Well everybody's hoppin', everybody's boppin', boppin' at the High School Hop (Jerry Lee Lewis)

This post is brought to you courtesy of the inspiration derived from Michael Smith's PrincipalPage blog (link is in my blog list on the right).


Here's my list (in no particular order) of 25 things to be thankful for in my job as Lead Advisor at Ali bin Abi Taleb School.

1. The laughter I hear in the corridor outside my office every day (from a revolving cast).
2. Air conditioning - couldn't do it without you Mr General.
3. My dream team of advisors. Take a bow Jan, Peter, Davego, David, and Gavin.
4. Sharing an office with our translator, Hisham (a mutual support network of two).
5. The band at taboor (assembly) every morning.
6. Watching the teachers walk arm in arm with students.
7. Shaking hands with students at break time.
8. The Arabic teacher meetings - a riot of laughs.
9. Morning greetings with the staff and handshakes all 'round.
10. It's a boys' school with an all male staff - alhamdolilah (praise to God).
11. It's a Cycle Two school (Grade 6-9) so nowhere near the same pressures as in Cycle Three.
12. Mohammed, the Principal.
13. Holy Qur'an readings by the students which float in the morning breezes.
14. The view of the trees outside my office window.
15. School rituals.
16. The music coming from Ahmed's room (with Nidal's singing from time to time).
17. Abdulla (one of the Arabic teachers) and his daily greetings.
18. The boys' enthusiastic singing of the national anthem at taboor.
19. The friendly warm relationships.
20. Vice-Principal Fadhil's laugh and cheeky smile.
21. The enthusiasm for learning and embracing change.
22. The lack of private agendas that sabotage improvements for students.
23. The sweet black tea.
24. The open gate that symbolizes a lot about the welcoming atmosphere at the school.
25. Blogs from Michael Smith that keep me amused, grounded AND inspired.