St. Elizabeth CHS, RAP Program, part 5

Every School Principal was different and did have goals and areas of interest that they wanted to influence and accomplish.  It was challenging for me in so many ways.  Some School Principals of Saint Elizabeth CHS required all department heads to do a lot of research and to complete volumes of paperwork.  This required individual department meetings to discuss ideas and offer each teacher member an opportunity to have input.  I was discouraged that most of the department members did not wish to gather to discuss educational features that they felt were unnecessary, and actually a waste of their time.  I would complete the documents myself, and submit to the school Principal by the required deadlines.  These activities, I thought, were beneficial to me.  It encouraged thinking and making connections.  I was encouraged also about the research, the reflection and the planning.  You see, these items became very important to budget meetings with the Principal.  I would attempt to make this point with department members, but it did not work.  Budget was (is) very important.  The School Board would expect each school to follow the new initiatives and programs that were policy agreed upon by the school board, which came as directives from the Ministry of Education.  I wonder if most teachers fully understand and appreciate how complex the education system is and how it works and is set-up.
The RAP Program had its expectations and was very complex to run on a daily basis.  But, I was reminded often that the RAP program was still a part of the St. Elizabeth CHS school community.  In addition to our daily teaching in the classroom, there were many expectations placed on the RAP program.  There were many organizations involved with this big machine, including parent committees, school administration, the community church, the school board upper administration, the teaching staff of the school, the students, the partners associated with our school, and more.  Everyone played an important role in keeping the school and specific programs, like the RAP Program, sustained and operational.  For some years, it was consistent and flowing.  But every school year introduced new ideas, new requirements, new challenges and of course, many surprises.  Sometimes, it was very challenging to work with so many people who had different ideas and personalities.
Bye for now . . . .

One week away from a new & fresh school-year-start

I was reminded again today that the new school year begins next Tuesday - one week from today!  I have completed a full year away from teaching.  I do keep in touch with some former colleagues, and if this were a typical year, I would be busy this week preparing for a smooth start to a new year.  I certainly would be visiting the school, getting the classroom ready, speaking to colleagues and other school staff members, attending meetings, and preparing paperwork required:  creating documents on computer, and photocopying at school.  So much planning is essential when teaching in the arts.  There are so many events to prepare to present, each and every school month of the year;  never any downtime.  Today, instead of preparing for school, I was busy updating the Music Alive Website.  I am fortunate and grateful to have the opportunity to move from full time teaching to the program manager position of the Music Alive Festival.  I am somewhat familiar that this particular school year start may be very different due to the political climate of the provincial government.  I know that some former colleagues will not be returning to St. Elizabeth CHS;  some may be returning, but will be moved to other departments; something these teachers will be challenged to work in because it’s an area of teaching that is outside their comfort and zone of expertise.  Let’s hope for the best.  One thing that I do notice is that I am sitting more.  My day when I was teaching included long stretches of being on my feet, sometimes for many hours of the day.
Bye for now . . .

Saint Elizabeth CHS, RAP Program, Part 4

I remember attending meetings with members of the school Administration.  Most of the topics for these meetings were about members of the Arts Department.  There were many challenges to deal with.  On many occasions, I do recall the Vice-Principal saying that I was not to get involved with this particular situation;  that the Administration team would deal with it.  I was shielded, or protected  for reasons that I have no understanding.  Perhaps I could help?  I do not know.  There were some major conflicts within the department that were certainly impacting the the whole RAP program in negative ways.  It was a complex program to maintain and simultaneously move forward in creative, fiscally responsible ways.  There were many layers to the program.  Partnerships, curriculum delivery, promotion, budgets, supplies, artistic presentations, meetings, developing new ideas, connecting with Universities, inviting guest artists, in-school projects, excursions, trips, after school rehearsals, paper-work completion, philosophy, communication, parent evenings, and so much more.
As I look back, the “team” of people involved and who had to participate with the early successful growing years of this program were many:  School Administration, Arts Department members, Student Services, Secretarial Staff, Custodial Staff, and so many other faculty members had to support and direct this very large, expansive machine, on a daily basis.  When the “team” started to change, that’s when I think the RAP program began to lose, and started to spiral down-hill (in my opinion).  We all sensed it, but were too tired and too busy to do anything about it.  We were all being stretched beyond realistic boundaries.  Individually, we began to shut down.
I believe that one member of this “A-Team” was Anne Carey.  She was the driving force behind everything we did;  she was the glue that kept us together;  she inspired not only students, but teachers as well.  She was actively involved in everything I mentioned above.  She responded when needed, with care and energy;  she supported and when needed, she pushed the envelope and spoke with clarity to what needed to be done.  She had the “pulse” of the school community, observed and knew about everything; was able to evaluate each episode, and move all of us in the right direction. She was the link between Administration, Arts Team, Students, Parent Community, and more.  Her retirement marked the beginning of a declining turn for the RAP program.  After her departure, there were gaps in so many places.  As the years continued, we witnessed other members of the A-Team retire.  It’s not that new people did not infuse the school with new fresh ideas and energy; no, it’s that the old guard was leaving the school and the community was changing.  I feel that the RAP program had to change with the new ways of thinking, and changes in technology, and more.  If you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting.  We kept doing the same.  We needed to change, to adapt, to recognize that students are changing, communities are changing, and we need to find creative new ways to embrace the changes.  As remaining founding members of this RAP program, we individually chose to go our separate ways.  Divided we were.