BGM

BGM is happening over the Easter break. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet and talk with teachers from all around the province.  We will discuss issues which are  important to us as teachers and by extension to the education of our children.   As a candidate for Provincial Executive, I am especially looking forward to talking with other teachers and getting their input on things which matter to them. 

The Provincial Executive Council is the political arm of the NLTA.  It oversees the activities of the association and makes decisisons which affect us all.  I feel that the election of the Executive is the most important piece of business we have before us at BGM.  Having served one term on Executive, I learned quite a lot and am eager to once again serve the teachers of Newfoundland and Labrador. 

While the focus of the Executive is province-wide, having an Executive Member from  Labrador brings another perspective to discussions at the Executive table.  It also  provides teachers in the "Big Land" with the opportunity to serve on a standing committee, a rarity in our neck of the woods.    I hope the teacher-delegates at BGM find me deserving of their confidence and their vote. 

Desiderata

The Desiderata is sort of my philosphy for life.  I plan to extract something from it every few days and share with you a few of my  musings.

"Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence." 

This is so true.  How often do we spend our days bombarded with noise?  I think of the cacophony of the cafeteria, the hustle and bustle of the corridor, even the white noise from flourescent lights, computer towers or Smartboard  projectors as they whir and cycle. Except for a power outage, we rarely experience silence.  

One notable exception - Wednesday afternoons.  For fifteen wonderful, peaceful minutes everyone in the building engages in SSR  (Sustained silent reading). What a relief!  Over-stimulation has become such a part of our daily routine that we hardly even notice the noise as the days rush by! 

Go placidly amid the noise and haste... hmmmm... slow down, take a deep breath and look for that inner peace that keeps you centered no matter how much is going on around you. 

Holidays

It's Christmas until January 6th!  I'm traditional that way... love to see everyone all throughout the season!  The high point has to be Christmas dinner, graciously prepared by my sister, Krista and her extended family.  The best gift of all - spending time with people we love!  The excitement was doubled this year when two tiny ones showed up - Rebecca and Hayley.  They say Christmas is for kids and surely it is; but I have to say, adults have a pretty good time too. We started a few new traditions and let go of some old ones.  Pudding will henceforth be cooked on Tipp's Eve instead of Christmas Eve so we can be free to visit relatives and friends on the 24th. 

When I get back to school, my students will share their excitement as well.  My rule - tell me about something special that you did over the holidays... tobogganing, visiting Nana's house, making cookies with Auntie, going to church or to the cabin. I like to put the emphasis on how we spent our time not how we spent our money.  It may be intangile, but time is the most precious thing we have, the best gift we can give and the greatest treasure to receive. 

I'm pondering the New Year and thinking that 2013 will be an eventful one with lots of possibilities on the horizon.  Don't know if I will make any resolutions, but I know there will be opportunities for change and growth.  I will just try my best to be my best.  Yeah, that should work! 

Happy New Year to All!  Be kind to each other!

NLTA Run-Off on December 18th

The first stage of the  election for NLTA Vice-President has concluded with Jeanne Williams and Dean Ingram - the top two vote getters - to square off on December 18th. Remember to vote even though it is soooo close to Christmas!  It will be interesting to see the outcome. 

Thanks to everyone who voted for me last Tuesday. I  really appreciate your support! Special thanks go to my school who nominated me and my branch who gave me so much support.  I will continue to look at the issues and bring them forward at Joint Council and BGM.  I will also advocate for teachers whenever I can and work for change within the system. 

Two weeks til the holidays begin.  Time to change gears and get into the Christmas spirit.  I love Christmas! I got my tree up my lights on and one very beautiful school concert to see next week.  Can't wait to watch those children shine! 

What a week!

