August 30 2021: 12:02pm - It is ironic that even though I am working from home, I still look forward to the weekend. The weekend went by really quickly and I am now finding myself sitting in front of my computer trying to figure out where did it all go? I tend to go through this most Mondays and I have spent most of this morning slowly getting back into the swing of things. I went for a walk. I cleaned up the house. I received my online shopping this morning (I have no idea where I am going to wear these clothes if we continue to stay in lockdown). I have done some marking which was good as I have received some work from a student who has not submitted anything this year. I had an online class with my Year 9 students which is always a good time, they are so eager and so keen to know what I want them to do. I think like the rest of Auckland, I am anticipating this afternoon's briefing to see how long we will be staying under Alert 4 lockdown - which based on the current case numbers, it looks like it will continue for another couple of weeks. I think overall I have a sense of what I want to achieve during the lockdown. I want to really find that good balance between home life and work life, I want to get active and make the most of the time I have now to get active (not that I am super active when I am at work). I want to be more present with my family. In the weekend we received news of the passing of my Uncle. He is my mother's eldest brother. He lives in Melbourne with his wife, their son and his wife and new-born son. It has been difficult to navigate through this as typically we would come together as a family, but with everything going on with COVID and lockdown, we are having to go through this together online. He was unwell for sometime but we did not understand how unwell he was. Going through a loss during a lockdown is challenging especially for myself and my family who would normally (in a 'normal' situation) would unite. But this 'new normal' limits everything. So the family zoom meetings and messenger threads are in full effect, I am grateful for technology though as it helps to really connect us.
August 31 2021: 1:41pm - It has just dawned on me that this is the last day of August! August has definitely been a month of ups and downs. Most notably with the recent lockdown, as fast and full on as August started it also came to a halt. Mid August I have truly found the time to regroup and refocus on what my priorities are in life. I have learnt to let go of the things that I cannot control and to shift my focus on what I am blessed with, who I am becoming and what grounds me. Letting go and letting GOD is what has come to mind when I reflect on August. Sometimes I think that GOD gives us the opportunity to explore and to experience life, GOD gives an element of control in our lives but ultimately He is in control, He understands and knows where He wants us to be. So I am learning to really trust Him and His plan, I have always to know the beginning, middle and end when it comes to life. You could say that it is the teacher in me, the English literature teacher in me - always wanting to know the plot, the author's purpose and how it all concludes. Life is different, we do not have the luxury to know the trajectory of our story. We can do all we can to control the narrative and I believe that there is an element of authority that do we have to ensure that we get the best we can in life but ultimately what I have learnt this month is that this control does not necessarily transfer to every area of my life. I am going to embrace this going into the rest of the year and not let anything that has not worked out, define where I am at in life. I think if anything I am more determined to LIVE life and to trust GOD in everything that I hope for.
September 1 2021: 2:45pm - First day of September, the first day of spring. I enter this month ready to experience life with more gratitude, excitement and hope. I have spent most of the day in meetings - meetings with my mentor and student leadership team for Totara House. I going to collaborate with staff and junior students for this week's assembly, I want to give my senior leaders a break this week from sharing and give the junior students a chance to share what they have been doing with their mentor teachers during mentoring sessions. Collaboration especially with assembly time is something that I am very new too. I am a control freak and I like to steer how my assembly goes. With online meets, especially with assemblies, I realize that it is important to share the space and to give the students something to enjoy and engage with. This is new for me but it is something that I want to try. My junior students are going to share a message on 'gratitude' - something that they have covered with their mentor teacher (Ms Paketama). Fun fact: I was Ms Paketama's tutor teacher from Year 10 to Year 13 (2009 - 2012). I am excited to collaborate with her and to see her take the space with her Year 9 students. They have been discussing the concept of 'practicing gratitude' and she shared some of the conversations that they have shared. I am encouraged and excited by this. Messaging is so important, especially during times like this. Everyone wants to know the truth but they also want to be and feel reassured. I use my assembly time to talk about what is going on but also look forward to what we can hope for. I like to highlight our successes and at the same time talk about what we can do better. I am hopeful that the first assembly for September will be one where the young people can share encouragement with each other. I started to do this in Term 2 and it has become a lovely part of our family time.
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| Throwback: 11KSt (2010) with Ms Paketama |
Throwback: 13KSt (2012) with Ms Paketama
September 2 2021: 2:17pm - Fatigue. The idea of working online from home is tiring me today. The wait, the anticipation and the silence is all too consuming at the moment. I love being at home, being in my space. I am comfortable. But I am feeling the need to get back into the classroom and to talk to my students face to face. I think if anything I am missing the interaction with my students and colleagues in person, technology is a God-send and it has helped to keep all of us connected. Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful for this but I think at this moment I am a little over 'online' anything and would much rather switch off and talk to people face to face. This is probably part in parcel with fatigue during lockdown, it is tiring and draining having to have constant communication online whilst working from home - which ironically should be a place of comfort and rest - but with the lockdown it has to act as a place of operation and business. Something that I have enjoyed in this lockdown is online shopping. The excitement around receiving a package from the courier has a whole different meaning now that we are in lockdown. Today I received a package from SLT (a care package from SLT to all middle leaders) and joy I have just from the thought of the gift has taken the edge off my fatigue. I am looking forward to Friday!!!
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| Care package from SLT - thank you! |
"I’m grateful for my parents because they’ve always kept us focus. My parents would say “you need to prepare yourself for the future”. They’ve also been the people who supplied everything we needed, kept us strong on our feet, and made life fun. I show appreciation by spending time with my parents and always expressing how much I love them through a words and hugs"
Loseti Manisela:
"I’m grateful for my family because no matter what the situation is, they always take great care of me and my siblings. My dad is one of my most trusted barbers in the family and I’m grateful for him. Another person, I am grateful for is Miss George. Thank you Miss George for getting me a get well basket when I was injured from rugby. I showed my appreciation towards my family by giving them a shoulder to cry on in times of need, and always making teas and coffee for them."
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