These past few weeks have seen quite a few changes in my life-personally and professionally. This blog will focus on the professional changes- because that is why I'm in the UK having the opportunity to write a blog!
As most of you know, at the end of March I gave my notice to my current school that I would not be returning in September 2015. Since I did it, I have been up and down debating whether it was the right choice or not. There are moments at my current job when the kids are amazing and I really feel that it could be beneficial to stay another year---then I wake up exhausted and dread certain classes the next day.
Last week, I got an extra long weekend away from work because we had a long weekend for May Day- not really a thing in Canada but it is the only long weekend during the school year in the UK so yay! Then on the Tuesday I got an interview with a school in Bishops Stortford. I accepted the interview and then spent the whole weekend debating if I should go or not because change is scary. Some people think I'm crazy for leaving my school because I know the expectations, it is comfortable in my routine, I have friends and a living space here---but sometimes change is scary but good at the same time. I went for the interview and am really happy I just jumped in and did it.
The school is in a very quaint, British town. It is an older school- so the facilities are not as new as my current school but it has a lot of character. Each department has its own building which was interesting and will most likely get me lost in the first few weeks. It is an all girls school except for their A-level (Grades/Years 12 and 13) which I will be mainly responsible for. The students there were amazing. During my lesson, each student was engaged, polite, inquisitive and hard working. As students were moving through the hallways to get to their next lesson I was a bit perplexed at how quiet it was---no pushing or shoving or screaming. They were genuinely nice girls and well behaved.
I left the school feeling good about my interview and the lesson I taught but with my lack of A-level experience I was not sure if I would be successful. However, by Thursday evening I got a phone call from Impact saying I had the job and I accepted. Impact and the school are in negations right now about my salary but I think it will be a really good move for me and a nice new start in England.
On top of the job, my school got the dreaded OFSTED call this week. We have been waiting for it for two years now--but in the last 6 weeks we have been on high alert. Thursday and Friday are my busiest teaching days so I was exhausted just thinking about it happening on these two days. However, even after all the hard work I put into the lessons for those two days I did not get observed. I was shocked about it because at another school in our academy, they went for all the international teachers but it was not the case at our school this year. A few of us were seen, but many of us were not. Although I can now say I survived my first OFSTED and only stayed at the school until 9pm one night to prepare.
So there have been some big changes for my career in the last few weeks but I am excited for them. I have about 10 weeks left at my current school to enjoy the good things and get my last fix of Luton. Although I am extremely excited for the end of the school year when I get to go home and meet my favourite little man Collin and spoil him rotten for a month!
On a side note- HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to my mom and Donna!
