Tuesday, 20 August 2019

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.

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