I know the week is not over yet, but it has been a very long and eventful week so far.  Lots of school-based events took place and I had one meeting after another each day.  In fact, today I was out of the building the entire day for a Principal’s meeting.

Being out of the building is a blessing and a challenge.  It is great to get away for a while and know that the school is not going to collapse without me.  I had worked for principals in the past who were the be all and end all for their school so when they were not in the building no one knew what to do or who to go to when something went wrong or questions needed to be answered.  You can feel the tension in the building those days as the teachers just hoped all would go smoothly and not need an administrative intervention.  I have a strong support structure I put in place before the school year began so it is clear what the staff would need to do in case of emergency or questions need to be answered.  I feel as if I empowered the staff to take ownership and feel comfortable with my absence – but not too comfortable!

Being away from the office is a challenge because that means a day of catch-up is always in the works for my return.  Phone calls, mail, discipline referrals to follow up on, normal personnel issues that were on hold from the day before all need to be addressed, plus there is usually a steady stream of teachers and parents first thing in the morning trying to bend my ear for a minute or two since I was not available the day before.  That is always the fun part!

This week I hosted the first of a monthly parent-principal get together called “Coffee Talk with the Principal.”  Very creative, I know…literal, too.  Scheduled for a half hour before school began, I made coffee and had water available for tea drinkers and some hot chocolate packets a few parents requested.  Fresh donuts and muffins completed the mini spread set up in the library.  The 30-minute event ended up lasting over an hour and a half as just about twenty parents gathered for this informal event.  There was no agenda and very free-flowing as parents took turns in a dialogue that was initiated by me simply by saying “How are things going so far?”

The parents were very positive and vocal about some school activities and shared concerns about the cost of uniforms and my strictness on the way students dress in school.  It was an enjoyable conversation to have since some parents were clearly advocating on behalf of the school policies that stress pride and appearance.  It was very refreshing to hear the parents talk strongly about their pleasure with the way the school year has progressed.  We will hold these meetings monthly and might expand to a larger space since I think more people will come out now that the word is spreading.

The purpose of this event from a planning perspective is to allow the parents a comfortable space to speak – and, mostly, accessibility to the school’s principal which is often buffered between several layers of secretarial and administrative staff.  This way parents have a direct ear to me other than at the school’s main doors as I greet the children each morning for arrival and assembly.  It was a good day.

Like most days this week, I began that day at school at 6:15am.  With no more than a few hours sleep each night this week, I have arrived at school extremely early and had a very relaxing work environment with no phones or doorbells ringing, no one tapping at my office door, and the halls as silent as can be.  The mornings have been productive but the afternoons a challenge as the lack of sleep tends to catch up with me right after dismissal.

It’s not a choice of mine to sleep such a short time.  I just can’t sleep sometimes.  Lots of things on my mind, and not many outlets other than this blog to share my thoughts – especially at 2am.  Who wants to talk with me at 2am!  Instead, I blog or journal as if I am writing a letter on paper or in a file on my computer.  My computer always listens to me regardless of the time! Most of these entries go unpublished and that is fine with me – it seems an alternative means of processing these things for me when it is not possible to do it any other way.  Good things and ideas often come from these late night ramblings, but the end result is also a tiring day.

Tomorrow is Friday and I am taking my teachers bowling after school.  I better get a full night’s sleep tonight to get my bowling skills sharpened.  It is not proper form to fall asleep while bowling…

TGIF…almost!