grass was always green, though growing very slowly and though most deciduous trees were bare, some species kept their leaves over the months. Now some of the leaves are returning, it is becoming a brighter green. Last week the lawn outside my flat was mowed for the first time this year, producing that sweet smell of freshly cut grass. I’m pleasantly surprised despite having no snow, how noticeable the change of season is here.

Now that the business of the getting establishing a new head teacher has past and a round of interviews for new positions have been done, I was hoping we could get back to normal in the school. But now there has been a second round of interviews for lower deputy posts. When see a couple of staff talking after the students are gone, I want to join in the converation. But these days, more often than not, the they are talking about who is going for which job and who is competing against whom. I realise I am intruding in thier scheming, so I have avoided talking to some staff until this blows over. Just like the first round of interviews, there are people elated they got the jobs, and others who are terribly bitter than they did not get what they wanted. Hopefully it will all clear out in a couple of weeks and we can all get along again.

This past week was week 1 - my busy week where I teach 22 out of the possible 25 lessons. My work and preparation in the evenings have been more manageable than most previous week 1’s. My year 9’s have their SAT’s next week, so I have been getting them to go over past papers. I need to select and photocopy them, which is not too time consuming. My year 11’s have been revising for their finals (GCSE’s) since before Easter. For one group I had done a lot of prep work in obtaining resources on-line, and now I spend my prep time selecting and photocopying, and then marking their papers on the day they do it. This is the top set group that I was told back in September they would be my favourite group. It was supposed to be the highlight of my week 1. It has turned out that ever since I had returned from a professional development course they have been a nightmare to teach. Talkative and argumentative, constantly bickering with each other and members who simply refuse to follow instructions to do work or sit in their seats. I cannot speak more than 3 sentences without stopping and telling them to be quiet. This week two of them were flicking towels at each other and did not stop until I physically got in between the two of them. Also the top boy and his twin brother broke one of my blinds that costs +£100. There is only one more week 1 between now and the time they are gone for their study leave, thank goodness. I have been counting down the classes since February.

Anyway, my week has been manageable work wise. May first is a national holiday, the three day first long weekend that teachers will be able to enjoy this school year. The other holidays were strategically placed within the term holidays (i.e. Christmas, Boxing day, New Years and Easter Monday). I miss the long weekends, but I guess I can’t complain because I get week long half term breaks. This long weekend I will be spending Saturday preparing for next week and then head off to London for Sunday to pick up Winnipeg friends from the airport (Matt and A.J.). During my Eastern Europe trip I had been able to make a connection over the phone to a long time friend. I was really glad to hear a familiar voice. So I will be elated to see familiar faces of good friends.

As I am composing this blog, my counter is at around 760 hits since December. Thanks to friends and family for your interest in reading up what I've been up to!

Shalom
Kevin

P.S. I have added a new folder of pictures for your view pleasure in Trip - Eastern Europe. I have also added some more photos in the Out and about in Colchester. The link is on the right hand side of the blogsite. Enjoy!
Kevin