Week 12 Term 2 - It's done

Finally. 

This term has been unique to say the least. The last day of term is always a blur - as a teacher and I am pretty sure for our students it is the same, but you wait and work for this day and when it finally arrives it can become a mixture of exhaustion, excitement and relief. 

Review

It has been a long term (12 weeks in total) with the first five weeks of term 2 working online with the students. Online learning, online meetings, online hangouts with students - it was 5 weeks of venturing out into the digital world, recreating the face of our online platforms and walking through a different space with the students. As mentioned in my earlier posts, this time working from home and online was great because it allowed me to focus on my subject area. I was able to research different texts to use for my Level 2 students, revamp my Google sites and use my Google calendar properly. The English Department were able to regroup and refocus together - online (ironically). We were able to review what we had done in Term 1 and collectively work together on what we needed to do for Term 2. The beginning of Term 2, although different and challenging was also a refreshing for me. I enjoyed time with my family, working with the English Department and redesigning my online learning. 

The last seven weeks has been interesting. Returning school was not going to be the typical and familiar return as there were obvious restrictions and guidelines that we had to met in response to COVID 19. The return to school was marked by a hygiene routine (hand sanitizer before and after the lesson, surface sanitizer and a seating plan for each class). Students and staff were happy to be back. As the term progressed things seemed to fall back into place and the normal routine of pre-COVID slowly came back into play. 

Work Ethic 

the principle that hard work is intrinsically virtuous or worthy of reward

One of the blessings to come out of this term was regaining my focus with my core job, teaching. My work ethic over the last few years has been largely driven by my pastoral role as Dean. My focus and priority (back then) was trying to meet the demands that came with pastoral care. One of the biggest blessings from Term 2 was having the time to reconnect with my subject area and online learning. My work ethic now is now focused on both my core job as an English teacher and in my pastoral role as Year 11 Dean. I have never really invested equal time and effort in both roles, one has always trumped the other. 

I think overall the principle of hard work and the reward that comes from this has resonated with me. I think for me the reward is that I am managing my time and trying to be smart with it. I am understanding that time is more than precious, it is vital and how you use it is important. 

The break has been a blessing. I have enjoyed the down time and having a break from work. My Aunt has been in hospital since the beginning of the holidays and I have spent most of my break with her and my family. It is times like this that I really do understand and appreciate the importance of family. It does not matter how hard I work or what I achieve professionally, family and the connections that I am blessed with is something that requires the same if not more attention and effort.