Apple Blossoms and new principals

As I was on my way to school this morning, I was admiring all the trees in blossom. I especially like the trees with the bright pink blossoms - I think they’re an apple tree but I’m not really sure. Anyway, I had a team meeting and really should have been hurrying to get there but I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take a few moments to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the trees. Now, a few years ago, I wouldn’t have noticed them at all. I’d have been focused on getting to the meeting, hurrying along my way. So what changed? Well, how I look at my role and how I view my job are what has changed. So, instead of focusing on just one aspect of the job, I now try to see things in relation to the whole picture.
Well, first off, when we finally all were at the meeting, I shared my experience of how beautiful the blossoms looked and how I wished that they would be around longer. This led to a conversation about the planting we are doing at the school, what some of the grade 1, 2, & 3 classes are doing and growing and what ideas some of the teachers have for further beautification projects. We also talked about how we might build our own greenhouse and have the students grow things. On this upbeat note, we began our team meeting about students who, for some reason, are not doing well and what we might do to help. We talked about adaptations and what might be the best way to assist each student. It was much easier to be upbeat and positive after having discussed the topic of plants and growing. The teachers were in the frame of mind of growing and bettering things and this carried over to the discussion about students.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve read a post or two about principals’ beginning their first jobs and things to keep in mind. I suppose that, after 5 years as an administrator, I could give a few of my own. However, the rules of the job are pretty laid out in some document somewhere. The greatest thing to remember is that this job is, number one, about people. It’s about those students that come into the building each day and their well being and learning. We need to take care of both or the learning won’t happen.

So, like the blossoms on those trees, these students won’t be with us for very long. We have to enjoy them while they are here, encourage them to grow and blossom so that, after they leave, they can bear fruit. So, I kind of see myself as the head gardener with a great group of specialists working in my garden. Not all of them know everything about gardening but, together, they have the knowledge to help cultivate a great orchard of trees. However, they won’t get to see the fruit of their labour because as soon as the trees get ready to bear fruit, they’ll have another group with which to work.

My advice to all those people starting is to be sure to spend time admiring those blossoms. Take time to enjoy them and watch them for their days are short but without them, no tree bears fruit. And take time to walk around, to see the beauty that surrounds you and use that in your discussion with the staff. Let them know that there is more to you than just being an administrator. You see beauty and life around you and want to bring that into the school.

Just outside my window the birds are singing and there is a soft breeze coming in the window. The sun is shining and it is a beautiful day. Think I’ll go for a stroll to enjoy the day and see how the trees in the orchard are doing today.