Mnemosyne, Muse of Memory

Well, my week started off with a long list of things to do; my first week off since taking the Interim Principal position at Branchburg in September of '04. I could basically make my own schedule as long as I completed the required tasks set out for the day. I also had to have supper ready and the place picked up. The latter was hard since Damon throws his things around like a couple frantically making love, with books, shoes, a coat, hat, keys, and a guitar in all sorts of places.

I am now the personal secretary, cook, laundry person, mechanic, handyman, conciege, gardner, and chauffeur of 11 Bonnell St. This, my fourth day into retirement I am beginning to look at other possibilities such as more reading, writing, networking with others, etc.

I am also looking at training with Damon at Trexlertown on Thursdays.

We will see what happens.

People were in denial. They would come up to me and say that couldn't believe I wasn't chosen as their permanent principal. I received gifts like a matching Cross pen and Swiss Army knife, Irish soda bread, a gift sertificate to Panera Bread and one to McCormick & Schmick's . The Tech teacher, Tony, knew I loved old books and the Civil War, so he gave me an 1869 edition of a book about a Civil War song. I even got the recipe for my favorite soup from the cook, sweet potato soup. I received cards with many people's best wishes on it. While all this was happenning at every corner of the building and at any time, I still had my work to complete, such as wrapping up observations and cleaning up my files.

GEPA week: We had the BIG state test during my last week. This reqired everything to revolve around them; the bells were tuned off, no fire drills, the lower grades were told to be absolutely quiet in the halls, and hall monitors were hired to enforce it. I made signs for the rooms that were testing to warn that the could not be disturbed. The first day I must have walked three miles down the corridors to take care of things and got a sore big toe on my right foot for my efforts.

Because of the testing, I didn't have my usual 8th grade Student Council to do the morning announcements. On the first day they weren't there, Al the Asssistant Principal arranged for two 7th grade students to do the job, but on Tuesday no one showed up and it was too late to get anyone, so I took over the mike. Now, I hadn't spoken much on the intercom up to this point. I was supposed to talk about the importance of the GEPA and our expectations and did so the day before, but this time I had to do all the mundane announcements and the Pledge. Well, I got through everything and was cool about speaking to the school, but then the Pledge had to be made. I told everyone to please stand for the Pledge of Alligience. After a pause to allow them to do so, I began, "I pledge allegience to the....United States of America. (No, that wasn't right. I left something out, but what? Hey, keep going, they are mumbling along with you!) ....And to the Rebublic, for which it stands...."

"One nation...." prompts Rose the receptionist nearest me.

"One nation, under God, indivisible.....with liberty, and justice....for all"

I couldn't believe it! I blew the Pledge! I thanked Rose and started laughing about it. Throughout the day people were polite, but I was blunt; I blew the Pledge. As people came around to tell how wonderful a job I had done as Interim Principal, I would self depricate by saying, "yes, but don't ask me to do the Pledge".

I had one last PTO executive council meeting to attend on Monday night. I did so reluctantly and during that meeting, the parents had had a cake made to wish both me and Dr. Phil Sudotti from the Old York School the best because we were both leaving. I knew they were going to do something but this seemed a little small considering, but I went with it knowing that this was all that was going to happen, or so I thought.

On Tuesday, the day of the Pledge boggle, it began to snow and we cancelled all after school activities. I was concerned to cancel the faculty meeting as well, but Al insisted that we meet for a short period anyway. That was not like Al, but I didn't notice and went along. When I went into the meeting, Debbie, my secretary, also came and I still didn't know what was going on. The entire faculty stood and clapped and wished me well. There was a huge cake just for me; Debbie got a full sheet cake and I was given the corner with all the roses in icing on it. Debbie had gotten me some gifts too. Because I burned my hand cooking, she gave me some BBQ tools that were two feet long and some BBQ sauce. She knew I loved tea, so she gave me a can of Republic of Tea. I hugged her and shook people's hands. I spoke and thanked everyone and told them how I would miss them. Then I related about how I blanked on the Pledge that morning.

People came to me later that week to say they even liked when I stumbled over the pledge because it showed that I was human. I suppose they had a huge helping of uncaring, unhuman Principals before me. That is why they didn't want me to go; they didn't want another one of those and they weren't sure about the new guy. I wasn't sure about him either, but assured them that he was a good listener. Of course, he listened well to me to glean anything he could to help him be an effective administrator.

