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…

Day 7 - The last day of Term

I've just finished a 6000 word essay and i'm feeling pretty tired today

0835
Go straight for the playground today and meet the two brothers who had told me last week that their Dad was very ill and they were living all over the place.  This week he is completely better, they are back at home and their dad has got a job!  "Maybe its because of your prayer" one of the brothers said. …"maybe it was" I reply…

0900
Everyone is in school except for a few boys gathered round a tree on the other side of the playground.  "Where should you be" the Head called out to them.  they run across the playground straight into class - I think really they should have been at least halfway up it!

1000
I spend the morning with Yr4 games.  One of my key boys is sitting out because of a leg splint so we spend a good amount of time sitting on the bench in the sun.
The other key boy accidentally runs into a metal post producing a golf-ball size lump on his temple, I spend most of morning break sitting with him where he landed.  His "girlfriend" came over to show a suitable amount of disdain - its quite sweet really.
…I also beat some girls at a handstand competition :-)

Morning
The remainder of the morning is spent flitting between staffroom, games lesson and a girl with down's syndrome - we'd played catch.

Lunchtime
I decided to eat with the staff this week, and then head out to the field.  Over the course of the morning I seem to have adopted a new friend amongst the yr4s and she immediately runs over to say hello (and by that i mean pick on me!).  Its funny how children suddenly latch on to you - and then disappear.  I also spend some time with the two brothers on the climbing frame - I really think its SO important to just play and mess about with kids (I also like setting them challenges - do it backwards/with your eyes closed etc)

Afternoon
I was asked to attend a TA's meeting giving guidance about a dyslexia review.  I was SO tired i think i fell asleep a few times and I'm quite embarrassed about it - i'm 90% certain that every TA noticed…

I went to sit in on a lesson with a recently bereaved teacher, just in case they needed some extra support.  The lesson was 'history' - we learnt about the Beatles and we were shown a Beatles vinyl record… i can't tell you how weird it seems that this constitutes history :-(

Afterschool
Eco club.  I made sure i emphasised working this week.  the children were even more relaxed and happy with me this week - I bought a tomato plant from them and got a free radish.

I meant to leave at 1630 but got chatting to a teacher about Grammar/Single-sex/Private schools system and we both got quite passionately righteous putting the system to rights.  I left at 1700 instead.

Day 6 - Field time!

1030

This morning is beautiful and I have a chat with the head at the entrance.  Get talking to two brothers whose dad is ill so they have to switch between their granny and aunt's houses - they are not enjoying it.

I was asked to help a child with his maths test in order to release another teacher for other work.  As a result I can’t do the cricket and by the time the test finishes break time has started so I get even less time to be with other children.  Though I had a great time with the test boy I’m not sure it has helped me.

A few boys keep gravitating toward me to talk or show me card tricks – including one of the brothers with an ill dad.

Since I missed cricket they now don’t need my help.

I go to the staffroom to type up my diary.

I wander the corridor (something I’ve not done for a couple of weeks) and eventually head out to PE with Yr4 – the blindfold team games are hilarious!

I have to tell a boy off for throwing stones, his grumpy response rubs me up the wrong way so he gets the stepped-up-telling-off from me – the first time I’ve had to do it.

1230

Lunchtime in the field is a delight!  Yr 5 and 6 are first and I’m invited to play cricket, whilst trying to fend children off my sunglasses.  By the time it’s the switch over and year 3/4  are out I’m doing a  round of the field finding out the imaginative world of children’s play – its truly a model of how the world should work :-)

Some girls have taken to calling me "Daddy" which is pretty much my worst nightmare – There are so many connotations with that label, plus the risk of being seen to develop inaapropiate relationships.  It is of course just child’s play but it freaks me out – I’d rather they call me their boyfriend!, i it would definitely just be silliness then!

1330

After lunch I head to the staff room and enjoy my own lunch, and quiz a teacher about how they arrange learning sets

1400

Go to find the girls for a spot of reading – we settle on a play from the year 6 shelf and have a good time reading out the character parts.

1445

All of year 4 go to one room for story time, it is again a wonderful sight, about 50 children all sitting higgledy-piggledy listening for 30 min to one teacher.  The room was so full I had to sit with a couple of children with our legs dangling outside the door.

I still lack a particular confidence about what i'm actually doing, which is making me shy.  a trainee teacher is leaving this week and i literally wished her (and i quote) "a lovely lovely love…ely …lovely…love…)"  What an IDIOT!

