Angus MacRury’s Weblog

Thursday 16th February

I have a couple of meeting with parents today. This is a result of children being bullied in school. The meetings go well and I feel that I have explained clearly the school and council approach to bullying. I have meeting with a parent on Educational matters for her child. This meeting provides us with an action plan for the child to meet his class needs. Today is my last full day with P5-7, as we are re-organising to give the P5-7 class better stability. I will re-start in Nursery class on Monday. I was in Nursery for the whole of 2004/05 and I will be there next year too! Just as well I have a three year old at home.

Friday 17th February

I have to discuss the bullying incident with a number of pupils and make it a focus for assembly. Today things run smoothly. I spend a productive afternoon in the office catching up on the Development Plan.

Monday 20th February

Today is my fist day back in Nursery. What a day. We only have 8 children in the Nursery but we plan an action packed day for them and us. The children are so used to me that they take no time in getting their heads around the fact that I am their new teacher. We are looking at sound, touch, taste and smell this week and have a range of experiments and activities set up to allow the children to explore their senses.

I spend an hour after Nursery talking and planning with Pauline our excellent Nursery Nurse.

After lunch I am back in P5-7 working on the Enterprise Magazine titled The Waffle. The magazine is coming together but I do think we will have to have a good couple of days focus on it in the coming weeks.

In the Afternoon I have a meeting with Don about the situation facing the school. I leave the meeting knowing that my concerns have been noted and that we now should look to moving forward. I will endeavour to remain positive no matter what happens.

We discuss a number of ideas for the school and how we can generate positive publicity about the excellent things we do here. On my way home I put photos of the baby in for developing. In schools we are always taking Digital photos, I have sussed that getting Klick or Tesco to print them is cheaper than the school. This is one of the school favourites. A prize if you can put a funny quote to it.

Tuesday 21st February

The morning starts with a staff meeting. Things are more positive than the last meeting. I relay my meeting with Don to the staff and a few interesting comments are made that I do not dwell on. I am back in the Nursery today. We are making sound shakers and playing listening games today we are also going on a trek today to listen to outside sounds. In the afternoon I have a very intersecting meeting with Chris Lawson who also has a walk through the building pointing out Health and Safety concerns. I will now continue at some point with updating our Risk Assessments. After school I run the ICT club till 4:45pm I then meet with a parent.

Wednesday 22nd February

I am in P5-7 this morning as a staff member has an appointment. We ire in to the Magazine and we achieve a great deal today. At 2:30 I meet with a parent who has concerns for her child.

Thursday 23rd February

I am in Nursery..or so I think. I am met at the door on arrival by Lindy in P1/2 and asked o come down to her class. She explains to me that she received a phone call from a parent regarding material children had viewed online in the classroom yesterday. I look at the history and indeed there is some stuff on view that should not have got through. I contact IT and the computer is switched off. I have to interview the pupils concerned and contact all their parents. The computer will be picked up on Monday for an image to be taken and cleaned. The parents I speak to are all concerned that this material got through. I remind the parents that it got through because of the key words that the pupils used to search on Google images. I assure them that Websense does work and that the school does have a safe approach to Internet usage. I speak to the teacher and we devise a strategy to bring the
safe use of the Internet into P1 and 2. I get to the Nursery at 11a.m. I have arranged to see three of the parents after school.

In the afternoon I phone a parent regarding a discipline problem with a pupil. I have to bring the exclusion policy out of the cupboard for a reminder. The policy is not used this time. In the Afternoon I am In P1-2 as Lindy is attending a First Aid course.

What a day!! I have a new (old) car and I a have no CD player so no music on the way home these days. The radio is all talk these days.

Friday

I meet with a parent first thing regarding the Internet stuff from yesterday. I am in P5-7 as Nichola is on a Management Course in Musselburgh. Assembly and Golden Time pass with no incidents. I have a dentist appointment in Edinburgh so I am out the door early today.

15th February 2006

We are moving next session to a 2 class school . The feeling among the staff is evident on return from the February break. I myself feel rather dismayed at it., but understand the financial reasons behind such a decision. We are almost double the Authority and National average cost per pupil.

Innerwick Primary School Data

2004-05 budgeted school running costs

Education Authority Data for East Lothian

2004-05 budgeted school running costs

National data

2004-05 budgeted school running costs

This is our inservice day. We spend 2 hours in a meeting that I feel physically drained after. There are so many things to discuss and implement and so few people to take up the workload. The agenda every meeting has a must do list attached to it and sometimes it is really difficult to see a clear path ahead.

