I recently set my students an assignment to write a few paragraphs about ‘A Day in the Life of’ any career of their choice.  I asked them to consider what time they might have to wake up, what they would eat for breakfast, what some of the typical tasks would be, and what time they would take breaks, etc.  This got me thinking about my ‘typical’ day. Typical being employed loosely here as I’ve realised that no day ever really goes as planned and something will almost always come out of the left-field when you work with over 300 teenagers and around 40 staff.

For me it looks something like: wake up around 6:15am (I’m not at all a morning person so I know this may seem late to some people) and start reading text messages from staff members who are ‘calling in’ sick.  I understand that the modern world has made texting more acceptable and to be honest I don’t really want to talk to anyone at 5:30-7:00am when these texts are usually sent anyway.  Then I start making phone calls to supply teachers (I don’t have time to wait for text replies to replace teachers) or texting on-call support workers to try and fill the gaps.  On a good day there is just one call in and on the worst day so far there were 12 staff members out.

I never eat breakfast but if I’m really on the ball, I’ll drink a glass of water to keep me hydrated. I often skip this step. I throw on clothes that I hope are suitable but also warm. I don’t shower in the mornings. I usually scrape my hair into a ponytail and quickly clean my teeth.  I hope that the car doesn’t have ice on the windshield. Sometimes it does. This always sets me back.  I dump the same bag as yesterday in the back seat on the driver’s side. To be honest I don’t know why I carry it between home and work as I mostly just use my daybook, TTOC/EA leave book, and laptop when I am at home and the bag is unnecessarily bulky.  I put the phone in the centre compartment because I probably have to ask Siri to keep sending messages to attempt to obtain coverage as I move in and out of cell service on the drive into work.

It should be 7:15am but it’s more than likely 7:30am. I get frustrated by slower moving vehicles on the highway and annoyed with the muddy potholes in the construction zone where the traffic lights sometimes get out of sync.

I arrive at 8am. I feel judged although busses don’t arrive until 8:30am and school doesn’t start until 8:45am.  I say hello to those around me and plug my laptop in into the computer station for the day.  I add the absences to the board and complete the coverage puzzle as best as I can. If I remember to, I add the TTOCs to the attendance system. Sometimes I start this but get distracted and forget to finish it before the first period. Usually I’ll receive an email to remind me or one of the secretaries will have kindly done it in the meantime.  I try to be by the entrance to welcome students (and staff) in before the first bell.

8:50am and I usually do a quick lap or two of the building, often forgetting to head up to the gym but always diverting via the parking lot to send in stray students. They are shielded by a sweet-smelling cloud but usually quick to disperse.  It’s an opportunity to greet them. We try to educate them on the unknowns and the risks associated with vaping but at least they’re coming to school and keeping it outdoors. The students know they’re addicted. They don’t need to be told but we remind them anyway.

I wander the halls and check the girl’s washrooms countless times. We try to keep track but we get side-swept so many times that by the time we get back to note down the ‘washroom check’ we’ve already been in and out several more times. It’s easier to remain in the halls than to sit in the office. After each bell for class we head out to send the wave of students who’ve been for a ‘fresh air break’ in to class. I sweep the halls again for the stragglers.  There’s always a handful but usually not more than that.  I often ponder the thought that around 6 students take up 90% of the hours in the day.  More than that if you added up the man-power (or mostly woman-power) hours.

Lunchtime comes and goes but if it wasn’t for the bell I wouldn’t notice.  I’ve tried a couple of times to eat a sandwich. Both times I finished it after 4pm. It’s been months since I last planned to eat lunch at school. If we schedule various committee meetings, these take place at lunch. Most of the time we rush into them and leave just as quickly.

The afternoon begins and this is when I usually realize I haven’t had anything to drink all day and haven’t been to the loo since 7am.  I occasionally act on that thought. If I’m starting to get a headache I usually take a few sips of water in the hopes of staving it off.  I spend a little more time in my office during the afternoons although interspersed with hallway laps to make sure things are running smoothly.  The afternoon might consist of a couple of phone calls to follow up on things that have happened earlier in the day and I normally manage to catch up with a few students I’ve had on my ‘check in with so and so’ list.  When I’m in my office, it’s rarely alone.

I do more laps. Visit the odd classroom, especially if text messages summon me.  I send students back to class. Sometimes more than once. Finally the bell goes for the end of the day… although this is actually just the beginning of the second phase for many adults in the building.  If it’s been a good day I’ll stand by the doors or even outside and chat to some of the students.

I head back into the office and finally ask the secretaries how their day went. Sometimes we talk about things that aren’t strictly school-related. I don’t feel as though we have enough opportunity during the day. I don’t want to disturb them as they have enough interuptions and in the same vain, I relish the moments of peace for myself.

4pm and only a few of us remain. I breathe a quick sigh of relief. I make the phone calls I’ve put off and return those I’ve missed.  I read the emails I skimread earlier. I respond to most. I usually write letters at this time too. Sometimes there are other obligations, parent meetings, group meetings, but most days I leave at 5:15pm.  I take the same bulky bag home and tell myself I’ll continue working at home. Some days I do, some days I don’t. I think I’m pretty good at setting boundaries but still there are parents that I’ll be calling or emailing into the evening. It makes tomorrow easier.

The construction doesn’t bother me as much on the way home. I detour via the grocery store. I always need snacks because I don’t cook anymore.

I ask myself regularly if I like my job. I enjoy chatting with the students every day and I like the staff. I believe everyone is there for the right reasons and wants to make a positive impact. I honestly don’t know the answer though. There never seems to be enough time for the bigger picture and planning big learning initiatives. I’m always too tired to do constructive life things at the weekend; and I am getting fat.

Thank goodness for the school holidays when I catch up on medical appointments, eating vegetables, and cleaning. The rhythm is unsustainable long-term but for now… I’m on a break so it seems manageable again.