April 29

Today started out with a bus meeting at Prairie View Elementary School in Dalmeny, my last administrative posting.  After the bus meeting, I had a sing song with all the students of the school.  We had a riot.  The kids sang their hearts out.  At recess, two little kindergarten girls came and gave me a hug around the knees and thanked me for singing with them. 

The day was busy because I had errands to run and housework to complete.  In the evening, I had five people over for supper.  I barbequed homemade burgers.  The meal was a hit.  I think Judy would have approved.

To end the evening, I taught my guests how to chord and sing with the ukulele and I taught them how to play chopsticks.  I am thinking there weren't many dinner parties going on in the city where 6 adults were learning to play the mighty uke.

Tomorrow, I am off to the lake for a couple rounds of golf.

Sunday after church, I have my first ball practice for the plus 50 league.  On Tuesday, I have my first plus 55 league game.  Spring is here.

Principal's Message (June 2010)

Over the past year, I have been working mornings as principal of Prairie View School and afternoons as Human Resource Principal of Prairie Spirit School Division.  As Human Resource Principal, I do reference checks, provide support to in school administrators who are short listing candidates for job openings, and I set up interviews with candidates.  I also sit in on hiring panels when I am needed.   The task of filling open positions has been ongoing throughout the year.  Sometimes, I have the pleasure of phoning people to say, “Congratulations!” and the agony of calling people to say, “Unfortunately, another candidate was chosen.”

Human Resource work has been very enjoyable mostly because the real strength of any school is the people you hire.  I take great joy in helping good people find meaningful employment.  The day you get “that new job” is usually a red letter day in your life.  I have two daughters who received their education degrees earlier this month.  One daughter just had her red letter day and it was a day of rejoicing for our whole family.  I do not reserve that joy for my own children.  In fact, I get excited any time a good person lands a job.

Another role that I have assumed has been to coach people on how to get short listed and how to interview successfully.  There are ways to be noticed in a pile of resumes and ways to convince interview panels that you are the best candidate.

Throughout this Human Resource experience, one dominant theme has made an impression on me.  You have to sew good seed.  For example, one candidate came from a small town where he was a hardworking student who participated in sports, took guitar lessons, and volunteered in his community.  As a student in the College of Education, he interned in a small town where he humbly accepted guidance from a cooperating teacher.  He had a passion for teaching and he impressed his cooperating teacher with his ability to reach all students without leaving anyone behind.  He taught students – not subjects.   The only complaint mentioned by his principal was: he worked too hard.  When I talked to him on the phone, he was polite, appreciative, and sincere.  He planted good seed all through his life.  Well…he now has a teaching position.  There are many others like him who have been planting good seed all their lives and now they are reaping a rich harvest. 

               Planting good seed is a choice.  It is no accident.  I know all the quality candidates we hire are surrounded by a host of music teachers, coaches, Sunday school teachers, school teachers, neighbours, friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and especially, parents who cheered them on and tended the garden where the seed was sewn.  We sometimes complain about driving our children here and there taking them to lessons and games.  Registration fees and the commitment of time are a drain on our pocket books, but there are days when you know all the effort is worthwhile.  One of those days is when your child begins there career whether it be in education or any other field.

               During this season of planting and watching crops grow; think of the children in your life.  Encourage them to plant good seed.  Help them to pick out good seed.  Tend the seed they sew and know that all your efforts will lead to a bountiful harvest. Teach them that every kind word spoken, every extra effort, every positive choice, every sacrifice, and every act of charity, every bridge built, and any other good seed sewn will yield fruit in due season.