The Best Job In The World

This is how I felt on my first day working in education and after a few years in education since, that feeling is as strong as ever. Working in education is an absolute privilege for those of us that have made that decision, and I often hear our staff talk about how much joy they get from working with learners of all ages. Regardless of the role in our school that a staff member has, it isn’t until our school is full of the activity, noise and busyness of young people that we are reminded of what the students in our care give back to us. Over the past week our kinders have been introduced to their first formal days of education at Penguin. Whilst I have been on duty and getting to know their names, I have been seeing older friends, siblings and peers lining up at the kinder fence to say hello, calling out ‘I love you’, waving to each other and doing what they can to make our youngest feel special and included at our school. At the other end of the scale, seeing our year 10’s reconnecting with their peers and teachers and our year 11 and 12’s commencing their studies reminds me of the value of relationships and to feel that we belong as part of one learning community. I know that along with our staff, I am excited that Public Health guidelines are allowing for increased engagement in school events and activities in 2021. Please be mindful that two things will remain with us for the new future, and that is venue density requirements for indoor spaces and events, and the need to physically distance with non-family group members where possible. Whist these are part of our ‘new normal’, relationships will still be very central to our work as a school.