An Information Parents Evening

In Germany, the schools organize a parents evening to which new parents who are about to join the school or  prospective parents are invited where they are introduced with the teachers and given full information regarding the class, syllabus, curriculum, activities or any other inquiries.

It was funny that about 20 or more parents were expected to come but only about 5-7 turned up. We were expecting 5 for our group but there was only one! The others didn't even bother to inform why they were not coming.

So all the parents, a pathetic handful, gathered in My's room where we all introduced ourselves and then the parents went with their respective teachers to the classrooms. Since Nd is to be with us in our group in the next session so she was also present alongside myself and Cl in our room.

Our parent was just a mother with two kids; her small child is expected to join in September. She wanted the discussion to be in German so that left me absolutely free and poor Cl had to talk nonstop for nearly half an hour explaining everything.

Just when she was leaving she asked if Ot was still here.
Our hearts missed a beat. We told her that Ot was not here with us anymore.

Maybe she was acquainted with Ot's mama; if she were to contact her again just to ask her why Ot was not here or maybe only to tell her that she was putting her child here she will surely discover everything about this school which she shouldn't....!

Nd in our group?

Yesterday during the meeting I discovered that Nd is to be with us in the next session.
This is hardly a welcome news for either myself or Cl.

For one thing, coming of any third person between myself and Cl means interfearence in our methods of handling our students and parents. On previous occasions I have keenly noticed that Nd is not the type I prefer; she is strict and harsh with the kids and appears slightly dominating type; means she would want things to work her way and if it happened to be something we didn't approve of, well, there will be tensions.

And then why are we being given an extra teacher when we don't require one? Can it mean that the management is concidering shifting Cl to some other group or maybe ousting me or her...?
Cl was horrified to hear this.
"I know working with Nd will be difficult for us because...you know what I mean? And I love this group and above all..working with you is different than working with anybody else...Oh God! I hope we get to stay together in the same group."
"Whichever group you stay in, you needn't worry; children will always love you and parents will always appreciate you." I said.
"And same with you, same with you." She cried vehemently.
"Let's pray to God that we really do stay together. "

5 weeks more to go; then 1 month long summer holidays and the next session starts on 5th of September. I wonder what do we have in store for us.

Today. I returned Cl's plate in which she had baked the cake for me. As a token of appreciation and affection I presented her a big cookbook with 100 recipes from around the world including Asian dishes. She was so happy. She hugged me several times and I was so happy too. We really do love each other in a quaint way...that is we respect and admire each other, we give each other space and growth, we are extremely thankful for the other's qualities and contribution - just minus the trust and intimacy.

A cake for me...

Yesterday, Clt mother was talking to Cl. Her younger daughter is in St's group since two months now. She said she desperately wanted her daughter to come to our group as soon as possible but at the same time she felt sad that Clt would move on the other group which meant leaving our group.
"Its so nice to know that we have such happy and contented parents in our group; and...I have no qualms in admitting that it is because we both love and take of our children and our parents." I said.
" Yes, I know." She remarked. "and I feel so glad that I work with you-"
"Me too."
"I feel sure if I had to work with somebody else I wouldn't be able to work at all..."
"And I think the same..."

Today we had the staff meeting in the playground as inside the school was too hot with 28 degrees; and we had a bad: from the next session Nd will be with us in our group.

I wasn't happy to hear this and didn't know what Cl thought about it.

 This Thursday there is to be a an Elternabend or a Parents' Evening in which the new parents are invited to the school and they are given full information about the school and introduction of the teachers in a formal manner..

Today Cl had baked a big chocolate cake for me as my Birthday present. I wasn't celebrating my birthday even then she brought a cake for me knowing that I really love eating cakes.

She is such a darling...!

All's well with An

Today as soon as I saw An I ran to her;
"Oh, An, are you Okay? I was so worried about you."
"Of course, I am fine." She smiled so sweetly that I started feeling fine immediately. "There's nothing to worry. They have'nt treated me so bad really. I am being terminated with two months notice and salary. I have ample time to look for another job. It did come as a shock to me but...it's okay. One door closes, five more doors open. This is not the end of the world..."
"But why did they terminate you? You were so nice, experienced and qualified teacher..?"
"My salary was getting costly for them."

