Welcome Back!

I hope you had a lovely half term, and that the week has started well for you. It certainly did for me with a fantastic TA conference at Springfields. It was great to see everyone and the sessions across the day gave us lots to consider and reflect upon.

Part of the day that really resonated with me was the quote shared by Sarah Robertson from Haim Ginott referring to how we “set the weather” in our classrooms. It really does bring home the impact we can have on children just through our attitude and disposition in our interactions. The more I reflected on the quote the more I felt it was relevant not just to children but to adults also. We can “set the weather” for each other and this was brilliantly described in the session delivered by Fiona talking about “candle-blower-outers”. Where she used the image of everyone having a candle and each of us having the responsibility to nurture and encourage each other’s flame rather than “blow it out” by being dismissive, derogatory, or uncaring.

It is incumbent on us all to bring our A-game to work every day (after all that’s what we’re paid for) and a huge part of that is the way in which we show up determined to be light-bringers, to “change our face” and be positive weather creators so that all around us feel better for their time spent in our company and for our conversations. Our job is tough enough without anyone dragging in a raincloud or trying hard to blow out the candles of others!

So, my challenge to you this term is to “set the weather” in every conversation and interaction with children, colleagues, and families. Be the light and leave people feeling better than you found them!

Have a great end to the week!

Gavin