For those of you who are not involved in school life, you may be enlightened to know that February 21 to 25 is designated as Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week.
Last year, the incredible members of our parent council skulked into our staff room the night before Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week and literally transformed our dreary, outdated staffroom digs. Cupboards were restocked with new sets of dishes and cutlery, fashionable matching knobs were installed on all drawers and cupboards, which were also stocked up with a variety of teas, coffee and snacks. Tasteful artwork adorned our walls, attractive coffee table books were displayed and, to set the ambience, a new portable stereo was installed.
We have such an amazing group of committed parents who truly appreciate the staff at Albert Lacombe School. Hard to top all of that, you might say!
Well, imagine the collective disbelief among our staff, arriving at school to discover that the phantom Good Samaritans had struck again! During this year’s appreciation week, the staff have been savouring tasty baking delights that appear out of thin air each morning in the staff room, compliments of the ladies on the parent council. However, nothing could have prepared our staff as they entered the staffroom on Wednesday to discover brand new appliances — a fridge and stove donated by Hawthorne and Heartland Homes. The staff bathrooms were also revamped from drab institutional to funky dĂ©cor, complete with fancy soaps and lotions. Again, these amazing nocturnal elves restocked our shelves with gourmet beverages, tasty treats plus a new set of mugs to go with our already well stocked shelves.
Our school climate theme for the month of February is ‘Fill Someone’s Bucket!’ Staff and students are well versed in the philosophy that when you are kind and considerate to others, their bucket overflows with a sense of wellbeing and contentment and, consequently, the world spins just a little more harmoniously. To those kind, clandestine parents at Albert Lacombe School, bless you for your thoughtfulness and generosity. Truly, this week the staff’s buckets spilleth over!
Julian Di Castri, principal, Albert Lacombe School