The agenda below is typical of a staff meeting at Innerwick Primary School. All these items demand attention and are of huge importance for a school such as Innerwick.

Mail, Staffing for 2006/07, SD&R Dates, Enterprise, Health Promoting Schools, Eco Schools, Curriculum for Excellence, Development Plan Update, Computers Update.

Are all these projects and initiatives too much to take on at one time? How well are we doing combining them as suggested by David Cameron and Don Ledingham. This is an area we need to improve so that these projects can be implemented and absorbed into the everyday functions of the school. My management calendar is packed out with Self Evaluation, Learning and Teaching, Attainment, Admin tasks and then there are all the day to day functions of a school and all the initiatives. The job has changed beyond recognition from even 5 years ago when I was appointed Headteacher at Eoligarry Primary School.

Later in the day I get on with a real practical job of clearing the main storage cupboard I gain geniune satisfaction of the job being finished on the day it started!! Am I sad or what?

I will attach my management calendar when I get the time.

Wednesday 8th February

I am in class all day today. I cancel a meeting with on the reduction of teaching time to 22.5 hours as we still have a member of staff off and I am reqiured to cover. The class are not at their best today as the last few days have seen a variety of supply teachers covering. By the afternoon we are all back in the groove, despite there being no music in the afternoon. (Marion is at the above mentioned meeting)

Thursday 9th February 2006

I am in class today an the class are working really well. The Core Maths Programme is being followed very well and the children are responding well to the activities and increased level of pace in the class. In the afternoon I meet with Colin Rodgers to discuss individual pupils and how we are supporting them. We also look at how much support we can give here in comparison to a larger school. We discuss IEPs and IAPs and mushy peas! We are doing well with the individuals, a further meeting is arranged.

Friday

I am in class this morning. We catch up on Maths Assessments which the class enjoy. I have to remember to Mark and File them now!!

After break I show a visitor, Mrs Catriona Brown, Principal Teacher
Battlefield Primary School in Glasgow round the school. She has heard of our success in developing our School grounds and was keen to pick up tips and suggestions in how we have approached this. She leaves at 12:30 very impressed with the school and all the improvements. This is what we have achieved so far.

In session 2004/05 It was agreed that the bulk of the monies allocated under the scheme would be to provide the essential components of allowing the school to continue its steps to Gold award in the Eco schools programme. A plan by the eco schools group was collated and worked through.

The wider community now benefits greatly as it helps to enhance the whole village as well as providing a secure and tranquil place for picnics or play. We also established good links with Virador who provided us with topsoil and transportation.

Creating Boggy area

Despite landscape services creating a boggy area over the summer break 2004/05 the bog appears to have failed. This is due after investigation to the fact that the area was not lined sufficiently if at all. The area is a partial success in that it is evident that is not the same as the grass around it. This project will be further investigated in the future.

Planting of Trees

We have had great success with all our tree planting we have planted 6 large trees including an Oak tree. These trees are as follows: Apple, Crab apple, Golden Cornet, Winged Spindle, Snowy Mespilus, Mountain Ash Pink Pagoda, and an Oak tree.

We were also successful in obtaining shrubs from the Woodland trust. Unfortunately Grounds Maintenance accidently destroyed these plants in May 2005.

The wild forest area has been allowed to grow with freedom and is soon close to being ready to form a tree search path for pupils. This area is very popular with the pupils and the next logical step is to use this area as an area for teaching about trees and forests as part of the science programme. We have seen increase bird life around the school including nesting for three pairs of Swallows

Vegetable Garden

This is a complete success with 5 raised beds being laid in 2 areas of the school. A gardening club has been formed and planting took place in March and April 2005.We grew Strawberries, Rosemary, French Onions, Onions, Beetroot, Artichokes, Sweet peas and Parsley. Two of the beds have formed a flower planting area at the drive of the school which gives visitors a colourful arrival at the school. Flowers planted are Love in a mist, Poppies, Cornflower, Lobelias, Chrysanthemums, Fusias, Dalais, Bizzie Lizzies, and Begonias.

The children tend and water the plants on a regular basis and it is hoped that in the future Crunchy Carrot in Dunbar will sell some of produce in the future.

Educational Benefit/ Community Benefit

Picnic area/ Outdoor classroom

This has been an unqualified success. The new benches are not only hardwearing and practical; they have provided the school and community with a focus area for picnics and gatherings. In June 2005 a BBQ was held to plant 5 trees and officially open the Picnic area. Pupils use it the area for packed lunches and some classes are held outdoors. This has linked in well with a new focus in the school on Science and Environmental Studies. We are using the new resource to support the Living Things and the process of life Outcome in Science for all levels.