1515

Eco club is a good opptunity to catch up with the two brothers earlier in the morning to chat about their Dad.  I tell them that I’ll pray for their Dad, they say thank you.

I may have hit my first point of antagonism, - the leader of eco club complained to me that the children are spending too much time chatting and not enough time working – and that its my fault!  I take the point, but I distinctly remember the leader complaining about lack of work  on my first arrival – maybe they just like to complain.

Talking to one girl at eco club, her mother turned up and I introduced myself as the school chaplain.  She straight away starts telling me about her daughter's struggles.  I listen and I’m pleased but I’m not sure what to do with the information.

Likewise another boy tells me he doesn’t want to go home because he is fed up with his brother’s incessant talking.  Again, I don’t know how to respond to this.

Day 5 - The best day yet!

The sun is shining today and everyone is in a positive mood

…except Year 6, it's SATS week and they're all doing exams

0830
I go straight into the playground to say hello to the children. Almost immediately a boy drops his 10p down the drain.  I lift the drain cover and sink my hand into a month's worth of dirty rainwater, and then go and have a wash!

0900
I make cups of tea for the few teachers that are in the staffroom.  I'm finding that that teachers initiate conversation more than I do - because it is their home and I'm the 'alien', I never know whether to break the ice or not…
The result of teachers starting the chat is that I then end up quite happily blabbing on about myself and not about them - I must learn to rein in my anecdotes!






0930
Spent most of the remainder of the morning out on the school playground helping with cricket practice.  I'm finding Year 4 sports an excellent opportunity to chat with children.  It was also a really good chance to chat to one of the PE teachers since - on this occasion - they had proper cricketers come in to lead the lesson (next week they won't be there so I've been roped in to referee the game!)



As it got near to lunch some of the Year 6's came out to run the cake stall - a fantastic affair with not just cakes, but also books for sale and a lucky dip.  We made £60.44 which is a school 'world record' apparently.  Later I was presented with the money in one of the classrooms and then the teacher opened and Q&A about why they had done it - the stall is usually for dog charities and they wanted to do something different this time.

1330
I popped into the staffroom having not eaten or drunk anything all morning! - In addition to being dehydrated and starving hungry, I am also now quite sunburnt!!

1400
In the afternoon I joined the cake stall children for their lesson - I'm not entirely sure what the topic was on (!), the teacher had so skilfully woven together Indian studies, Design Technology, Food Tech, Music, Horticulture and Religious Studies (I'm nog kidding!). We pushed decorated paper boats with our prayers to the Hindu god of the river out on to the pond, whilst playing percussion instruments.

Day 4 - On the wrong foot and feeling low

Last night my wife made me sandwiches for lunch.  she doesn't often do this so i got quite excited.  This morning I Forgot to take my lunch with me which for some reason made feel really unsettled and upset.

0845

I've arrived late because I had to buy lunch and there was bad traffic; because of this I've missed door holding so I head straight for the staff room and Chat with yr4  teacher about whether i've found a routine yet… i havn't really.

Having been really taken by a teacher last week saying that they needed encouragement, I go to the games teacher to tell her how much i enjoy her lessons.  I think she appreciates this.

On the way back there are some children in the corridors changing classes.  We talk about maths.

0900

Staff room: coffee and blog

0930

Caught the end of the games lesson with the 2boys and went into the playground.

Lots of games playing 'it'; I wonder if having my hands in my pockets gives me unapproachable body language but it doesn't seem to stop children.

Year 4 invited me into their french lesson which was alot of fun: Bingo, toy dictation microphones and pronouncation activities.  I try to tell the teacher how great i think she is but it seems to fall flat - perhaps she was in too much of a rush (this is ironic to me because it genuinely was the best french lesson I've been in!)

1130
Really dont seem to have my game head on today.  Head for the staffroom again, for a sandwich and a cup of tea.

I had a pre lunch sandwich still feeling a little not in the game today.  But went out at lunch time and made good use of my new "schoolswork cards" which i have to say went down very well. …especially given that a lot of the children knew some pretty neat card tricks ( i think there may have been a lunchtime magic club in the past).

I was invited to play stuck in the mud and quite alot of fun doing that.  I had heard there might be a cake stall but i think it was too wet to run it.

Afterlunch i hung out in the staff room with the Head and some TAs and had a good chat.  The Head suggested that it was fine to run round with the children - another TA emphasised that there was nothing more important than playing with the children on their environment.