The week went along well and Debbie said for me to reserve Thursdayb afternoon for her an Laurie to go out and have a few. I agreed and fully understood that it was just the girls. We had gone out on another occasion to have lunch when we had to be at school but the students were not there, so this was not unusual. Debbie said that I would be going in her car, which I did and left my car in the school lot. We pulled up to Cryan's, an Irish pub that was packed with young professionals. She led me to the downstairs and there to my surprise again was fourty some faculty members! I couldn't believe it! They did it to me again! Along with teachers was the Interim Director of Instruction and her secretary, the father of a new 6th grade Science teacher, Priscilla, and above all, Donna and Jen her best friend from JFK school! They had been invited through the Math teacher Andrea, who goes to Weight Watchers and was befriended by Jen there. This was truly a great honor because they had taken the time after school to do this and over half the faculty came along with others. I gave Donna and Jen a big hug as well as chiding Debbie for doing it once more.

They gave gifts and one was from the Student Council Advisor, Maggi. It was a "T" shirt, which had on the front and the back in small red letters, "I Pledge Allegience to the Flag....". We laughed over that one.

I had a Guiness black and tan and circulated around to thank everyone, then they insisted that I have some food on them, so I ordered nachos, which was enough to keep me going all night. While we were eating, Debbie went over to this machine that measured your grip and put in her quarter. I showed that she was "hot" about the middle of the scale. Al also tried the thing and found that he was the same, "hot". Before we left, I said I wanted to try it. The handle was solid metal with a lever the I figured measured the amount of your grip. I didn't put my fingers all around the handle, but used my fingertips to sink the lever deeper into the slot. When it finished analyzing my gip, I went to the top light, labeled "Uncontrolable!" Everybody had a big reaction to that. Debbie and I left to drop me off to get my car and I told her I couldn't believe she pulled it off again.

On Friday, I wore the shirt that Maggi gave me over my regular shirt and tie. I commandeered the mike one final time and did the Pledge, and did it with dramatic pauses instead of panic stops because I was going to walk out of this school knowing that at least I could do the Pledge. I walked around on the final day, rather, I skated the last day before the kids arrived, just to do it, because I used to do that at Roxbury on the final day of school each year. It was my day. They couldn't fire me, now, could they. I had done my job and had endeared the studens, teachers, aides, secretaries, and parents to me. The only two people I didn't impress was the Superintendent and the Director of Special Services, the two guys that were controlling the school. Well, I don't think they liked the fact that I was so popular, because they had not allowed me to go to the final round. I could tell in the first interview that something was up; Walter the DOSS, looked funny, like he hadn't worked with me and John, the Super, kept chiding me since I got there so I knew he didn't want me. What he wants, know one knows.

The day still had one more surprise in store. Debbie said that there was an emergency in the back room and I needed to come right away, so I followed. It sounded fishy and I should have wondered, but I went. There in the conference room was a collection of all the parents I had worked closely with since becoming the Interim Principal. They had still another cake, which makes two and one shared for the week. We laughed and I related the happennings of the week to them. They gave ma a card with their best wishes on it. Debbie pulled off yet another one! I told them that I was going to visit my granddaughter and take my mother along to see. One parent told me that if ever I needed a recommendation, to have them contact her.

After the parents left and I did my last bus duty, I packed the last of my things on Friday, gave everyone a hug and left in a euhporic state. I shared my email and address with everyone and drove away into the sunset. I didn't cry; I had done my best and made a lot of friends. From the conversations with everyone I began to form a picture of how I had helped them. From the new teachers, I was a caring, understanding father figure. Another person said I was the patriarch of the school. Many said I was the right fit for the school. One said that I understand quickly, get right to the point, and tackle problems. They said I was a problem solver. The biggest thing they said was that I have an open door and am accessible.

None of them know that I had a terrible time in Saddle Brook, that I did not have my contract renewed, that there were bickering teachers that I could not unify, that the Super would not talk to me, nor tell me what he wanted from me. All they knew is that I cared for everyone associated with the school.

This is a card the parents gave me on my last day at Branchburg when they had a little surprise party for me in the Conference Room. Debbie did it for the third time this week; she arranged for another party with the parents this time. These were the regulars; the ones that served on committees, folded letters, did lunch duty and cleaned tables. They were the ones I had formed a relationship with. Debie said there was another emergeny in the back room. I was suspicious, but it wasn't too far from being plausible. I walked in and couldn't believe the room was filled with well wishers. The had a large cake and a card that they all signed. It was a fitting ending to a great week. I told some of the funny stories that happenned this week and told them to keep going; not to give up. We had made so much progress in positive parent-school relations that it would be all wasted if they don't continue. I hope I gave them a good pep talk; good enough for them to take heart and go on.