Day 12 - The penultimate Day

prologue 1: There are 3 year 6 classes at the school and last weekend i did discos for two of them - these were great fun and it was really brilliant to party with the children

 prologue 2: I had gone to buy my lunch at Sainsburys and felt drawn to a deodorant display but i'm in a rush so just move on.  When i arrive at the school and take my coat off i realise that i stink - really stink.  I think maybe God was directing me to the deodorant and as is often the case, i missed the call.  I imagine him up in heaven holding his nose and hope sincerely that none of the teachers notice...

Last night had been the school open day so all the classes are immaculately laid out with work on display.  the first hour of the morning is the 'school safari' where each class tours around to see what everyone else has been up to in the year - its a good chance for the children to share with each other and me - though an awful lot of them seem more interested in looking out the window at other people's views!

Breaktime was fun - i played 40-40 with a bunch of boys.  When the bell goes all the children have to stand absolutely still and silently where they are and line up when called.  I used this opportunity to 'it' all the boys - their faces where mingle incredulous annoyance and frustation… points to me i think!

I've written a questionaire for teachers and children about this project and spent some time sorting those out before goint o find Yr6.  They are preparing for the school play which is excellent, but they are not allowed to talk so theres not much space for me… i go to help with yr4 games.


One boy is sitting out because "my Dad dropped a knife on my knee" - i ask if i can look and he doesn't answer.  I try to chat with him but i get one word responses or complete silence. 
It later transpires that he has made the story up - he has also been writing swear words all over the score sheet - he is in BIG trouble!
I manage to catch him later in the day and say if he ever wants to chat i'm his friend - he goes a little embarrassed mumbles something and turns his back on me.


Lunchtime is spent chatting to some of my favourite Yr 6 girls.  One of them shares their dream folder with me about her aspirations for the future - Living in the US (florida) having children (don't know how many) and including the line "i have all the resources i need to become the very best i can be" - its a brilliant folder.  Another of them has decided to make the world a "huggier" place so i get a hug :-)

Eco club are having an all afternoon special pond dipping day.  I go out to have a look at their finds.  however the clouds start to roll in and i don't have a coat so i go in.  Literally 30 seconds later, this happens:

Day 11 - The Year 6 Worry Clinic

I've come in on a Tuesday this week (rather than wednesday) because i had an assembly booked.  Unfortunately this was a double booking and the Paralympian trumps me!

Don't get to say hello to many children this week because of the caffuful around seting up for assembly and then packing down.  However several children do comment on me being there the wrong day so I guess that is a good sign that they've come to have certain expectations of me.

I spend the morning helping a lad with low confidence, watching the other assembly (in my opinion not nearly as good as my own!!).  There are some year 10 girls doing work experience and I chat to them.

I find out a few days later from a friend that the girls recognised me from when they were at school several years ago and were "very excited" and genuinely "inspired" to see me still doing kids work - this makes me very happy!

I've organised with a year 6 teacher to hold a drop-in clinic for anybody is concerned about moving schools.  I sit down in my spot after morning break and spend the next hour and half chatting with a steady stream of boys.  Main worries include (with my suggestions):

Catching the bus - (don't worry if you get the wrong one, it's an adventure)

Fights breaking out - (walk away or stand at a safe distance and enjoy the show)

Getting lost - (Just explore, open every door you can and have a snoop around)

What are the cool things to say? - (its not what you say, its who you are thats cool)

It is almost entirely boys.  One girl comes to ask if it has to be school or "can we talk about something else?" - of course i say we can chat about whatever she wants.  After 30 seconds of umming and aahing she decides she does want to talk about it - "thats fine" I say smiling, "you know ahere i am if you want me"

Its well into lunch break by the time i finish the clinic so i go and chat with teachers.  At the end of break another yr6 boy collars me and we talk for a full hour! - i am now exhausted :-)

I go to visit my yr4 buddies and then go home about 3:30 since there is no eco club today.

Day 10 - A very short day

This morning i was asked to spend some time with a lad in year 4 who is a bit shy and could do with a bit of boosting.  I sat with him all through french lesson.

I had a chat with the Head about her reflections on Chaplaincy - i think the strongest concern was over how to fund such a project, secondarily would be a concern about how parents would construe a religious figure in the school - though this was not a major concern.

After break i had to leave the school to go an give a presentation on the project.  I got back in time to read with some yr4 girls - which was an incredibly fun experience involving a lot of improvisation and accents from around the world.

