A school year is a highly structured and predictable system. Tests around the same time each year on similar topics, with familiar teachers in their usual classrooms. However, it’s an oddity to have a teacher leave in the middle of a school year and be replaced by substitutes until a full-time replacement is finally found in December.
However, this is precisely what happened with Ms. Nichols; she came in during an unusual time of year, just weeks before the midterm exams.
Ms. Nichols found out about Jemicy through Ms. Bissell, a friend and peer from a previous school where Ms. Nichols had taught.
I asked her about the acclimation process for Jemicy after she acquired the job, and she thinks it was “okay” because it was right before Christmas break. So, she had a couple of weeks to read the books she would be teaching and select which ones she wanted to teach during the break, in preparation for the second half of the year.
For the rest of the year, it was still an adjustment process, but her classes and students were easy to work with. The adjustment process is still not over.
Ms. Nichols stated that she hasn’t been here for a whole year yet, so she’s still not 100% settled, but as January arrives, she’ll feel thoroughly acclimated.
Besides the unusual transition, Ms. Nichols has enjoyed the small class sizes and the students; she loves writing, and she’s teaching English and Written Expression classes.
Overall, it’s an excellent mix for Ms. Nichols at Jemicy.
MOOSE PRINTS 