Just in case last week didn’t feel long enough, it merged into this week!
So, it’s Friday and I am delighted to say that we have made it. No, that’s not fair. Not only have we made it, but we have also succeeded. And with bells on. I realised that school has been open for face-to-face learning since June 2020, so that’s a bit of a result given many others have not been so fortunate.
So, today’s topic, uncertainty. It dawned on me last week on Friday and again on Monday that uncertainty is one of the most stressful feelings ever and often we don’t realise how stressed we are until some of the pressure goes away. I don’t often use the word ‘stress’ because I find it to be over-used, especially when most of the time what is being referred to is a feeling of pressure. It becomes stress when we don’t have the capacity to deal with it. I hadn’t realised quite how much stress I was feeling until we got through Friday. Not knowing what to expect I apparently found very stressful and, having got through it successfully, I felt complete relief. Then, over the weekend, I was again experiencing stress with making sure the live provision was successful from day 1. Approaching this the way I do, with as much detail as possible, my mind went into overdrive and I made an attempt at dotting as many ‘I’s and crossing as many ‘t’s as I could (and still inevitably missed some). Just getting through Monday was a massive relief.
I find empty schools rather uncomfortable places to be, especially at a time when children should be filling the corridors with their voices. It was, however, lovely to walk around and hear snippets of teachers and children interacting virtually and clearly having fun. Now, I know that this has been stressful for all involved and I am in no way saying that it was easy. Certainly not! Adding to the complication of the TEAMS teaching, receiving messages to say that peoples’ compounds were being locked down so they must return home swiftly definitely didn’t help. Then we get to today and none of us are allowed in to school because the local area is locked down! A different set of challenges even though we knew in advance.
We have made it this far and I know we will continue to make it. I have received a snapshot of some of the wonderful messages of support and thanks some of you have received from families. Hopefully they have given you the warm, fuzzy feelings you deserve to feel. Our families are grateful and are appreciative of the struggles you face lesson by lesson. I am sure becoming an octopus would help, as would an extra 4 or 5 computer screens to multi-task successfully. However, neither are possible, so you have done, as you always do, your best. And yes, your best was not only good enough but it was amazing. The last time we went into sudden closure, none of us knew what to expect and, supporting children and colleagues quite literally around the world made a tough job even tougher. I’m going to look on the bright side – with the exception of Lou, Sophie and Carli, we are all in the same city and that is so much more straightforward!
Speaking of uncertainty, I want to acknowledge that we all appreciate how stressful this time has been for Lou and Sophie and their family as well as Carli and her family. Lou and Sophie have been supporting us since August, teaching our off-site NAVSE children. Alfie was also part of ‘TEAM NAVSE’ until he finally made it in February and I bet these have been the longest weeks of his life so far!
It’s easy to get wrapped up in ourselves and our own wants and needs, but I have noticed that there is a real strength in our staff team. You have looked out for each other and supported each other through everything from words of encouragement to Starbucks deliveries (other beverage companies are available). Thank you from me both as a person and a leader to each and every one of you for the support you have given me and all of your colleagues.
So my final thought for today is to remember that you can do it, you are doing it and you will continue to do it.
Happy Friday everyone and enjoy the fresh air whenever you can. We seem to have lost the sunshine for a while, but I’m sure it will be back soon.
Music today is Pulp and Common People. Apt because it reminds me of a time in my life when I really did need people to have my back and I am grateful to say they did.
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