just another morning here » school

Out of the ordinary

Sarah — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:05:11 +0000

It is exceedingly rare that Josiah will allow me to take a photo of him, but he was obviously very pleased with the trophy he received at ECS Speech Day this evening – awarded for the most promising young musician. There are a string of names we recognise already on the trophy, children who have gone on to be inspiring people with their music – and, apart from that, it was the THIRD BIGGEST trophy of the night! (Obviously the most important thing )
I was hoping to escape having to attend the event, I confess, but actually it was worth it – we are very proud of him and also really grateful that he is part of such a wonderful school. I’m a sucker for being over-emotional at events like that but that is honestly how I feel!

Came home supposedly to plan lessons for tomorrow and have ended up falling asleep in front of the computer. Early morning instead I think …

For once it’s all about the taking part

Sarah — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:24:08 +0000

Readers who know me well know that usually I am more concerned about winning than taking part – but today proves to be an exception to the rule

Josiah took part in his House Music Festival today and although his house didn’t win, he played his solo piece very nicely, as well as taking part in a House Ensemble. I couldn’t go because it was in school time (boo) but Steve went along and recorded it for me! I wish I could have heard the whole thing. Anyway apparently he got some nice comments from the adjudicator there so well done to him Unfortunately he’s come home fairly exhausted and therefore grumpy, but hopefully an early night will sort him out.

Meanwhile at my school I had a team of students from across the upper school in my class today taking part in an Enterprise Day – we had to produce something from a beetroot. My group decided to go for juice, but other groups produced everything from playdoh to crisps, and cakes to relish! It was a really fun day and I loved looking around the room to see all the kids busy and productive – from designing posters and labels, to making our presentation on the computer, chopping veg, and using a switch adapted juicer so that everyone could join in the juicing. We even had some sensory play with the bits of beetroot that were left over after juicing! It was fab, even though we got fired at the end

Parents’ Evening

Sarah — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 05:08:27 +0000

So, I’ve now held my first parents’ evening as a teacher. Lovely to meet parents, put names to faces, and hear about what they feel is important for their children. Not so lovely to have to set targets alongside them because I’m a rebel and I hate stuff like that – it feels like a paper pushing exercise when what the parents really wanted was just to chat- and they all needed more than 15 minutes to do it in. Ho hum.

I got to school at 7am this morning, managed to leave after parents’ eve at 6.45pm. I’m very lucky that I only live 3 minutes away, as I was home having tea at 6.50pm (the girls cooked ). Steve and I bolted ours down and then left them to it, as we were meant to be at Abbie’s parents’ evening at 6.30pm!

As it turned out, it was a Y7 new parents’ evening, where we were told about all the school rules (though we missed that part, that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it), and lectured on e-safety. I sat at the back feeling very guilty that we don’t have parental controls on our internet, all our children have facebook accounts etc. etc. Although I felt slightly better that all our computers are downstairs in public spaces and I actively encourage ‘looking over shoulders’ – mainly I ask the kids to keep looking over mine to make sure I’m not on facebook when I should be working! When the teacher started talking about having googled girls’ names and found images of them I did imagine that she could have been reading here, but luckily having a boring surname helps with that – you have to google ‘beetroot risotto’ or ‘weight of a duck’ to find this page! Anyway. Our version of e-safety is very different to theirs

Then we were asked to enjoy mingling. Well, I can’t help it, but I don’t enjoy mingling. I was so tired, we almost left there and then – but forced ourselves to stay and chat to a few teachers. Actually it was ok – and we ended up talking about both girls, since all the teachers that we did talk to had made the link and talked to us about both of them. All fine

Home in time for Gareth Malone and a catch up on the internet, with my internet friends that I met online before knowing them in real life. They might have been stalkers ready to cyber-bully me, but funnily enough most of them are just real people that I rather like

Up early now since I couldn’t manage to do any planning last night so it will have to happen now … I’ve found I’m far more productive at school around 7am than the night before, and the kids don’t miss my nagging in the mornings, so it works all ways round.

Protected: Exhausted

Sarah — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 06:12:01 +0000

Back to school …

Sarah — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:34:28 +0000

Photos are for Grandma It is incredibly difficult to get all three of them to agree to even have a photo taken together so you are very lucky to have got these, it was painful, as Steve will verify!

Their terms all started fine yesterday; mine is getting off to a less than brilliant start since there are still builders working in my classroom, it’s covered in dust and we can’t really get to any of the spaces to put things away, the cleaners aren’t in until Saturday and Sunday, and the kids are in on Monday. Two of my TAs are off for different reasons, so it’s all a bit of a stress really. Still, it can only get better. Actually when the students are in I’m sure it will all suddenly fall into place – it will have to!

End of an era

Sarah — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:20:29 +0000

I now have no children at Pinhoe Primary School. Gosh, it was such a big deal for them all to start there four years ago, from having been home educated – and now I am sad, in some ways, to leave it behind. In other ways we’re ready to leave and it’s good – but it is with an emotional pang and a bit of a sniff that I write this. Definitely the end of the bookbag years

This daft saying goodbye thing started getting emotional a couple of weeks ago at the Choral Evening – when the choir sang a song that was the ‘Leavers’ Song’ the year that Anna left! It brought a tear to the eye of a number of parents – who knew how much we would blub today!

After that came parents’ evening where yet again I thanked Miss White for giving Abbie the best two years of primary school – the two of them have got on really well, and that has meant loads to me, especially during this last year when Abbie’s been a bit of a latchkey kid. Easy to get emotional when thanking someone who has probably spent more time with your daughter than you have recently, inspired her in many ways, helped her loads with academics (and hence helped with scholarship!), given her great opportunities, been a brilliant role model, and most of all had a lot of fun.

