The Head's Office - Latest Comments

Re: More Word Challenges!

John Jones — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 06:42:30 -0000

I will ask the teachers at ISM, many of whom are bilingual.

Re: More Word Challenges!

Alex Bellars — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 13:06:30 -0000

Great idea! Go for it! Will happily push it!

Re: The Dilema

Sway Grantham — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:38:00 -0000

I am neither a head nor a parent but thought I'd add my two pence anyway :) I cannot imagine what it is like to make that decision as a head, as you have pointed out there are those parents that don't agree as well as other officials.

On Friday we were told the snow would be bad, in fact so bad that our feeder secondary school told children on the Thursday that school would be shut tomorrow and not to even try going in. We went to bed expecting to be greeted by a white blanket of the cold stuff only to find, it had not turned up!

Into school we went, no sign of snow anywhere until about 9:15 at which point it started and went on and on and on. At 11am, and after consultation with the first schools, the decision was made to close the school and any staff that lived in the next town were sent home. The texts were sent saying we'd close by 1:30 and could parents start making their way to school.

We were told to continue lessons as normal until lunchtime when the children would eat and then start going home. This plan however went out the window! Parents started arriving as soon as the text had gone out and soon after it was impossible to keep it quiet from the children. Year 6 were employed to be runners collecting children from classrooms and it was all hands on deck to ensure each child was signed out.

Staff were told to leave as the numbers of children dwindled. Learning support assistants first, then teachers with children and finally others depending on who lived furthest away or was less senior. The final children left at around 2:15pm and then the last of the staff managed to make it home. After all that we finished school an hour early...it does beg the question - was it worth it?

I am sure it will have been exciting for the children to get to go home and play in it. For at school if there is any ice they're not allowed to spend any time outside - even before school! We are waiting to see whether we will be back in school on Monday, if not I have suggested to the children that they look on the blog for some snowy activity ideas but it will not be mandatory and no other class will do the same.

I agree that it is such a lost learning opportunity to make use of the snow. I managed to persuade my head teacher to let me take my maths class out last time it snowed. On the condition that they changed into their PE shoes when they got back into school. If they didn't have a change in shoes or a coat they weren't allowed to join us but that was fortunately only 2 children. We had loads of fun and we learnt much more than we would have in 1 lesson in the classroom. It is such a shame that we all have to worry so much about it!

Re: The Dilema

jfb57 — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 09:08:33 -0000

I forgot to mention the attendance data! Of course! It is better to close the school than have dribs & drabs of children in! I'm sure blogging & internet will make being absent from school a thing of the past before long!

Re: The Dilema

Emma Overton — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 08:27:54 -0000

I read your blog and was there with you, at every scenario!
The snow weeks of 2011 was a real headache for us. I made the decision to keep the school open against all odds and it ended up causing huge issues with attendance data! I have spent the last 18 mths explaining and justifying reasons for low attendance to both SIPs and OFSTED! What I did learn, very quickly, was how to disaggregate attendance data!! Shame they didn't do this in Raise on Line!
Unfortunately there was one day we had no choice but to close the school! I asked all staff to check in by emailing school to say they were online and able to communicate with staff and children throughout the school day, this ensured they were all paid! We then sent a text to parents to get their children to log on to the learning platform from home, where teachers posted class activities onto their virtual classrooms. Throughout the day children sent work back and forward between emails and accessed tasks and online lessons linked to their topics. I have no idea how many children accessed the e learning platform that day, but I know that the 'powers that be' were very impressed with the efforts of staff to encourage virtual learning. I'm not sure I would manage creating 380 flex-school agreements, but I'm sure there is scope for children receiving an attendance mark under these circumstances, so that school attendance data isn't affected.
We have advanced so much in terms of technology since then, with our iPad@myPad project and the fact that most children are now online in their homes. Class blogs and twitter will certainly be able to help us in the future, if we have to manage a similar situation.

Re: Presentation Links

Jacqui Murray — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 21:46:57 -0000

There are some gems in this list, Julia. Thanks.

Re: Magic Letters

Li-ling Ooi — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 08:07:34 -0000

I do not doubt at all, that there are definitely occasions when Magic Letters are necessary. But I also sometimes wonder if it is used as an excuse (both for children and their adults) to be able to behave in socially non-acceptable ways and then place the blame squarely on these same Magic Letters.

Re: I Don’t Like Halloween!!

