McKenzie Towne's New AP

Well, it's official. The school in McKenzie Towne has a newly appointed AP and he may be a familiar face. Mr. Murphy will serve as the new assistant principal, joining Mrs. Sarginson to form the administrative team of the new school. While he was tempted to write a poem about this great event (ask your children about Mr. Murphy's poem of the day), we convinced him to write the following piece and wish him the best of luck in this new adventure:

It seems like only yesterday that I was writing a very similar introduction to the families and staff of Haultain Memorial. I came to Haultain with the knowledge that my stay would be short lived but that the few years I would have here would no doubt prove to be a valuable learning experience for myself as an assistant principal. What I had not anticipated was the warm welcome that immediately made me feel appreciated and an instant member of the community.

For the past two years I have tried to earn this regard that I was fortunate enough to have bestowed upon myself and my family. For me, the news of McKenzie Towne school opening came earlier than I would have liked, as it is never easy to part ways when what has been built here has been so wonderful. I looked forward to the future and the challenges it held, but felt a sense of remorse that we often do when great partnerships come to an end (Mckenzie Towne and Queensland, not Barkley and I).

As the saying goes, “as one door closes, another opens” and to my great fortune I was chosen to be the new assistant principal of McKenzie Towne School. This opportunity will help to preserve and develop those relationships that have already begun as well as foster new ones as we welcome families from Acadia school as well. The excitement of opening a new school and the adventures that we will go through together has us all dreaming of the possibilities.

McKenzie Towne will be my third school in which I have been in the assistant principal role and my fifth school in the 12 years I have been with the Calgary Board of Education. My teaching experience has had me teaching every grade from kindergarten to grade six, and I can truly say every grade level has its unique and wonderful aspects. I thrive on exploring and discovering with students and staff while bringing learning to life for them in the classroom and beyond.

It will be a true honour to serve as you new assistant principal and I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting down to work with you all in the coming months.

Yours truly,

Patrick Murphy