Having Principals

I first met Principal Seamus Marriott and his wife Theresa in Wisconsin at a Walloon Institute and later traveled to work at his school in Shanghai, then in Cairo, and most recently in Balikpapan. Not only did he invite us to great locations, he helped us plan side trips, introduced into other schools, fantastic teachers and enthusiastic kids, and even took us for a spinning time at a Scottish Ball.  While we have had a great time working for him in each location, the visit to Pasir Ridge was special indeed. 

Twenty years of visiting schools has taught me a lot of things, but one fact gets reinforced every visit: Principals set the tone of the school.  The good ones are out of their offices more than in, poking heads in classrooms, attending assemblies and after school basketball games.  They know the names of the kids, the parents, and who likely had breakfast that morning.  The faculty comes to these principals voluntarily; they know the names of their teachers' dogs, spouses, and if their parents are failing. Part counselor, part boss, always setting a standard for professionalism.  I have to say, when I was just a parent, I had no idea how the important the role of a principal is.  Some manage staffs of dozens of people making sure that standards for learning are met right along with cleaning the white boards when needed.  But over the years I have learned.  It takes about 10 minutes for a consultant to discern if they are walking into a healthy or an unhealthy school, and undoubtedly, the diagnosis can be traced right to the principal’s office.  In a world of great diversity when it comes to principals, Seamus is a gem.

Turns out that not only should Seamus be giving principal lessons, he is a poet!  Seamus wrote us a poem for our final assembly.  Not just a poem, an ODE. 

Ode to Our Visiting Poets

By Seamus Marriott

Poets pick their words for clarity and prose

Crafting a bouquet for the reader’s nose

They paint a picture and tell a tale

They can make us happy or can make us wail

Words are their tools like an artist’s brush on the page

Embossed in the ink or even digital in this new age

Our learning this week has been rewarding and fun

And we are sad that our time together is done

Thank you for enriching our words and encouraging our PIPES

We will remember you fondly and proudly wear our new poetry stripes

You have truly developed our poetry lens

Best wishes from PRIS and all your new poetry friends.

Thank you my friend.