1400

I wandered the corridor a bit and find some children at the libary.  One of them had never heard the story of King Wensleslas so I read them that, which was lovely.  I then joined the class for the remaiinder of the afternoon for their lessons.

1515

Wednesday is staff-meeting day and since today's topic was more grammar and then marking policies I decided not to attend.

I was going to leave early but then noticed Eco club out in the school garden, i felt sorry for them in the rain so i went to go and give some moral support.  Eco club seems mainly to consist of adults doing all the weeding whilst childre wave spades around in a dangerous fashion, wildly stabbing the soil when they feel like it - however it is muddy and it smells of nature and seemed like a whole lot of fun!

I also got some rhubarb to take home :-)

3rd Day (pt 2)

1330

I had a chat at the end of lunch with one of the trainee teachers, we were having a lovely casual conversation when she droped in that she'd just broken up with their boyfriend.  I wasn't quick enough to change mode though, rather than take a pastoral direction i carried on casually and by the time it clicked what i'd done (about 5 seconds) the moment had passed.  Fail.

Afternoon

In the afternoon i went to a Y6 class that some girls had invited me to.  We were doing circuit expereiments which was a lot of fun.  It is far easier to chat and bond with children over doing exercises than it is over literacy of numeracy.

Once again the "are you a Christian?" question came up.
None of this group were, one was some times but wasn't other times, I suggested that maybe she was agnostic.  I explained how i did believe in God because of how wonderful hands are, and trees, that i think we must have be made by someone who loves us.  It quickly became existential and i wonder if this is appropiate for 10/11 year olds.  Should i have perhaps gone for a "because the bible says…" or "Because Jesus did…".  I wonder what is more age appropriate for the Yr6 agnostic/atheist?

I also taught some children the difference between parallel and series circuits… i hope i got it right!

End of the Day

Every wednesday there is a staff meeting, I heard it might be about 'behaviour for learning' so I went along.  It wasn't. It was about how to use an apostrophe: the tension tangibably increased in the room when something was suggested that contradicted a previous week's advice.  We also looked at alternatives to raising hands in lessons

This meeting was a massive insight to me since i assumed that this is all things that one learns in teacher training.  Not so apparently.  The deputy Head pointed out to me that "you only need to know one more thing than the children" in order to teach them.  He was very keen on 'facilitation' over 'teaching' which was interesting to me as much of my youth/childrenswork BA was along these themes.

Basicly I thought teachers knew everything and it turns out, their normal humans just like us…who'd have thought it!

3rd Day: Apprehension and New Directions...

I Felt very apprehensive on my way in this morning: What am i doing?!!  Am i just interfereing? Am i just being 'me' and not a 'chaplain'? 

I'm also concerned about the informal nature of chaplaincy - should i have measurable goals?

0825
Decided to hang around outside the schools doors rather than inside.  Had some nice chats but still quite superficial.  Turned a conversation about bouncy balls to crystal balls to "If you could look into the future, would you?"

Pop in to see my '2boys' at registration

0910

Cup of tea in the staff room and chat with teachers.

0930

Help the 2boys in PE doing team games and found that the children are so open and welcoming to having me around.

1015

Chatted with some girls over break-time and they invited me to their afternoon lesson - in much the same way you'd invite your friends over for dinner.

11:15
I bumped into a teacher who was creating new phonic's learning packs and helped her out - it took the two of us a full hour to create these packs - it was quite a big order.
I know the lady from church and we had a chat about what i'm trying to do here.  She emphasised the needs of the teachers, who despite receiving praise, quite often feel like they're not quite doing a good enough job.  The overall message i got was that there is definitely a role for someone to give praise to the teachers - much more so than the children even.


Whilst we busy in the corridor some children came to see what were we up to as a way of avoiding doing their reading. - I indulged them a bit, then got them to read out their respective books to me.  at first they didn't want to but soon they were squabbling to be the next one to read their bit!

I lost track of the number of times that children told me there was a pencil in the toilet.  some time later a suspiciously satisfied young girl walked past me brandishing a pencil in her hand… it was the same one "i hope you washed your hands" i said "Ooops!" was the reply as she turned and ran back to the toilets.

At Lunchtime i popped to the playgorund and once again go not even a metre before i was acosted by a group of girls who wanted to perform their "show".  It was very good, quite glee-esque - i even got imaginary popcorn and ice cream in the intermission!

