Last Sunday, a new 2nd Counselor was called into our Primary presidency. My previous 2nd Counselor had moved about a month before. We had our first meeting on Wednesday night--and I felt the biggest sense of relief! I didn't realize how much stress was on my shoulders from carrying those 2nd Counselor responsibilities along with my own until they were removed on Wednesday.
I have to be honest, being the Primary President in our ward is not the most difficult calling. We have about 15 kids in 3 classes...and they are all Junior Primary age. We don't have to worry about scouts, transition to YM/YW, etc. And, while we do have to worry about many of the normal Primary problems, the biggest issues I see are related to the approximate 1 year time limit each calling in this ward has.
BYU married student wards/stakes are often referred to as "training wards/stakes". The time limit on callings allows as many people as possible to experience many different callings, while also providing some stability with a ward structure. That way, when we leave BYU, we will have an understanding of how things are supposed to be run on both a ward and stake level.
Unfortunately, this also means that the entire Primary changes about once a year, bringing new teachers, new music people, new Nursery leaders, etc. This also means that as you learn things for "next time," you will most likely live in another ward before "next time" in that calling rolls around. Take the Primary Program, for example. Many wards begin writing their Primary Program early in the year. In our ward, we don't have that luxury. First of all, the Primary Presidency completely changes sometime during the summer. And, even after the Presidency is put in place, we still have NO idea how many children we will have by the time Fall semester starts. We are still working on putting together our program for this year, which is supposed to happen Oct. 26. The good news is that the kids, whether they've been in this ward or not, have been learning the songs throughout the year--so at least we know there will be music!
I'm really not complaining about this at all. I really appreciate what I'm learning...like the kids don't really know when things aren't going as planned. And, that sometimes the biggest part of your calling is teaching adults how to take on responsibility. And, that constant change isn't such a big deal after all.
Isaac’s first football game of the year.
1 year ago
2 comments:
I love Primary. I am sure you are doing a wonderful job. I know what you mean about the student turnover. That is a challenge.
Your experience in Primary sounds very much like my experience as a Primary Pres. We weren't even in a student ward, per se, but it was so transient. It was so fun, but also very challenging. Just know that in a few years...you will be longing for it!!! There is something so wonderful about that kind of experience.
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