grace in controlled chaos

controlled chaos.  a term i've heard used often to describe the magic that happens everyday in classrooms.  after finishing my first week as a principal, however, i have a whole new understanding of it on a macro-level.  let me explain.

while i am no longer the person immediately responsible for twenty-something pre-adolescents every minute of the day,  i am now ultimately responsible for two hundred-plus children- their overall well-being, the quality of the education they are receiving, their parents' satisfaction, etc.  i'm also responsible for the twenty-ish adults who work in the building- for their well-being, for their relative happiness and job satisfaction, etc.  i'm also responsible for a century-old building and all of the fun that accompanies it.


what this looks like on a daily basis is me constantly on the move.  there is no "typical day", but here is a glance at one of my days last week:
7:00  Daily Mass
7:30  Walk around outside, greeting students and parents, answering questions, etc.
7:45  Accompany pre-k and k classes inside in an attempt to minimize tears and clingy parents
8:00  Help students lead prayer over the intercom
8:10  Check in with secretary; make sure she's not totally overwhelmed yet
8:20  Make rounds, greet each class, check in with each teacher
9:00  Deal with kindergartener who is hiding in the coat closet and refusing to come out
9:15  Check back in with secretary; attempt to not act overwhelmed when she hands me six phone messages for people I need to call back; attempt to return said calls
10:00  Meet with parent who doesn't understand paperwork for lunch program
10:30  Meet with parent who needs additional financial aid
11:00  Attempt to check email while aforementioned kindergartener sits at table in my office because he refuses to go back to his classroom
11:15  FedEx delivery of more textbooks; unpack boxes, deliver books to classrooms
11:30  Check in with first round of students having lunch out in the hall
11:45  Speak briefly with pastor who stops by to check in
12:00  Check in with second round of lunch
12:30  Check in with final round of lunch
12:45  Get four new phone messages from secretary; too overwhelmed to call back, I sit down and try to eat at least part of my lunch before something else gets thrown my way
1:00  Take 7th graders over to church to practice for Mass they are leading next week
1:30  Pre-k teacher comes into office with two students who were biting each other; previous policy was that biters immediately went home, no questions asked.  Decide quickly that this isn't fair since we haven't informed parents of this yet this year.  Tell teacher to send home warning, add policy description to this week's newsletter.
1:45  Attempt to respond to a few emails (only get to 2 out of 17)
2:10  Help students lead closing prayer and announcements over the intercom
2:15 Go outside with pre-k and k classes to help with dismissal, speak to mother of aforementioned kindergartener about ideas to help him transition more easily
2:45  Get back inside to be attacked by 5 teachers in a row needing different things
3:00  Find out what needs to be done before tomorrow from secretary before she leaves for the day; begin getting said things done.
7:00  Head home


Here's the thing: I don't want to jinx it, but right now, I'm thriving on the constant bombardment of different things.  Not only is everyday different, but every minute is different.  I never know what's coming next, and I love it.  It's energizing.  And relatively speaking, I've been able to handle everything that's come my way so far, in a relatively controlled manner.  Let's hope that's not just beginner's luck.