She hugged me affectionately. I felt so relieved to see her happy and usual self despite the unexpected termination. I am sure if I had been in her place I would have been too badly hit with dejection, depression and negativity.
She is truly wonderful to keep her spirits up and still not wish them hell.

Dear An, I wish you all the best for your future and plenty of love, happiness and success in life.

The last Saturday was my birthday according to certificates. My real birthday is in October. I didn't tell anybody and had no wish to celebrate it in school as every teacher's birthday is celebrated together with the whole school.

I was surprised to see that Cl remembered my birthday and didn't forget to sms me even when she was on her 4 day vacation to Ukrain.

By todayI had forgotten everything about my birthday.
After the morning circle Cl made the children sing Happy Birthday song for me both in English and German which I found very touching.
Over the coarse of the day the other teachers too came and wished me Happy birthday. They were all surprised that I didn't wish to celebrate...

Tomorrow we have a staff meeting...!

Mk and Lk have have left without farewell....!

Mk and Lk have gone.
The last school day their mother came to pick them up and didn't say they wouldn't be coming anymore. Later in the evening, their father came and had a talk in the office. A little while later Mz broke the news to Cl that Mk and Lk won't be coming to school anymore.
They were supposed to stay in the school till the end of the session i.e. end of July.
Their portfolio is still in the school with us and they have left the school without farewell as their father had told me the other day. Still I was unprepared for this news and felt bad that I won't be seeing Mk anymore...

It is saddening that one of the most active and definitely one of the best parents (and even Mk and Lk) in terms of behavior had to leave the school in such a manner.

I kept thinking of Mk the whole day. I am going to miss him badly

I miss Mk

I miss Mk a lot; chiefly because he went away without telling us and because he had to go for a really sad reason and even more so because he was such a nice boy.

 He was the oldest child in my class, three years old, and the most independent, smart and  masculine type. A spitting image of his father, he could do almost everything by himself and and spoke both English as well as German. He was particularly fond of the little Indian girl Ml and always preferred being her partner and sitting next to her. We all found this pretty amusing and in fact when our group was about to be photographed his father had made a special request that Mk be allowed to stand next to Ml in the group.

Cl and I both were so fond of him and loved him dearly. Since nearly 2 months we had already begun feeling sad that we would now have to lose him to the next group in the next session. I wish that was happening now...

With Mk and Ll gone, our class has somehow lost its lovely lustre. It isn't the same.

Cl's behavior intrigues me

Cl is such a nice girl and she is so nice towards me but now I have serious doubts that she is only faking good behavior towards me.
For one thing she doesn't trust me. She never tells me anything not because she doesn't want to gossip but because she doesn't want me to discover any news through her which I might tell others and implicate her name unknowingly - and this when she knows that I do not share confidences with others and even if I do will never implicate her.

Yesterday the whole school was on fire over An's firing and everybody was talking to everybody. Yet when I met her to wish her goodbye and nice holidays she didn't breathe a word to me. I know f I hadn't been present in front of the blue room I might never have known all this until 5 days later.I was almost angry with her for treating me with so much obviously forced distance and mistrust On several previous occasions too she has clearly shown me she didn't want to discuss other school matters with me, only the ones that concern my immediate group and that too in limited words.
lately I have started being careful that I never ask her about anything.

Does she distrust me to such an extent? Does she dislike me and just fakes good behavior because we are team mates?
I always believed in her goodness and still do but now instead of trusting that she means it when she says she likes me a lot I can say she perhaps doesn't like me. I have failed to win her trust and approval.

If I get to stay in this school in the new session, I hope I don't get to work with her. She is excellent to work with but if she keeps feeling afraid and suspicious of me like I were an undercover police agent or a terrorist than we had better not be thrown in together.