2nd Day (Part 2 - Lunch, Cricket and Pencil Shavings))

Lunchtime

This week i decide to skip the lunch hall and head straight to playground (the rain has let up).  I make it 2 metres on to the concrete before being hooked by some yr6 boys; we talk about sport and Djing, and the shirts that they have made.  Some girls come over and I get confused by who's girlfriend his who's.  Seems like they all get dumped and picked up again at an alarming rate!

Some of the year 3 and 4s have finished their food quickly and come over to give me hugs.  The whistle goes and I escape to the staffroom to grab a sandwich

I chat to a couple of trainee teachers who i preparing for a lesson they are being observed on.

I head back to the playground for the 2nd innings (Yr 3&4).  Lots more hugs and high fives and "are you a Christian/you are?!/Me too!" from the children -Happy faces.

Mainly I'm requested to play "snap" (Bulldog where you have ten lives that no-one keeps count of).  Tag and Stuck-in-the-mud.  I don't want to run around too much, it doesn't seem like the right thing to do.

1315

I've been asked to help out with Year 3 PE so i heard to the hall for Cricket.  3 classes back to back was alot of fun, it was reassuring for me to see professional teachers struggling to maintain discipline with some of the boys - made me feel better about all the times i've felt desperate.  Sometimes you have to wonder if the behaviour expectations are right for children.  Sitting still, being quiet, working in teams, listening, following patterns - all of these things appear entriely alien to a child's nature!

1515

At the end of the day I head over to the two lads from earlier to touch base with them.  I have a good conversation with the - one of them is astonishingly frank about his experiences, I arrange to meet him next week.  There is a big staff meeting about how to pick up boxes, so i wander around the school with some girls from Eco club who are collecting pencil shavings.  Alot of pencil shavings, their bucket is full by the end "more than 200 pencils" reckons one of the girls.

We talk about favourite books, "how does it make you feel?" I ask, determined to try out my caring conversations techniques" "it makes me feel sad, but then happy at the end" she says.  sounds like a good book.

Another Y6 is sitting in the libary reading 'breaking dawn', i'd love to chat to her about it but shes engrossed so i leave her to it "tell me what happens next week" i say.

2nd Day (Rain, Stacks and Sewing)

Last weeks weather was bad,  There aren't the adjectives to describe this weeks - its horrible.

Beginning
I arrived by 0830 this week and straight away headed into the corridor to say hello. (and have some caring conversations).  Door holding ministry was a little more sporadic this time, but all the children were arriving in dribs and drabs due to the weather (perhaps that should be drips and drabs)

There are a few children in the ICT suite playing computer games (educational ones of course) and I try to put into practice what i learn last night.  It very quickly becomes apparent that this doesn't really work when the child is distracted by a flashing screen.

I go to visit a couple of teachers, it is helpful that the children are always pleased to see me - one child asks if i'm helping them today which sparks the teacher into inviting me over to help them sew at 11 o'clock.

0930
I've been asked to befriend two boys who are at the centre of some kind of dispute so I head over to the classroom.  The only spare seat is next to one of the boys so that works out well - even better they're playing speed stacks so we have alot of fun doing that, then build huge towers at morning break.

1015
After morning break there is no assembly in tha hall so go chat with staff in the staffroom; eating delicious muffins.  The two boys are studying french so don't go in - I am extremely thankful that i'm not asked to help with the cycling proffiency!

1115
A teacher has asked for some help with sewing class so i turn up - The children's creativitiy is wonderful, one girl in particular spends 5 staright minutes monologuing on their design and decision process, where her inspiration came from and how wide to make each stripe - fasinationg.
Three children start up a conversation about being a Christian and going to Church.  I'm finding that most children are reassured by calling themselves Christian.  "Its got to be true" says one girl "Why would anyone make it up"

The End of Day One.

1415
1 hour until the end of the school day (for children at least) and i am DESPERATELY struggling to stay awake!  I hit the corridors again but everyone is back in lessons, in the end i head back to the staff room and help a teacher plan 'Friendship week'.  This is basically 'Anti-Bullying week' but with a more positive focus.  The teacher is very good at mind-maps!  I've never done them before.

1505
I suddenly notice that i've been hearing drumming for the last hour and realise that its a friend of mine!  We have a nice catch and arrange to meet at the pub later.

1510
Five minutes from the end of the day and there is a lot of hustle and bustle going on.  Collecting bags returning pens etc.

