I though I
would resurrect the Bird’s Eye View one last time.
I have
arrived back from my fellowship – an incredible experience of 11 weeks of
growth, reflection, and professional observation. It was an eye opening
experience and I feel all the stronger for the opportunity. My heartfelt thanks
to the Woolf Fisher Trust for selecting me to this experience.
My time is
up at Muritai and I head to Kelburn next term. Maureen has clearly done a
wonderful job as Principal and the board are moving closer to making a
permanent appointment for 2017.
I arrived
at Muritai over 15 years ago in term 2 at the tender age of 34. It has been
quite a journey but I am proud of where the school is at in 2016 with a bright
future ahead. Muritai had just got the internet back then and a few of us were
on email, most correspondence / communication was posted. Most of the jobs
people did 15 years ago don’t exist anymore in this ever changing world.
Over the
years I have had incredible support from a loyal and highly skilled staff and a
community that has a strong interest in the success of the school as a lever
for realising the potential for their children. I frequently talk about the essential
triangle of children, parents and staff working together to enable success and
to ultimately progress the good name of the school. Muritai has long had a
great reputation in the educational community and continuously works hard to be
recognised as an outstanding school.
Our
children have always been our focus and as I reflect on what our kids do today
to what I experienced when I was at school (or even first teaching) I see a
skillset that is different now. The influence of technology and increased and instant
speedy access to knowledge, the levels of creativity, independent learning
habits of our children is remarkable. Neither process is necessarily better
than the other, as the world inconstantly evolving and change is necessary. The
key factor for education is timeless however- is to create life long learners who have the
ability to adapt and grow within the world as change occurs around them. Our
kids today can do that so well.
The spirit
of Muritai children is what I will miss the most and the way the entire staff
devotes itself in enabling every child to do their very best – to be the best
that they can be. Things aren’t always perfect all the time but the joy they
have together, as learners, colleagues, classmates and friends reflects the
wonderful community that they are getting to grow up in.
Just like
for our children, Muritai School has enabled me to grow as a person and
provided an environment and opportunity for me to be the very best that I can
be.
When I was
in Scotland I saw a wonderful quote on the side of the bus shelter. I thought
it fitted the aspirations of our children at Muritai. It was from Mother
Theresa. Ironically I was then in Rome at the same time as the canonization of
Mother Theresa…I think it is pertinent.
People are
often unreasonable and self-centered.
Forgive
them anyway.
If you are
kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind
anyway.
If you are
successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies
Succeed
anyway
If you are
honest, sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and
sincere anyway.
When you
spend years creating, others could destroy you overnight
Create
anyway
If you
find serenity and happiness, people may be jealous.
Be happy
anyway.
The good
you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good
anyway.
Give the world
the best you have, and it may never be enough.
Give your
best anyway....
I wish the
entire Muritai community, our wonderful staff and our children (past and
present) all the very best as you all go forward into the future.
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