This week I was reminded of how much more than a building a school is; it is a community, a safe haven and a place of friendship and family.
A dear friend and colleague died on Friday at 3pm, at home time, finally losing his fight with cancer. He was one of the good guys and his loss will be felt by the whole community but as I rang my friends and colleagues to share the news, I was reminded of how much love and friendship I am surrounded by all the time. At a time of extreme sadness everyone pulled together, offering kind words to each other and everyone volunteered to ring someone else with the news so people found out the right way. We were able to cry together and laugh together as we reminisced about funny times. As we talked about the various practical jokes that had been played on us over the years and the endless array of silly photoshopped photos we’d been subject to (imagine finding pictures of yourself turned into a Mr Potato Head stuck in the staffroom, not me fortunately!), we were able to bring our shared pasts to the fore to remind us that we will get through this.
At this time of sadness and as I think about what has to be faced tomorrow when I go into school, I am comforted by the fact that I do not have to face any of this by myself. School might be a building, but it is so much more than that and for that I am very grateful. I know I am lucky to work in a place where people come first, and everyone looks out for each other. There will be tears, there will be laughter, but we will be okay in the end, our friend’s memory living on in the community he helped to shaped over many years.
So, things I never thought I’d say but, dear friend, thank you for turning R into a potato head, for hacking my email and telling A I fancied him and for disturbing many a lesson with those bloomin’ cats on my screen!
RIP CP xx
Creating Cognitive Classrooms 