What a week!  Busy, busy, busy!  But in a good way... On Tuesday we had Parent-Teacher Interviews with all the preparation and anticipation involved in that.  Tuesday evening I was honored to receive the Bancroft Award for service to our local Branch of the NLTA.  Thanks to the Lake Melville Branch for nominating me and to President Lily B. Cole for coming in to Happy Valley-Goose Bay to present the award at the Lawrence O'Brien Center for the Arts.  I really like that we partnered with the Labrador Creative Arts Festival Committee to do this.  Thanks, to all.  It was a beautiful venue and a lovely reception!

On Wednesday evening Queen of Peace students did a great job of presenting "Beauty Can Be A Beast" on stage at the O'Brien Center.  Kudos to Sami-Jo, Pamela and Eugene who volunteered their time to work with the huge group of  students involved in the play.  I counted 39 students on stage when the animateur, Adam Brake, commented on their performance.  Excellent job!  Students from Rigolet also performed that night.  Their teacher/coach Sarah was very proud of her troupe as well.  Their play was hilarious and kept the audience in stitches the whole time.  Just goes to show that teachers everywhere give  generously  of their time to help our children shine. 
(There are twelve student performances which continue until Tuesday.)

On Thursday and Friday, I was lucky enough to have some talented artists visit a few of my classes and to see a  performance by Ian Foster for the whole school in the afternoon.  Mikaela Dyke, an actor from St. John's spoke to the children about creating a script.  The kids were extra enthusiastic with so many ideas!  On Thursday, some Grade 5 students workshopped with  artist, Tracy Leal, and learned how to make books from random materials they can find around their house.  With limited time, they didn't quite finish the project in school; but happily, returned today to show me their finished books or their progress so far.  They were obviously inspired.  That is the magic ingredient in this festival - inspiration!  Our children learn so much from the visiting artists and discover that they can do wondrous things too.

I can't wait for next week.... hair and make-up with Ashley Gesner, an artist who worked on the set of the "Twilight"  and a round of jigs and reels with Newfoundland accordion player, Aaron Collis who plays with the Dardanelles.  Should be good!

Creative Arts Festival

The 37th Labrador Creative Arts Festival begins this week.  This festival showcases talent by students from all over Labrador with performances for a full week at the Lawrence O'Brien Center for the Arts.  This is a fantastic opportunity for children to write and perform original work. Our youth are awesome! 

The festival also invites artists from all all over and from all disciplines to come to the schools and workshop with students on a myriad of creative pursuits - anything from  dancing, acting, book-making to accordion playing, song writing, painting, sketching, story-telling.... just to name a few.  I look forward to this every year.  It is one of the most educational and fulfulling activities available to our students! 

The Labrador School Board deserves a lot of credit for its sponsorship of this wonderful event.  It also succeeds because the whole community comes together to contribute.  We have student abassadors, people who offer their homes to billet students and artists alike, volunteers who provide shuttle service to various venues, and of course teachers who have volunteered hours and hours of their time to prepare students for their performances.

Congratulations to  Fiona Andersen and her committee and to all those involved!  Have a wonderful week!

Are We There Yet?

© Sandra Quigley

Give all your teachers freedom to teach

And no worthwhile goal will fall beyond reach

Teachers have what children need

To grow and to flourish, to learn and to lead

Professionals all, in practice and name

But we don’t operate exactly the same

There must be room for us to express

The tone and the tenor, the vault and the press

Force put, our teachers can do the lock-step

But it’s about respect…    Are we there yet?

Common assessment is common indeed

Small room for differing talents or needs

Calendar outlines can serve as a guide                           

But usually serve to shorten our stride

As for resources, its people we need

To guide and to teach, to nurture and lead

To plan and prepare, we must have the time

To serve all our students, make each of them shine

We’ve asked and been answered, but the formula’s set

It’s about respect…  Are we there yet?

So let’s just re-think what the data has done

It casts a long shadow when it blocks out the sun

Renew our resources with our hands and our hearts

Re-think what’s been done and make a new start

We give all we can, but we don’t always get

The respect that we ask for…. Are we there yet?