Reading around the universe

This morning our school was taken over by aliens, out-of-space air craft, Princess Leias, space bugs, fairies and all manner of characters not of this earth. The colour in the school was astonishing as students (and staff) swished around in glitter, bright wigs, foil, pipe cleaners, boxes and coloured capes.

It's the Assembly of the year and who would want to miss it!

Maree Johnson, our Teacher-Librarian, opened Assembly looking - and walking -  like she had just exited Apollo 1. Our Reading Stars were awarded certificates and book marks. Our resident author Jacquie Christie, presented a copy of Alphabet Animals to one lucky student whose name was drawn from a raffle. The Junior Singers sang beautifully (while being conducted by Darth Vader, also known as Sofia Hobson!)

The main feature though was a story written and told by Year 6 teacher, Pete Schumacher, and illustrated during the telling by Year 4 teacher, Joel Hughes.

735 students, parents, grandparents, toddlers and other family and community members watched on as a story of colour and light, happiness and laughter, living and learning unfolded before their eyes. The finale included Year 4 teacher, Simon Thomas, singing 'Walk like a Peregian' (a take off of 'Walk like an Egyptian' - for those who weren't there).  Apart from being very funny, he sang a song of our values and pride in our school - and what you have to do to 'walk' like a Peregian.

The teamwork, time and effort that went into today's Assembly cannot be underestimated - our children are so lucky to have such dedicated and talented staff who just enjoy making learning fun. (Personally, I think they just enjoy a chance to dress up!)

What on earth are we going to do next year? We've already reached out into the universe! Lucky we have 12 months to think about it...

Herding cats ... and small children

There's a great You Tube clip called Herding Cats. It's actually an advertisement for EDS.  As someone who loves cats, I find this clip very entertaining; however, watching it also reminds me of my job.

I love this (source unknown)

Every day something at work amazes me. I use the term ‘work’ lightly, as it’s not WORK work – it’s more ‘play work’. I love my job and the work I do.

Working with kids is rewarding, challenging, funny, and heartbreaking at times – there is never a dull moment. There is no such thing as a plan – except to go to school every day ready to influence a life.
I love working with Teachers and Teacher Aides even more.  At Peregian Springs I’m blessed with the best team on the planet and together we make a difference in the lives of kids every day. It’s what gets us up in the morning; it’s what generates the energy to keep going against all odds, and it’s what keeps us together as a great team.

Herding cats? It’s exactly like trying to herd cats – 740 kids and their Teachers and Teacher Aides all learning and laughing together. So I don’t try – they don't need herding.  My job is to nurture all the conditions required to help them all experiment, innovate and be happy.  I do all of the things in the graphic above - except perhaps offering fish as a reward - I don't think that strategy would get me anywhere!

My version of herding consists of tweaking the culture, doing up a shoe lace in the Pick Up Zone, organising some training, drying a 6 year old's tears when he can’t find his Mum, making sure there's a capable teacher on a class when the 'real' teacher is away sick, finding the money for the latest in learning technology, teaching our PE teacher how to use his MacBook (and now he has an iPad!), considering the latest idea the Year 7 teachers have for engaging their students in learning, listening to a distressed parent, negotiating for new facilities, recruiting staff for the next year, and planning for a future that’s 20-50 years from now – a future my own daughter and all these youngsters we 'work' with every day will live in.

Tomorrow is Monday again - it's nearly time to get on my horse and see what herding cats looks like this week.

A school song

Last week four Year 5 girls arrived from their classroom to share some writing - they had been challenged with the task of writing a school song or poem. I was so impressed with all of them - it was clear they knew our vision statement and school values; they managed to incorporate the school wide practices that ensure our school is a safe and enjoyable place for everyone; their verses were catchy; and they have captured our school ethos beautifully! I promised them I would put them in the newsletter - one a week for a few weeks, and I couldn't resist putting this one here. I love the bit about effort being higher than Mt Kilimanjaro!

