How is the air up there? (The La De Das)

I've been privileged to enjoy some great views from my classrooms during my career. 

The best would be from my classroom at Macleans College, looking over Eastern Beach, but my view of Te Mata Peak from Hastings Boys' was special too.

My current one (above) looking north-east towards Havelock North is not too shabby either. 

You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step (Martin Luther King Jr.)

My new workplace/home away from home.

Induction days are interesting events. I've run them and I've participated in them plenty of times.

I still remember my first one in January 1983 - New Plymouth Boys' High School. My face and right hand hurt from smiling so much and shaking so many hands.

I've found that it's always best to start the year at a new school, as opposed to joining a staff during the year. In my experience you may get 30 minutes, or you may get an hour, but you don't get a day with the other newbies.

That's the positive of the start of year induction, but there is a downside as well.

After a six-week holiday, my brain is never quite up to speed. That means my brain hurts from concentrating on people talking and assimilating key details. My teacher voice also takes a week or so to get back into the groove after a lengthy break. Yes, I know - first world problems.

My latest induction was no exception. Careful not to overload, a few speakers acknowledged how more details would come next week - that's always appreciated, but I still needed two Panadol.

Anyway - induction. Tick. Next up - two Teacher Only Days. Love it!

To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe (Marilyn vos Savant)

Photo by tito pixel on Unsplash

Next year I am taking the Purdzilla Show across town to a new school - Iona College.

I am very aware that scrutiny will be high (plenty of first impressions) and the need for relationship building will be at the forefront of my thoughts once again. 

I will also be observing, careful not to weigh in with my opinions too quickly. No one likes a clever Trevor, do they?

The above quote from Marilyn vos Savant is spot on - I will be studying, definitely, but mostly I will be observing the culture; looking for all of those unspoken rules that underlie what is done around a school.

It will be fascinating to compare the Woodford Way to the Iona Way. I was introduced to the concept of 'Sits' recently - this is the name for the year level common rooms at Iona. Fabulous. I'll be keen to observe how they operate.

My antennae will be on high twitch mode in my first weeks of next term as I begin my induction into the Iona Way.