1515
No school bell.  None through the whole day in fact and i've only just realised.
I have some great conversations by the lunch box stands but in doing so i miss the other 340 children who apparently leave through doors on the other side of the building. doh!

Teachers of course not finish at this time of day, indeed they don't have a set 40 hour week, they just have to get all their jobs done. I stick around because i want to show commitment and solidarity to them as much as the children.

I play computer games with a couple of children who's parents are in a meeting.  It later transpires that the head would like me to work with these two boys so it is a happy co-incidence that i've made friends with them

When they go I find myself in a classroom with two teachers who run a biscuits and marking club (just for the two of them!).  They are interested in what i'm up to but also point out that what ever i was doing, i'd still be welcome because i'm a man.  this certainly throws an interesting light on the gender dynamics in a child's life.  I wonder if masculinity puts a different twist to chaplaincy to femininity...

Lunch time

1200
The preceding hour has passed quite uneventfully.  I've reflected on the idea of having some kind of utility belt with tricks or stories or talking aids in order to connect with the kids better… perhaps i 'm just looking for an excuse to have a utility belt!

1210
The library has transformed into a child-run stationary shop (I MUST spend less time in the Staff room!!).  It is very enterprising and somewhat similar to watching an episode of The Apprentice as the group of children re-arrange each others displays and pluck pricing plans out of thin air - nothing exceeds 20p.

1215
Its Lunchtime.  Having been invited to lunch by one of the boys earlier i go to the school hall to find him. I can't so i decide to sit with some children and move through the hall.  I manage 1 table out of 36.

1245
Second sitting and my lunch date arrives - all the other children are really jealous.  We have some great chats mainly about food and birthdays, we also play wink murder …this includes a new twist on the game where the inspector is also the murderer: surprisingly this works quite well

As the hall empties i get chatting to three girls on another table, they have decided to run a cake stall to raise money for me - God bless them :-)

At the end of lunch i help the dinner ladies tidy but get asked to leave for being too "efficient"!!

Caring Conversations

Tomorrow i go in for my 2nd day as a Chaplain.  I did some prep this evening by attending a 'caring conversation' course.

We spent some time chatting around listening skills an then had a practice.  I felt pleased with myself in that i took on the SOLER technique easily - Square On, Open Posture, Leaning Forward, Eye Contact, Relaxed.

I was completely undistracted by noises around us, and i book-ended the conversation by welcoming my 'client' into it and then later explaining we were going to wrap up and thanking her for the time together - something i noticed our trainer do.

I was terrible though at understanding the direction of the conversation, i felt adrift and confused, should i lead? should I be led?  What if we go somewhere weird? What if we go no-where?!

The structure of Exploration:Understanding:Action was suggested, so i will try and employ this with the children…

Watch this space

The School Counsellor

During my first morning at school I was directed toward the school counsellor since our work could well be complimentary - i sincerely hope it will be (not least because if we were competitive, i would DEFINITELY lose, the counsellors work is exceptional!)

Three days a week Diane the counsellor sits in the above space "not mine" she says "this is the children's space".  Originally Diane had been a basic support TA, but after finding herself more and more drawn into pastoral situations, she proposed a job change and no-one has ever looked back. 

The children can come and visit Diane anytime they like, to share whatever is on their mind - one had already come to her for the first 25 min of the first day of term because they'd lost their uncle over the Easter (I would like to stress this is NOT at all related to my earlier story).

In addition to the open visits, Diane has 7 other children scheduled in for today.

In the picture above you can see No-Face Nigel who helps the children to express how they are feeling.  Opposite Nigel is one child's goodbye tree that he has been working on all year.  The whole tree has been made by him and added to with various thoughts and items to say goodbye to his Dad (this is the third death i've encountered in 2 hours).  It also contains blank thoughts for other children who have lost someone or something.  The White notice reads "This tree is cursed.  Do Not Touch.  CCTV is watching you" - The lad has set up a shoe box with a felt-tip lens pointing at the tree.

Unseen to you are about 10-20 'worry pots' hidden around the area.  If a child has a worry they can write it down and put it in the worry pot until they feel like getting it out.  The children hide the pot where-ever they like, Diane has no involvement in that side and doesn't touch them til the children are ready.

All this impresses me a great deal, and reminds me that talking is not the best way to express emotion.  This maybe a problem for me as i'm a natural conversationalist, and my Chaplaincy role does not have a focal point like Diane's meeting place.

…where does this leave me?