@Faith-and-Hope @Maggie @Meowmy @Sans911 @Former-Member @Shaz51 @Snowie @MDT @Bunniekins @Appleblossom @Melanie-cat @eth @CheerBear @Teej @Razzle @Angels333 @BlueBay @Owlunar @Adge and sorry to anyone I have missed that have been following along - can't think very clearly...
Had my meeting with HR. Went in with a massive headache still - had meds earlier but haven't helped much. Had some more since I have been home and will likely try to sleep again. The last week has certainly caught up with me and the full physical and emotional affects have been severe. Still very much struggling but the meeting this morning went really well so that is one less thing to worry about.
So we talked about the remainder of this year and next year. The HR person was really lovely and at once made me feel comfortable being there. All that I have heard about her is correct - she is a lovely person and very open to talking about my needs as well as what may or may not be available. I did not hold back on anything - was honest with what I wanted and what I thought I deserved. While she cannot guarantee I will get something really close she is certainly going to try. I said I had travelled for many years and felt I had done my time for more than 10 years doing that and something closer to home would be preferable. I also was open to doing any grade from 1-5 especially after just having the 1/2 for the lst term. I said I would prefer not to have a grade 6 with all the interruptions and extra stuff that often comes with that grade
I also mentioned tat I had taught Art and that is my biggest passion. I also mentioned about my commitment to mental health in schools and all the extra PD I had done on that over the last few years. She was especially positive about my experience with working with more difficult kids as it is often hard to place people in some of those schools with a higher level of behavioural issues. I did say I feel I work really well with those kids but I would also prefer a placement closer to home. There was mention about one particular school a bit further away that may be an option because of the principal that is there - I have heard really good things about her and that was confirmed today with the HR person ...it could be a good fit for me but I asked for preference be given to somewhere closer to home first.
I was very open with the last 3 years. She knew I had had health issues but did not know exactly what. I told her the full extent of what I had been through and she was not only empathetic but full of praise for me with everything I had done to get back to work as well as having the time off I needed to 'get better'.
She mentioned a conversation she had had with the acting principal in term 2 where he had apparently said I was doing so well and an asset to the school - that was so lovely to hear. She has not talked to the Principal this last term but is going to do that next week when he is back. I did say I had talked to him and he has already told me there is not a place available next year. It is a hard school to break into because there is not often that people want to leave.
Her aim is to have me placed somewhere by early in term 4 - it is a priority for her and will keep in contact with me. It will also allow me time to visit the new school and get to know the people there before next year. That will make it so much easier than finding out a couple of days before school goes back and being really stressed about not knowing the school or people at all. If I know the grade I will be teaching I can also begin getting things together this year so I am more organised to begin with as well.
It is such a relief to not only have the meeting over but for it to be so positive. It is actually making it easier to face this last term at the present school also with knowing things should be sorted out for next year sooner rather than later and I can look forward to the new phase in my life. Whilst it cannot be guarateed the next school will be a permanent placement it is something she is working hard to achieve for me. I feel like she is fully on my side and will do everything she can to both place me somewhere close, is a good fit for what I want as well as being somewhere that will be supportive - so fingers crossed it all comes to fruition and does so quickly.
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