Catching 2020

What a year in the classroom it has been all the joy and challenges it brings with it. This year as ever has been huge in terms of learning for me. Reinforcing the mantra of putting relationships first that we all know. Sometimes looking back at what has happened my life seems like a bizarre satire of itself.

Today we say goodbye to our year 13’s there was also a pleasant hello with a past student turning up to say goodbye as well. Thinking back to the lad who walked out of Dumfries Academy scraping into Leeds University (on my undoubted charm at interview ;-) I do not know if I could even explain where you would be on the cusp of 2020. The speech which would undoubtedly fall on my nonchalant 18-year-old ears would be something like this. “Yes so in 2019 you would be in your 5th year working at the oldest girls school in the Southern hemisphere.” “Yer what.” You will be the teacher in charge of sport and hand out prizes at Blues assemblies.” “A what.” “You will have still been enjoying success as a girls rugby coach.” “Good.” “And you will of just taken the girl’s dodge-ball team to their first national tournament.” “Sorry, are you on something”. I could go on but may trigger an existential crisis for the young Trick.

So successes and failures, what would my report card look like this year? Personally really proud of my efforts on the new e-bike it has been so good, also netball has been more constant which is huge for my physical emotional and mental well being. I have become a bit manic with my online crowd playing Blood Bowl which has become quite a fun pursuit but one that takes more time than simply digesting media. Not only do you arrange games you develop characters meta analyse your movements and risk, then have endless banter with the folks from New Zealand and Australia. The tamariki grow older and bolder and I look forward to quality time over the holidays with them.

Professionally, possibly the fact that I am part-time has made this year feel much more manageable (Although as part-time teachers know part-time in this game is a myth). One of the highlight in the year was leading the union branch as chair through industrial action. People who know me now know that I am a pedant for paperwork and policy and dispatching the information to the branch and ensuring we were well represented and clear on the discussion was and is a source of great pride. In 2020 I have vacated the Chair to instead be the secretary as I need more head space for other pursuits. If you are not involved in your union, please get involved, if you don’t have a union make one (Sounds easy when I am writing it here).

In the staff room, on our last day, we were all asked to share our highlight of the year. I remember saying to one of my students my highlight reel for the week was our Friday high five as it was always a great way to end a week. On Fridays I would also have my Vocational Pathways girls last period, this turned into a cooperative gaming day or a chance to visit a workplace. The week before I went on camp, also as ever a highlight of the year, I took my year 10 and 9 girls into primary school classes to read stories they have written about moral up standers. Within this was a raft of highlights. A Syrian student talked about Human Rights lawyer Mazen Darwish, a team of year 9 fully illustrated what’s under the couch a story about Casper ten Boom, one student crafted a hand made book about BTS and their leader RM speaking at the UN, a team of Pasifika students researched the Polynesian Panthers amongst other stories. Seeing all the students read to the kids and interact with them was just fantastic. Even more fantastic was the variety of stories the students had researched. It really highlighted the genuine audience theme again that runs through Project-based learning.

Looking at the year like this is a really helpful exercise all those key moment the building of classroom culture and the awesome successes and spectacular failures. Now I can set my sights on some relaxation and winding down next year has me working full time which is great and continuing to expand my portfolio with Business studies and Tourism. I have a few exciting plans for next year and look forward to managing what is going to be an exciting 2020.

Well I truly hope you enjoy all the festivities and whānau, as ever will leave the politics out of this (as I will end up weeping again).

Lots of exciting things on the horizon next year!!