First Day Back With the children - Term 2

What a frenzied day it was! Anzac Day assembly, parent interviews, finance meetings, maintenance issues from the deluge of last night's rain ... a big day ...

But it flowed beautifully .... The tiredness of yesterday receded. I felt sense of true purpose and energised all through the day.

I felt very privilleged to be part of the Anzac Day service, organised by the gallant Kevin Gallagher ... as well as meet up with Ian Hendersen (Mosman Council RSL president) and hear old war stories.

The children were delightful. I was in awe over the way they listened with dignified silence through the ceremony.

And at the end of the day, the afternoon ended with a sense of inner peace and accomplishment. Our staff training session went well. More culture building ... alignment growing ... clear strategies for growth that incorporate cultural traditions and systems. A show and tell of some inspiring videos eg 4 Chord Song - which was very funny. Somehow I linked this great video to ways to  develop a strong and cohesive organisational foundation .... where each person can contribute individuality and group strength.



So it was nice to go home and feel good about the day. Far better than yesterday. It was a day to treasure and hold in gratitude. Being a principal and teaching rocks!

What about your first day back with the children, how was it for you? Share your journey below.

Reflecting on the first Year ...

Beauty Point Public School ...

Well, wonderful intentions to create a blog ... but I guess the new position took so much of my time mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally that all my good intentions got lost along the way as I struggled to survive my first year.
What a hard year it was. All of my hidden fears, anxieties, secret dreams, silent worries ... everything built up and almost overwhelmed me. The need to lead the administrative procedures, financial organisation, asset management, curriculum, staff dynamics, parent dynamics, student needs. Sometimes, I felt like I was an octopus with not enough tentacles to give.

Today, it was the first day of Term 2 (2011). My official second year as 'Principal'.

So what have I have learned about myself as a Principal and leader?

The role is hard ... enormously challenging ... one where survival is based on what you can sustain emotionally and administratively. It isn't about giving quality in short bursts ... but about seeing through everything with enough attention to detail without burning out. It is about balancing the work politics, community dynamics and departmental politics with increasing sophisitication and self-awareness.
I went into the year believing I needed to work 24 hours a day with a full mission to success. Almost burning myself out now, I realise it is about moving at a slower pace ... with self-compassion and trust ... To realise that not everybody comes on board a journey - instead, it is the process, not end result that is important.
Thinking about 7 Covey habits has taught me how to surrender to the moment ... to pace myself and to be true to the values I believe. It is about moral, values based leadership for the students, teachers and culture of the school.

This first year, I learned about my inner strength and resilience. I was tougher than I expected - more passionate and idealistic than previously realised ... I can look back on this first year and believe I 'earned my stripes'.

What I want to learn as I continue to grow?

As I head into my second year, I want to learn the joy and pleasure of leadership. I want to learn the creative fulfilment of supporting a team to align, share a common vision and achieve its goal. I want to learn how to put my time and energy into implementing change that inspires everyone within the school .... keeping the importance of rituals and traditions (don't throw the baby out with the bathwater), as well as balancing new policy and procedures.
I want to feel morally fulfilled in my role as Princial - personally and professionally.  I want to feel that I have 'substance and gravitas' in my position ... that I am growing wiser, compassionate and pragmatic in the role.
I want to learn to be more authentic and self-affirming - even during the tough, busy days - when there is no time to eat or stop for one moment. I want to learn how to get my work-life balance into place.
I also want to learn how to let go of the 'dramas' of staff dynamics - past and present - to allow people their own thoughts and realities without it triggering my own. This is the greatest lesson I could learn this year.
And finally, learning how to manage the financial resources in a school with more skill and support would be wonderful.

What about you? Do a KWL chart on your first memories in the role eg What you know and What you want to Learn as you continue to grow?

Post your comments below ...

Best wishes,
Shanti

The Beginning

Hi, my name is Shanti Clements and I'm a school principal. I've been in the position for one year ... and during this time have discovered the wonderful trials and tribulations of being a new school principal.
My reason for this blog? To record my journey as a school principal during my first three years. I'm hoping that this blog will provide inspiration for other principals new to the job ... and a place where experienced school principals might want to share their own leadership journeys and experience.
Come along for the ride ... it's sure to be an interesting year ...

How about your 'beginning'? Share the experiences that led to your new position eg interview, first school visits, first school director meetings ... What was your first day like?