Countdown to the Christmas Break!

[good96]

Last day tomorrow that students will be in before Christmas - it’s been a long term! School re-opens on the 6th January so a bit of an extended break this year as usually they come back on the 2nd/3rd!
Half day also - and then in the afternoon we have a staff ‘get together’ in the staff room, handing out secret Santa and also leaving gifts for those that are leaving this term and then we all part ways until the new year!

I’m popping into work for a few hours on Monday but that’ll be it until the 2nd - I’ll prob still do a bit of WFH (HT) but I so need a break… and I’m moving house in January so I need to really prepare for that!

When does everyone else break up?

Today also.

I'm leading my department, so it's been a scramble arranging collections and gifts for leavers, Christmas treats for everyone, sorting out set changes and groupings for the new term as well as just keeping the department running on a day-to-day basis.

We are all ready for a break - staff and kids! As happens every year, some staff have been getting kids hyper all week watching films/ doing Christmas activities, and those of us still teaching (as we have been instructed to, save for today) have had a harder life than necessary as some kids feel almost entitled to have "fun lessons" all week.

We have a similar day set up. Half-day, then staff gathering. I once worked in a school with an understanding head, who would do all the speeches and goodbyes during the last staff meeting, so we could run out of the door together with the kids when the bell rang after the last lesson of the term finished. That was bliss! Alas, no such luck in this school.

I will be working a few days over the holidays. Mostly the first weekend, and then enjoy the time off with my family and not think about work again until the weekend before we return.

We have finished today 🥳

So ready for the break (staff and kids) - we are off until the 6th so that will be nice.

We have kept to normal lessons until today so it has been calm all week.
Today was Church service, assembly, Christmas Dinner and a bit of time in forms. The time in form was the hardest because it was quite unstructured but everything else was OK.

I'm now looking forward to some time with my family and friends over the break!
I do have some bits of work I will need to do (I'm a HoD) but will be prioritising my family.

Finished on 13th! Back on 6th. Lovely ☺️