My Golden School

Peregian, Peregian, our education starts here.
Peregian, Peregian, our bad habits disappear.
Our efforts are higher than Mt. Kilimanjaro,
and everyday we learn for today and for tomorrow.

Chorus 
Peregian Springs State School,
In you we learn how to play
With ground rules,
And amazing tools,
My Golden School,
You will always make my day.

Smiling faces are walking around,
Many teachers are pleased.
Peregian, Peregian,
You exceed the standards with ease.
Our efforts are higher than Mt. Kilimanjaro,
and everyday we learn for today and for tomorrow.

You are the newest,
the best in Peregian Springs.
I think you are amazing.
We all know that you are these things.
Our efforts are higher than Mt. Kilimanjaro,
and everyday we learn for today and for tomorrow.

Chorus x 2

Peregian, Peregian,
My Golden School,
Peregian, Peregian,
My Golden School,
Peregian Springs State School. 
(Faith)

I asked is there music? and they looked a little horrified and said 'We'll just read them'.

Well done, girls!

We're for kids

Have you seen that advertisement for dog food - Pal dog food, I think it is. They use a really neat phrase - 'we're for dogs'. I love it - I stop and watch it every time. It leaves a nice warm feeling and makes you want to go out and get a dog.

A visitor to our school this week asked me 'Are all primary schools like this? The kids are so exuberant and happy.' We were standing watching 200+ children at play - all running, jumping, arms out wide, smiling and laughing and squealing just for the fun of it. One little girl burst past us leaping over garden beds and shouting for a friend. My visitor said 'oops, there's one that's going to end in tears...' and sure enough 10 seconds later she was flat on her back with tears pouring down her face. We both started forward at the same time but before we could get there she was surrounded by other children and a couple of staff, and a couple of minutes later she was up and running again, with a bunch of kids in tow.

Then, yesterday a new staff member commented in passing that he had either worked in or in the course of his work visited about twenty five schools over the last few months and that this was the first one in which, when you walk through the front door you just feel that it's about kids - he added 'not sucking up or anything, Gwen!'

And he's right, it is about kids, it's always been about kids since the day the first tree went down on the block of land that is now our school; and we are working hard together to ensure it's always about kids... because - we're for kids!

Cherish your time with them

It's that time of the year again. The mid-year uni holidays are over and there is a flurry of bag packing going on in our house. Maddie goes back to her college tomorrow and launches herself back into her studies on Monday. For the past four weeks the house has been full of peals of laughter, clothes and books everywhere, wet dive gear hanging from every available place, phones ringing and buzzing constantly, mountains of washing, doors slamming, and cries of 'Mum - there's no food in the fridge' and 'Dad - I'm going out, can I have 50 bucks ...please, PLEASE...?'.

I love it. I love it when she's home. I miss her being little so much. I miss Swim Club and competitions, weekends away and children's birthday parties. I miss her holding my hand during shopping on Saturday and kids' movies. I miss morning cuddles in bed - actually that still happens but it's a bit like trying a cuddle a young racehorse these days - not quite the same!

Ironically, when she was little I craved 'me time', and now I wish for more 'her time'. Over the last few weeks I've met with many of my teachers who have young children, to discuss and plan their teaching responsibilities for next year. They all bemoan the juggling, the rushing, the lack of time and the worry they can't give to their jobs all they would like to. But this is a fact of life - and even when they've grown up, you are still juggling - it's just that the balls are bigger and fewer and further apart.

Photo courtesy of Jenn Huls Photography

Time goes so fast; children grow up so fast - as I walk through the school in the mornings and see our Preps from 2010, now galloping towards the end Year 3, I can't believe it. Soon I'll be shaking their hands as they go off to high school.

So cherish your time with your children; give them another hug or play another game when you are craving 'me time' - it goes so fast and before you know it they will be away out of the door carving their own lives. And when that happens make sure you have a fridge full of food, a laundry cupboard full of washing detergent and a wallet full of fifty dollar notes!