Not only that, Miss White also involved Anna well after Anna had left the school, letting her come back to sing in the choir, and play piano for them – a big encouragement. I’m sure teachers at Abbie’s new school will be just as lovely but there really was something special about Miss White. She herself is leaving ‘class teacher’ status at Pinhoe, so it’s emotional for her too this year – I’m just (selfishly!) glad she’s didn’t do it any earlier!
So, all in all, Miss White is wonderful, and I can’t help but get a bit teary when saying thank you as it really has meant so much.

We’ve had the Y6 play, and the farming exhibition, but we mums have been building up to today – joking about how many tissues we would need! Abbie’s leaving present to me was a headful of nits, but the less said about that the better – I’ve been combing like crazy over the past few days! Anyway. Today’s leavers’ assembly was lovely, a bit of a tear-jerker, but not too bad – luckily I ended up sitting behind Abbie so couldn’t see her face, which helped!

And, thank goodness, term is over for me too. We had a balloon release this morning for the little boy who died recently, so that was emotional as well; it’s the end of a year as an HLTA, and the start of a year as a teacher, which is totally overwhelming – aargh! We’re off to the beach to celebrate the end of the school year later so that should be relaxing at least – I’m going to take a few welcome beers!

Tired, tired, tired

Sarah — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:44:00 +0000

I know I shouldn’t moan but I’m just exhausted. Today I didn’t finish work until 6.30pm (trying to get my head around planning for next year), dashed to pick the children up, then ate a fairly rubbish dinner because I hadn’t thought about it properly so cooked the nearest thing (eggs and beans on toast). I am becoming one of those people who doesn’t see their children for more than half an hour in the day Really hope that this next year teaching isn’t just one Big Mistake as far as my family is concerned.

On the positive side, today Abbie’s year group displayed their Y6 projects on farming in an exhibition – they’d each had to study a local farm, picking an aspect of that farm’s produce etc. Abbie and her friend Georgina had really enjoyed their visits to Taverner’s Farm, looking around and then making ice cream. They’d worked hard on the project and were very excited about having their very own ‘Crunchy Cow Pat’ ice cream for people to taste! (thanks to Georgina’s mum for the photo )

Apparently the rest of the year group had also worked very hard and there were loads of brilliant displays as well as different tasters for visitors to the exhibition – sadly I didn’t get to go but I have it on good authority that it was an excellent afternoon

And the best bit? There was plenty of ice cream left over!

Class swap days

Sarah — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:38:52 +0000

I started writing this post on Friday morning, and it began like this:

As I write, I am wetting myself about these! Usually I teach in a class where the group of students are settled, the staff know them, and the staff know where everything is in the classroom, the routine, etc.

Today it’s the first of two swap days, where I’m in with my new students for next year. Unfortunately two of my staff are off sick with bad backs so I’ll have some cover staff – none of them really know the students, the classroom’s someone else’s at the moment, and even the group of students haven’t been together as a class before. So, having a bit of a stress!

By the time I’ve come to finish it we’re at Friday night and the first dreaded swap day is over. I’m pleased to report that it went much better than expected, actually I ended up with extra staff that I didn’t think I was having, the kids were so shell-shocked by the change that they all behaved impeccably, and the PE HLTA helped me out greatly by having them for PE in the afternoon anyway! Monday is looking up as a result

Edited to add: Monday was cool too – I have a lovely staff team to work with We only had 6/10 of the students that we’ll have in September so it was a slightly unrealistic swap day today but we had a lovely time anyway!

The Bible in 2 hours!

Sarah — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:44:42 +0000

We’ve just got home from seeing the Y6 productions at Abbie’s school.

There are two Y6 classes this year, and one of them did a mashup of the Old Testament while the other one did a quick skip through the New Testament. The first production included excerpts from Joseph (and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat), David and Goliath (The Giant Slayer), and Jonah (Jonah Man Jazz) – the second performance was The Gospel Show.

Abbie played Joseph – and then a Philistine, and then a drunken Ninevite – not sure which part she enjoyed the most! Joe and Anna ended up being involved too – Anna supported the Y6 keyboard player in one of the jazzy pieces that he couldn’t quite play, so Joe helped with props. It was a great evening, really loved seeing Abbie and all her friends enjoying themselves

Last week of Posh School

Sarah — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:37:54 +0000

Still feel it’s very unfair for two of the family to finish a whole two weeks before the rest, but c’est la vie! Highlights from this week:

Monday
Josiah’s school Prizegiving: he got a prize for effort, progress and achievement in Y4 so well done to him. He also played in the orchestra and sang in Junior Choir during the evening, so nice to hear that, especially the singing since I missed the Junior Choir concert last week.

Tuesday
Nothing special to report; Joe sang at a funeral but otherwise things were normal. As normal as they ever are around here!

Wednesday
Josiah’s school trip was on Wednesday; he really enjoyed his day out at Escot.

Thursday
The end of term for the posh schoolers. Also Anna’s prizegiving, and then Pinhoe School’s Choral Evening – which clashed with the last Evensong of the year (plus farewells for the Y8 choristers). Oh, and let’s not forget Abbie and Georgina’s second trip to Taverner’s Farm where they made a tub full of their very own ice cream to support their school project!

They also got to help making lots of other flavours, and generally had a fantastic time. Anna had a friend back here so the girls did the choral evening with me, while Steve went to the last evensong of the term. Then I took Anna and her friend back to the friend’s house for Anna to sleep over. Then came home and breathed a sigh of relief! Phew.

So tomorrow Abbie and I will be off to school, while Anna is going to the beach and Steve will be largely loafing around with Josiah.