Saturday, June 19, 2004
The secretary's party
They invited me for the Friday, the last Friday of the school year. Brigida, the personnel secretary, wanted me to bring Donna. Evelyn was quiet about the party. I was not looking forward to it because they had a similar party for the outgoing guidance counselor that was given the boot last year. I felt like the next virgin to be sacrificed to the Saddle Brook god. Donna couldn't come; actually she didn't want to be around the people that did me in.
That wasn't exactly the case. The old farts scheduled their own party at the very same time. That meant that only the good people would be there. She still didn't want to go. I don't blame her.
I went to Carucci's, a run down Italian bar and restaurant on the corner of Saddle River and Pelehe Ave. There were a few people there already. They wanted me to take the center seat with Evelyn my secretary on my left and Rob Porfido, my MS Vice Principal on my right. Brigida and the other secretaries were on the corner of the "U" table setup. I took off my tie and I was offered a glass of wine. We loosened up while the other teachers came in from their contract voting meeting. We were served thin crust pizza and chicken fingers and penne pasta with vodka sauce. it wasn't a lot, but it filled me up.
Brigida got everyone's attention and said some kind things about me. She especially said that I kept an immaculate office. I guess that was important for her and it had never happenned before. She then presented me with a flower basket with an orchid, a bromalise and an ivy plant in it. She also gave me a card with a 100 dollar gift certificate from American Express.
I got up and said that I learned much while ecperience the past two years at the Brook. The most important thing I learned was that relationships were more important than anything else in education. I said I have made some wonderful freinds here and I will miss them the most. I thanked them for being themselves and being a part of my life.
Rob got up to say that he was not an administrator before he met me. He believes that he has learned the essence of administration from me. That was truly humbling. I then went around the room to talk to everyone and thank them for coming. I gave Brigida a big hug and thanked her for the party. I guess I did love it after all. Since I truly love working with people, I did like being with them one last time.
That wasn't exactly the case. The old farts scheduled their own party at the very same time. That meant that only the good people would be there. She still didn't want to go. I don't blame her.
I went to Carucci's, a run down Italian bar and restaurant on the corner of Saddle River and Pelehe Ave. There were a few people there already. They wanted me to take the center seat with Evelyn my secretary on my left and Rob Porfido, my MS Vice Principal on my right. Brigida and the other secretaries were on the corner of the "U" table setup. I took off my tie and I was offered a glass of wine. We loosened up while the other teachers came in from their contract voting meeting. We were served thin crust pizza and chicken fingers and penne pasta with vodka sauce. it wasn't a lot, but it filled me up.
Brigida got everyone's attention and said some kind things about me. She especially said that I kept an immaculate office. I guess that was important for her and it had never happenned before. She then presented me with a flower basket with an orchid, a bromalise and an ivy plant in it. She also gave me a card with a 100 dollar gift certificate from American Express.
I got up and said that I learned much while ecperience the past two years at the Brook. The most important thing I learned was that relationships were more important than anything else in education. I said I have made some wonderful freinds here and I will miss them the most. I thanked them for being themselves and being a part of my life.
Rob got up to say that he was not an administrator before he met me. He believes that he has learned the essence of administration from me. That was truly humbling. I then went around the room to talk to everyone and thank them for coming. I gave Brigida a big hug and thanked her for the party. I guess I did love it after all. Since I truly love working with people, I did like being with them one last time.
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