Two tiled murals were also erected on the exterior wall of the school; these were commissioned by the previous Headteacher but were not completed.

Development plan link Determined to Succeed Link

To continue Eco – School initiative encouraging parents and wider community to become involved. This has been successful in that parents were actively involved in the planning and building as well as the planting phases of the improvement. Parents are now helping to keep the areas well maintained and planted.

We have also established good businness relationships with Virador, La Farge, and Community Windpower

The Future

In the next couple of weeks we are expecting the completion of a Basketball court and are in the process of securing 100% funding for this project. WE are also working with Community Windpower on a planning application to erect a small wind turbine and generator on the roof of the school. Full plans are available to view in the school reception area. We will also be looking at a way to enhance the Nursery Garden and possible build an adventure trail for the pupils within the school grounds.

After break it is Assembly which is taken today by Anne Lithgow. During Assembly and while I am showing Catriona around I have to find out where the Electricity Meters for the school are and spend 10 minutes with an engineer who tells me that the meters are going to be replaced today. We agree that 12:30 would be a good time as the children would not be at school. Remember in a small school thre Headteacher just about does everything.

On Saturday I reflect that I have not been at my best this week and that I have upset a number of people, I vow to try to improve this. Negative feelings are very easy to accept. I had been thinking about Dan MacFarlane a colleague who died recently. Dan was a fantastic PE teacher and one of the most positive teachers I have ever met. At his funeral a couple of weeks ago I was asked to sing a song for Dan. I sang the Voyage by Christy Moore as Dan was a Sailor and Mags was his mate. The feeling I had after the funeral was one of real anger that yet again a teacher who contributed so much to the children of Edinburgh should be taken from all those who loved him so early. All of his colleagues from St Mary’s East London Street could not believe he was not here yet as I swear I could hear his laugh all around…

Monday 30th January

This morning we made or way to West Barns Primary for a meeting with the pupils about the York trip. The pupils asked some great questions and I think they were excited about the trip. In the afternoon I met with Marie Prior about a lottery bid to help fund the trip. We were in agreement that my draft bid was a shocker and that a total rewrite was required. Thanks Marie. In between I was in class all day as Nichola was at a meeting.

Tuesday 31st January

In class up until break, focus this morning on the Maths Groups. At 11:30 I meet with Nichola to discuss the class and the forward plans for this session. We look at Assessment dates and review the progress in Maths and Language. In the afternoon I meet with Ian Reid about a school travel plan. I know these things are important but I sometimes find it difficult to have enthusiasm for everything.

Wednesday 1st February

I am in class in the morning with Ann Marie covering for Nichola in the afternoon. Nichola has joined colleagues from Stenton, West Barns, East Linton and Dunbar to observe Maths lessons in DGS for the afternoon and tomorrow morning. The findings will be discussed at the Cluster Heads meeting on Thursday.

Thursday 2nd February

In class in the morning. We are doing a big focus on Enterprise this session with a production of a school magazine. Today the class decided on a title for the magazine and applied for positions within the magazine. Interviews are next week. Production starts on February 20th. Nobody manages the warm up activity without cheating. We are using the Go for Enterprise Pack and our own planner. Copies are available.

In the afternoon I am at the Cluster Heads Meeting. We review the Maths visits:

The teaching staff that had been shadowing maths lessons over the past two days thought what they had seen was very good and worth while. They felt it similar teaching to primary schools interactive teaching. Lots of mental maths was being taught and found whiteboards were useful to speed up the pace.

A Learning Team is to be set up with possibly one member from Maths Dept, Elaine and P7 staff (hopefully by 27/3/06). Richard Wilson offered to set up an Exc-el website re summary and discussions. PR suggested a practical ½ day CPD planning time with teachers next session, possibly using the October in-service day to discuss progress.

The rest of the meeting was very productive and our fantastic

transition programme was discussed at length.

Friday 3rd February

I am very sick and have to stay in bed.

Monday 6th February

Still sick in bed. Flu. Nichola Is also off with Flu as are many of the children. I attend the Doctors on another matter.

Tuesday 7th February

Marion, Euan, Micheal (the baby) and myself are all unwell. Euan is OK during the day but coughing all night. The baby is being sick when he coughs. The house is like a hospital ward only with out the MRSA.

Wednesday 8th February

Back to school today. Shouldn't really be here, but Nichola is still off and we can not really afford to buy in supply for the two of us. I catch up on the work of the class, Thanks Ann Marie, Lindy, Kate and the Supply teacher for getting through the class work. The class are a bit high today and we have a circle time in the afternoon where we discuss appropriate behaviour.