Mar 29, 2013

Emotional Rollercoaster of a week!

Farewell Assembly - Thursday 28th March 2013
Final assembly with me in the hot seat! 
Well, as of today I am officially unemployed! Yesterday was my last day of teaching at Chelsea after having taught there for 26 years. Wow - that was a long time! You can imagine what an emotional week it has been for me. I am an emotional person at the best of times and it doesn't take much to turn on the waterworks - in fact I am known for that at school. I have been dreading this day because the school and the people are so much part of me, my life and who I am. It has been the most awesome school to teach at and my memories of Chelsea are very happy ones - memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. The people I have taught with over the years are not just my colleagues, they are my friends.

The decision to leave has been hovering for the past 2 years and recently several factors led to me taking that final plunge. It was not an easy decision to make but having made it after lots of discussion, prayer and weighing up the options, the deed was done. So here I am - unemployed for the first time in over 20 years. A lot of people have said "Aren't you scared?" but strangely enough, I am not. I feel at peace and believe I have made the right choice. I am not just leaving the school but also the country that has been home for 47 years. After leaving Scotland as a 10 year old I now return to the island where I was born. I can't say country because I was born in Scotland but will be living in England.

Obviously it is not just me that is affected - it affects Chez, Ciaran and Caelen as well but I think we are ready for it. Time for change and new beginnings. Yes, it is a little scary venturing into the unknown - but it is not completely the unknown. I will be staying with my sister Rhona and her family. I have stayed with them many times over the years when I have come over on holiday and I feel quite at home there - one of the family! The rest of the family live close by and I am really looking forward to spending time with them.
Michelle, our music teacher who is leaving to go and live in America. 
I taught her in Grade 1! Good luck Mish, will be thinking of you.
By the end of the day I felt emotionally drained - of course it didn't help that I only got home around 2:30 am after my surprise party the night before - that is another story! I went home and slept for 3 hours and still went to bed early, only waking at 5:00am the next morning.

Luke and Ethan waiting while Zelda gives her speech with me trying not to cry but not succeeding very well.


Luke and Ethan ready to lead the singing of my farewell song - You are amazing written by Michelle. It was amazing!!!

I had no idea that Luke and Ethan were going to sing to me. They were fantastic - I was so proud of them and totally overwhelmed. It is customary at our school that when a long standing staff member leaves, the school sings a special song specially composed for her. Michelle did a fantastic job with my song - I loved it. Mish - you are one very talented young lady - Thank you. After they had sung the rest of the school joined in, it was too beautiful! The singing at our school is beautiful . There have been many times when I was taking assembly when I felt overcome with emotion listening to and watching these beautiful young children singing with all their hearts. God must have been smiling Big Time listening to them. Such a privilege to be part of these assemblies. I am going to miss them.

The children during assembly.

Precious boys! Ethan and Luke - from my class. You guys were amazing. 

In fact my whole class were amazing. Michelle had been practising with them for weeks and not one of them breathed a word. They kept it a secret all that time - no easy feat for young children. Afetr assembly there were lots of hugs from the children and lots of crying children and teachers too! That was really hard. I am glad it is over but I must say I felt so loved and appreciated - I don't think we teachers realise the full impact we have on these young peoples' lives. It is very humbling and rewarding.








2 comments:

  1. My goodness, I don't know how you managed that - I'm sitting here in tears just reading it. I would have been a wreck!

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  2. Now you know how I felt! Lots of tears last week. I would fill up just talking to people and likewise some of us just avoided talking because we knew what would happen. Anyway, I got through it. Trouble is the goodbyes are not all over yet. Still got several get togethers planned with various friends. Still, it is a process that I need to go through and I have lots to look forward to on the other side of the pond :) xxx

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