Still trying to get caught up

Where to start?   

The incredible early childhood program I have been part of developing?  2020-2021 school year employment plans?  Post October-break activities?  Christmas in Vancouver?  Tet break in Myanmar? The corona virus battle going on in Ho Chi Minh City?  Post cataract surgery?  Hmm.  Maybe by writing all that, it commits me to at least writing about all those topics while I’m on our early Spring break (due to corona virus). 

Lat year, on 6 May, my school principal met with the Pre-K team and asked how we felt about adding 3-year old students to our classrooms for the school year 2019-2020.  As early childhood educators, it was a flurry of charts, diagrams, spreadsheets, and pro and con lists.  On 9 May, we met with the principal to talk about our thoughts and ideas.  He started the meeting by giving us a mini-lecture on the grief process.  Yes, grieving the loss of what we thought was going to be the next school year.

It was, however, an amazing process as we designed what I now know is a continuous provision program.  Walls were taken out of the classrooms so that children can circulate, at will, through all areas.  Each area is set up around a particular theme with a specific name – the Living Room, the Studio, the Laboratory, the Neighborhood, the Bistro and creative landscaping has brought us our own Outside play area.  Students are allowed to choose where to go and what to do (even outside).  Inquiry learning at its finest.  I received my teaching degree in 1981 and this was the first year of teaching that I felt I was actually able to present an environment that was best for young children and their learning.  What a high to start a school year on!

Something has happened to contract planning and international schools in the 16 years I’ve been overseas.  “Back in ‘05” I had to tell my employer by 30 January if I wanted to return the following school year.  It was great having essentially 18 months to ponder whether I wanted to commit to working another school year at that placement.  Imagine my surprise when during Orientation Week this year my principal asked me at the welcome back dinner if I would make an appointment to talk to him about my future plans.  I hadn’t even seen any students yet.  I had to make a commitment by 4 October, so he wanted to start talking in August.

I’ll cut to the chase.  After running the numbers, retirement seemed like a viable option.  A lovely alternative given the frustrations with class size/ratio, the seemingly increasing social media requirements, and the growing age gap with colleagues.  

Ecuador … here we come!