Say Cheese!
That dreaded day arrived for Year 1F. Photo Day. This day also coincided with my routine end of Term sickness. I arrived early to set up activities, which ended up being spent replying to emails that were sent at 11:30pm all while waiting for the schedule to be sent to inform us of when we were to send our students over for their class and individual photos.
Photo Day for Primary School is when parents pay extra attention to detail. Shirts are ironed extra crisp to the point you can see the creases on the sleeves of their shirts, and their hair is styled with gel and hair spray. Some of the teachers have taken extra time to prepare themselves too. Ms Lodywik, the new graduate, has worn a bright yellow suit jacket for the first time this year. I myself wore my best polo shirt and applied eye drops to help get rid of the red eye from lack of sleep.
We open the door and parents stream in with the photo money when my colleague informs me of the time table being received and my class was due over the playground in ten minutes. Parents were ushered out in a polite, but also hurried manner while they still tried to straighten the stubborn hairs and ask us about the different packages that could be purchased. One even asked if parents could be in the family photos.
"Mr Hyde are you sick?"
"Mr Hyde, it's cold. Is it going to rain?"
"Mr Hyde, it's cold. Is it going to rain?"
After reassuring them that it wont rain, even though the storm clouds are gathering to the point that the automated lights are flicking on, we trudged along the footpaths to the playground. The class before us are just getting into position when the wind picks up. There are squeals as hair is starting to get out place and the photographer asks for eyes on him behind the camera.
Once they are done 1B are all assigned our spot. The photographer smiles as he assigns the students a spot, however that wavers when he tries to stop the students from building sand castles in the sand and asking them to wipe it off their shorts. The wind comes again this time blowing sand up into our eyes. I struggle to not squint when he says "Say Cheese". My nose starts to run, but the ever professional me, snorts it back up.
Onto the individuals. We trudge over to the gym where this photographer is not so friendly. He hurries through the photos. "Feet on the line, chin up. I said Chin up. Shoulder back, Move your pig tails forward! Say Cheese!" Some students have barely even had a chance to look at the camera before he snaps it and moves them on. I struggle to breathe as I ponder if he had his morning coffee before I realise it's my turn for my photo.
"Say Cheese!"