After school was Eco club - i had my picture taken as an official member of the club today - the camera battery then ran out which was a problem because they needed photos for the national Eco monitors to check the status of the school.  I took photos on my Iphone which caused a bit of a problem as it breached school policy! - Whoops!

Day 9 - Becoming part of the fabric

it's a beautiful sunny day and I have forgotten my suncream - not a good idea!

Today I chatted to some of the cake schoolgirls about things one girl's mom is in hospital having an eye operation another boy is about to become an uncle

One little girl (whose mother I know) keeps inviting me round "when are you coming round?" this today has moved to "i know, we'll come to yours!" - it is getting more awkward every week!

This particular girl also fancies a boy and asks me to "tell him you know my mum".  I do this but it is awkward and the other children mock her for it.  It is hard to straddle the ground between - the comment is ridiculous and i don't want to defend it it, but equally i certainly don't want to belittle the girl either.

0900
Make tea for teachers with lots of lovely "thank yous"
One boy is upset about something I go to help but the teacher asked me not to (I feel a little rejected!)

0930

Sat with children outside doing peer mediation lessons; this is the precursor lesson to get Yr5 volunteers to be trained for peer mediation.  The hope is that in the future, general scuffles and conflicts can be resolved by the children themselves.

I partnered with an initially shy girl who really came out of herself as the lesson went on and we practiced listening to each others stories.  It think I’ve made a new friend.

Lunchtime
There was another cake sale today and I spent my time with them since they needed a supervisor.

I met the yr 6 teachers to offer myself in a more definitive role to them, what with the apprehension of leaving schools coming up.  We agreed that after their holiday away I would make myself available from 11.45 to 12.15 (lunchtime) in a drop in room for any year 6 who fancied it.

1400

After lunch I chatted with a support teacher.  I confessed that I was feeling like the novelty of my presence had now worn off with the children and I was struggling to find a floating role in a well run system that depended on predictable staffing.  She suggested that perhaps the novelty hadn’t worn off so much, but more that the summer term is so packed with events (Jubilee, town festival, Olympics, school production etc) so I’m competing with more things.  Also there is much less structure and that is going to have an impact on the way which children interact with their environment.

1500

With time to spare I take a conference call for work and then write up this blog post in the library, always a good place to be amongst children :-)

Day 8 - A chance to hang with the Yr6s

This Morning i really struggled to get up and i'm feeling not really in the mood for seeing people

I say hello to kids on door; a girl is crying with the Head: she's got a tummy ache but we think it has more to do with tennis in PE this morning then last nights food!
I take her for a walk and she feels better but when we head for her classroom she starts to cry again - the teacher just tells her to get her PE kit on.

I go for a cup of tea and then go out to PE to make sure Nicole is ok.
During playtime i chat with some boys about holidays and radio control cars.  After break I decide to find some yr6s.

A few are cutting out hands, some painting a flag.  It is very easy talking to them about their new schools.  Though that may be because these are clearly the more more able of the year group - they all have major parts in the school production of Charlie and the chocolate factory and have got time out whilst the oompa loompas learn their routines - the children make several jabs about their inability to sing and dance at the same time.  I defend the oompa loompas but then am proven wrong by and impromptu perfect performance from the children - apparently they are right!

When they are done I help cover a bird with the yr 3s: for the town festival

Today i have been asked to be an official lunchtime supervisor as they are short staffed today.  I run the Basket Ball and then hang around the toilets (a hotspot for mishiecf i am told).

The afternoon is very quiet - yr 6 are all busy, yr 5 are off on a trip yr4 are busy and yr 3 games really do not require my attendance.  I chat with a few teachers and stay til the end of school bell then go home.

Apprenticeship post available

Jubilee special

Last wednesday I was hearing all about the Jubilee street party that the school was having and i left feeling a little jealous that i was going to miss it.

Well since i turned out that i had no set meetings for thursday i decided to cross a boundary and invite myself a 2nd day in a row... and had a wonderful time.

Lots of children asked for me to sit with them.  We sang the national anthem (i was very out of tune) and then we ate.  It didn't take long to finish all the food and soon children were standing and shouting and singing and dancing.

We then had a big run around on the school field, my new russian friend came to find me and insisted on poking me in the back, which quickly became a sport for lots of children…

As it happened i had to pop in the next day as well in order to pick up a broken stereo to fix.  one of the teachers jokingly comment that "we can't seem to get rid of you".  This is the kind of comment i read in to…