Interesting Times!

Thursday, 24 May 2007

I received an e-mail today from one of my colleagues who has got a fantastic new job...

"Dear Chris, I announced to my Governors on Monday, and to my staff today, my imminent departure from Leeds to take up a headship in North Wales. This is a fantastic 'work life balance' opportunity for my family to move to an area where we have wanted to live for some time & also a tremendous professional challenge for me (no SATs, no CVA, no league tables......no money!!!!).

I want you to know that, although it has been a roller-coaster for me, I have enjoyed working in Leeds so much that I could not begin to tell you. A lot of people,including myself at times, have scoffed at your oft stated assertion that there are 'brilliant' people in Leeds - well it is 100% true. There are many colleagues in Leeds I will miss, both professionally and personally, and I could possibly name them all. At Education Leeds I have come across so many great people that it may be unfair to mention anyone in particular, but I would like to thank both you and your colleagues for allowing me to work closely with you on many projects over my time. I hope I may have made some small contribution to pushing things forward in the right direction - and if not you an always blame me for stuff when I've gone!!

I think it is worth pointing out that, under the Welsh Assembly Government, things are entirely different in Wales and so it will take me a while to get used to things. One thing that is already clear, however, is how well off Leeds is financially and you should take some of the credit for that personally because you have ensured that Leeds never gets forgotten. Learners in Leeds will thank you one day I'm sure."

It's great to know that colleagues leaving Leeds, with nothing to gain or lose, recognise and celebrate what we have here... people and provision that is so unique and so special.
Chris

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Brilliant Quotes!

“I must accept life unconditionally. Most people ask for happiness on condition. Happiness can only be felt if you don't set any condition.”
Margaret Lee Runbeck

“Happiness is not in our circumstances but in ourselves. It is not something we see, like a rainbow, or feel, like the heat of a fire. Happiness is something we are.”
John B. Sheerin

“Most true happiness comes from one's inner life, from the disposition of the mind and soul. Admittedly, a good inner life is difficult to achieve, especially in these trying times. It takes reflection and contemplation and self-discipline.”
William L Shirer

“The pursuit of happiness is a most ridiculous phrase: If you pursue happiness you'll never find it.”
C.P. Snow

“Doubly rich is the man still boyish enough to play, laugh and sing as he carries and emanates sunshine along a friendly road.”
Charles R. Wiers

"Faith is not a shelter against difficulties, but belief in the face of all contradictions."
Paul Tournier

"Convictions are the mainsprings of action, the driving powers of life. What a man lives are his convictions."
Francis C. Kelley

"To do anything in this world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger; but jump in, and scramble through as well as we can."
Sydney Smith

"It is often just as sacred to laugh as it is to pray"
Charles R. Swindoll

"Things never go so well that one should have no fear; and never so ill that one should have no hope"
Turkish proverb

"Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself"
Chinese proverb

"Don't bother to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."
William Faulkner

"In times of change, learners will inherit the earth,while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists"
Eric Hoffer

"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."
John Lennon

"Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation."
Robert F. Kennedy

"The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems."
Mahatma Gandhi

"Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way."
Abraham Lincoln

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
Martin Luther King Jr.

"There is nothing in life so difficult that it cannot be overcome. This faith can move mountains. It can change people. It can change the world."
Norman Vincent Peale

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
Albert Einstein

"Life isn't measured by the number of breaths we take but the moments that take our breath away."
Anonymous

"Patience and perseverence have a magical affect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish."
John Quincy Adams

"Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and woman to win them."
Ralph Waldo Emerson