Dixie2327 — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:33:32 -0000

I do not celebrate Halloween and I do not allow my kids to go trick and treating. This year my son asked me to find at least 5 people who do not like Halloween to prove to him that there is more people like me.
Thank you for having this website.
Now I feel much better that there are people out there who share the same thoughts as I have.
Thank You!

Re: Blog Dipping – Taradale, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Kimberley Rivett — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 06:37:16 -0000

awesome blog, lots to look at and read. Really enjoyed the abstract art!

Re: Blog Dipping!

Ryan Chrysler — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 01:14:44 -0000

What a great idea. Please dip in at http://bartoncloughprimary.net

Re: Blog Dipping!

jfb57 — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 09:16:47 -0000

Excellent! Many thanks. Hope you will pop into 100wc.net in Sept. it's having a real oact on children's writing and class blogging

Re: Blog Dipping!

Luci McQuitty Hindmarsh — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 08:48:43 -0000

Marvellous! Shall include this in the August BritMums Education Round Up

Re: Blog Dipping – St Clair, Dunedin, New Zealand

@msbeenz — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 03:58:32 -0000

James and his family were feeling very proud today! An absolute honour to be posted here, tweeted about and feeling very, very encouraged about the global audience our children have. Neinsteins saw themselves as potentially published writers to an authentic audience every time they blog! Many thanks!

Re: Blog Dipping!

jfb57 — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 16:55:08 -0000

I'm hoping that during the holidays in the UK, schools around the world get the idea so that we can continue in September. Spread the word please!

Re: Blog Dipping!

Orlama — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 07:43:26 -0000

Hello
I too think this is a great idea and I have replied via Tweetdeck/Twitter. I use a couple of different blogs (Using primaryblogger and kidblog) with the children I teach but I'm really keen to encourage them to link with others around the world. This September will be my third academic year, the children really enjoy it and I enjoy finding different ways of using it.
Looking forward to using Blog Dipping.
I am in Leeds England and the school is in Wakefield England.
http://itstherealthing.prim...

Re: Blog Dipping – Hamilton East School, New Zealand

Room 4 — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 17:13:45 -0000

Hi!
Thank you for putting our blog on your blog. We think it is so cool that you are in England and we are in New Zealand. We love our blog because we can share our learning.
From Room 4
Hamilton East School

Re: Blog Dipping!

Justine — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 07:30:00 -0000

Hi there,

I did tweet my blog name, but forgot to tell you where we are and what school!

'Adventures with Miss B' - http://missbeavis.edublogs.org is about the students in Miss Beavis' class in Sydney, Australia. We are a 5/6 class. This is our third year of blogging with Miss B!

Love the Blog Dipping idea!

Re: Blog Dipping – St Mary’s, Mosgiel, New Zealand

Anne — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 04:08:33 -0000

Woohoo, how exciting to see ourselves featured here. I wish I had taken a photo of the children's faces when I shared it with them. Thanks so much for your kind words. I am in awe of the power of social networking sites to connect learners around the globe. Margaret Mahy is a true New Zealand treasure and I am sure she will live on in the readers for generations to come.
Thanks again.
Anne K

Re: Teachers’ Holidays!

Caffruane — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:12:49 -0000

Do teachers get holidays besides the *school holidays* ?.

Re: Education Blog Awards

Mattfothergill — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 17:13:21 -0000

Congratulations Julia. Thoroughly deserved recognition of your hard work.

Re: Education Blog Awards

Cherise Duxbury — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 17:03:40 -0000

A truly well deserved award for you and your wonderful team. The work you put in to helping children is very much appreciated and I hope this award goes some way in saying THANK YOU to you and team 100.

Re: Education Blog Awards

Mscoxenglish — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 16:52:29 -0000

Blogtastic!
Well done to everyone involved and to the inspiration behind the blog, you, JULIA.

Re: Education Blog Awards

jfb57 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 04:37:51 -0000

Thanks Maggy! I'm overwhelmed to be honest!

Re: Education Blog Awards

maggy, red ted art — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 04:23:48 -0000

Oh wow!! Very well deserved Julia! You must be sooo pleased!

Re: The purpose of education is to burn brightly!

jfb57 — Thu, 31 May 2012 04:29:11 -0000

Having your learning recognised is really important for us all. I'm hoping to do some work with Mozilla about accrediting young people to become commentators for 100WC. The problem comes when the learning is totally aimed at the accreditation and has no value in itself.