Inset Day Tomorrow
So, my body knows I should be gearing up for the start of term, and I did a solid eight hours of it last night, while I slept! Even when I woke up for a wee I still went back to work.
The level of detail was classic, I spent most of the day reorganising the library, something I never do, but of course in the library were different things that needed doing – staff files and records, pupil registration, last minute admissions changes, CTF files to upload etc. …and then I had to go to the shop to get milk (of course). On the way I met two children who were joining the school, they were clearly on the vulnerable list – an 8 year old looking after a six year old, playing outside all day because dad was at work and I already knew there was no mum.
I played with them and got to know them a little, showed them some fun things to do in the park and bought them some hot food because they were coming to our school and I told them ‘it was my job’ to look after all the children. They had pasties and juice 🙂 (…and of course when I got back it went straight on to Cpoms).
Then back to some more detailed reorganising and a gentleman came to see me with a list of registration numbers because loads of staff had parked in their car park – he was nice but he wanted it sorted straight away. I told him I’d look into it but he’d have to be patient as there were new staff and I might need to take it to the inset day on Monday…
He accepted that and then I sat down to plan the term until Christmas and finally it hit me…I didn’t work here anymore!
Why was I in school? Why was I working? I made my way back to the office to say goodbye…I had said so many goodbyes in the last few weeks of being there, but I guess not in my subconscious, which, slightly bewilderingly, new tomorrow was the start of term.
I was quite philosophical about leaving – we all leave in the end, but I‘ve woken up feeling sad and a little anxious, wondering if I passed on enough info to everyone who needed it, and missing the community that our school is…
I’m not sure my dream needs much analysis really…it seems to be written in six foot high letters ‘GOODBYE…and I hope I did enough’
So, from here in Tbilisi, I am sending every school, including all the ones with dodgy concrete, a safe and smooth start to the new school year, but especially to our school – you are a fantastic team and you’ve got this!
xXx
That’s funny -I had a dream about you!! We were in the meeting room and I was asking you lots of ‘Where is…?’ and ‘Can you just…..please’ and ‘Have you got…?’ and you were helping me and then I said ‘Oh but you’re not really here are you? ‘ and you said ‘No.’
I have everything crossed for your journey into Russia. Xxxxx
Just tears xxx
Dearest Shannon….. please know, you did (more than) enough. Goodbyes are the hardest but a part of you will always be in that school. You haven’t gone, not really. you are embedded in the fabric of the place. Every speadsheet/system/kind gesture has memories of you all over it. But now is your time to rest, and focus on your new adventure. Thank you for bringing us along for the ride with these fantastic blogs. They are the best tonic for the times when I am missing you most. Love you xxxxxx
More tears xxx
I have been know to dream about SAF …7 years on! It was a very important moment in time, a brave new gentler world in state education which you helped create and nurture long after I went walk about…. And now your own journey beyond those walls fills me with love for you three x Clare
After decades of enjoying Seize the Day and being inspired by your warmth and courage, trying to embody and bring some of this spark to my classroom, I’m so pleased to learn you too have been working in education -I had no idea! Such lucky children and co-workers 🙂
Your blog popped up on my FB feed this morning and it’s so lovely. 20 years ago, I mailed nearly 100 postcards and parcels to my school when I made a similar journey on a year’s sabbatical, albeit with some flying.
Go well and good luck with the next leg X