opening doors

Like most teachers, I walk into school with arms and hands full. Not quite as full as some of my colleagues, but full nonetheless. I’ve gotten into a better habit of wearing my badge this year. I’ve even gotten into a routine of clipping it to some article of clothing before I exit the car and head into the building. This simple habit, makes it much easier to swipe open the door each morning. Once in the building. I take mental note where my the key to my room is. “Is it buried in beneath my lunch and snacks, I hope so.” Ninety-nine percent of the time, I do not need to empty my arms and hands and dig deep for my key, because, well, we have Tim.

Tim is our safety officer. Over the past few years, Tim has become a valuable member of our school community. He’s the guy in the red shirt. He’s the guy that that bookends our days at parent pick up. Safely ushering children to their parents. He’s the guy that’s posted right at our entry way where he welcomes those late to school. He greats them with a smile, making them know he’s glad they are here. If you pass him in the halls, while he’s at his post, he will always notice you and say hello. He’s the guy who’s out at every recess, every day. He’s the keeper of the first aid kit and the whistle. If you have recess duty, he’s always one for a quick story or a simple hello. He’s the guy who monitors our school property, taking laps around the both the inside and the outside of the building, watching out for it all.

And, he’s the guy who unlocks and opens all our doors each morning. This simple act says so much.

Thanks for all you do, Tim. I, we, all appreciate you.