April 2023

 Interesting, isn't it (and scary) - just how quickly things can change, and you find yourself thinking 'wow, I really didn't see THAT coming'.

Last day of Term and I get called to the Principals office, with the usual cackles from students and 'You're in trouble, Miss Shelagh'.  (Turns out they may have been right...)

Our new Principal informs me he wants me working from the Front Office area, as back up for Reception and the SAMS operator, plus doing the newsletter & Good News Stories as well as anything else that needs doing. He was VERY clear that I wasn't losing my job, however. Out of all those - Reception is the one I definitely don't want to be doing. 

When asked who was going to do my jobs in the Library area, his comment was 'someone else'.  Helpful not at all, and on my querying him, he agreed he didn't see the Library as any sort of priority.  Harsh but probably fair, given the climate in the school, let alone in general society.  

I pointed out all the other things I did, from that area - but no dice.  'Pack up and clear out your personal possessions - he would hate to accidentally throw out something that belonged to me'. Oh - and there were other options, canteen, classroom support - the job at the Public Library, if I preferred!!  

Right up until that moment, I had been taking everything he said at face value - I know how short staffed we are, and are going to be. Aside from Reception duties, everything else he planned for me to do, could still be done from the Library area - while I still continued to manage the laptop bookings/iPads/AV equipment & loans, babysitting the study room area for the Distance Ed students, proof reading assignments and locating requested information for Senior students & teachers, management of the TV4ED system...  

But .. the comment about the job at the Public Library?  Where did that come from, if he was genuine about his reasons for moving me?? And where does that actually leave me?  

So - I'm currently looking into taking my Study Leave - which would mean they can pay for me NOT to go to school for about 12 months, then there's 6 months Long Service Leave - by then, retirement, I guess.  But after 26 years - it stings!  And even more so as I don't know why this is his plan - or what it is that I have/haven't done. I talked about retiring last year - when everything was so volatile and there were so many issues with staff and leadership, so maybe it's come back to bite me?  Or maybe the Universe is saying 'here, this way'?  

If I do go down the study leave path - I doubt that anyone is going to be thrilled at picking up all the extra jobs I currently do - but I guess he has a plan?  At least, I hope so! 

Anyway - we lost 2 of our new teachers at the end of the term, and the other is hanging on by a thread.  I think our Special Ed teacher is finding Tennant a hard place to be as well.  We have an assistant Principal coming in week 5, with a second one in week 8.  It looks like a possibility that we will have 2 or 3 new teachers to start the term off - and maybe they'll last.  The kids are more feral than usual - but they've had so many staff changes, that they are just not in the mood to deal with it, any more.  (Maybe it really is time to bail??) 

March 2023

Well - at least I've managed a post by the next month!!  

We hit the deck running once school started back - short staffed, still no Asst. Principal, brand new Principal and have basically spent the last 6 weeks or so just trying to keep ahead - at least by a couple of millimeters, anyway! Another of our teachers who had been here almost 2 years, threw her hands in the air and walked out about a week ago!  The 3 new teachers who started in the last couple of weeks are starting to have a 'deer in headlights' look about them plus one of our teachers who was here end of last term is driving me crazy!!  How can anyone teach for almost 30 years (according to him, anyway) and not have any sort of commonsense or be able to think things through?  He apparently needs strict routines or he can't cope - I suggested last week Tennant Creek High School wasn't for him!!  Politely, of course - trying to make it look like I really cared!! 

Guides kicked off at the start of February - big influx of new girls and I still have at least 6 on the waiting list!  It's good, I think?   

We have a Guide Camp planned for the end of April - however, I realised the other day that I haven't put the paperwork in yet and that should have been done at least 6 weeks beforehand. I guess I'm going to have change dates? 

I finished the Terry Pratchett book 'Last Continent'.  I think it would have to be the best he wrote!  The visual picture of Drop Bears landing on the pointy wizard hats is pure GOLD!  And as for his version of how evolution happens, let alone how sex was invented ... let's just say, you HAVE to read it! 

Currently, I am reading an e-book series by Katherine Genet - the 'Wilde Grove' series.   I had bought the first one quite a while ago and hadn't read it.  I started it a few days ago, and was immediately sucked in - and have now bought the rest of the series.  She is an amazing writer.  

Very little craft has been happening - there just hasn't been the time!  I have managed coffee with the craft ladies and lunch at the Memo to celebrate Debra's birthday, but no actual playing with paper and so on.  I set the ladies a 'Pinterest Challenge' which I didn't even complete, even though most of the group did.  Not what I would call a good look at all - although the ladies were understanding about it. 😕

So what plans do I have?  We have 2 weeks left of school after this week, and then a 1 week break covering Easter as well.  This could mean more time at the pool in the early mornings, not having to be at work by 7.30 should mean I can take the pooch for a run, paperwork catch up, prep for the Tennant Creek Show - then maybe I can get to some craft stuff?  

Let's see how this all goes... 

Update for 'everything'

Well, here we are at the end of the first week in March and already we are halfway through the term!  And it has been a rough start - almost every week fairly vicious fights between students, girls mainly.  Our new teachers are not believing us anymore when we say that this ISN'T our normal!  

The Region camp for Tennant Creek in April has been cancelled .. or postponed is maybe a better way of putting it.  We are all good as we don't have to pay for travel (for once!) and we are pretty financial, thanks to an amazing community that supports us incredibly well ... but the other centres are not so lucky and have been unable to do much fundraising due to Covid - so everything is on hold till next year now.  And as we haven't been able to re-book at Juno for next year .. I'm not sure whether we will still be be able to use that venue.  That will be a whole new can of worms to deal with.  

I have been trying since the middle of February to get our craft ladies together for a meeting but it seems we are all busy.  Everyone probably NEEDS some crafting downtime, but life keeps getting in the way!    😕

However, we have officially renamed our group to 'The Desert Stampers', and are now a brand, with T-shirts with a thorny devil logo.  Crazy, I know, but hey!  

We are having a coffee get together tomorrow,  just 'cause, and to collect our shirts.  I'll post a picture once I have them.

I need to start posting more photos - but as I'm usually at work when doing this, it doesn't often happen. 

Crafting Plans

I am still not organised enough at the moment to be keeping this updated regularly.  Between school and Girl Guides, life is moving at an amazing pace. March already!!  Seriously, I am juggling way too much stuff and nothing is working very well.

I had plans for posts about cards and other paper related crafts but not there yet.

However, I am planning a weekend of cardmaking and other paper pleasures, so who knows?  Let's hope the photography skills don't let me down again.