Jingle bell, jingle bell jingle bell rock

Monday morning arrived and I did not know what to expect from this week, I must confess.

However, as Christmas weeks go it has to be considered one of the best. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. The productions were excellent, the carol singing great, the (cough strewn) christingle very special and the dinner outstanding.

So, all I have left to say is a simply yet strongly heartfelt Merry Christmas and happy new year to each and everyone of you out their in snowy blogland. Hope your time with you and yours is indeed the most wonderful of the year.

And, for 2010, that is very much all.

Take care please.

And since we've no place to go...

Yes, yes, yes, I may have been a tad premature last Friday in saying we'd get no snow, but, let's be honest, in comparison to much of the country, we've had more dandruff than we've had snow.

My mother in law was stuck on a train for four hours on Tuesday. Twenty hours too little in my opinion. (RIVery Well Deserved P Les Dawson).

So, in the couple of weeks since I last leapt blindly into the blogoshpere, what have we learned?

- I still can only tolerate Christmas at Christmas time; Ru got me to watch the Polar Express on Saturday 27th - too early mate, way too early.
- That, despite this, I still like to see December 1st come around.
- Year 6 can play a mean uke.
- Children of all ages can sing like the bomb if they truly want to.
- The staffroom is freezing.
- My ears can not stand the cold in the way they once did.

At this point, if I am to follow blogition, I would make some witty comment about the Villa. I shall merely point my comments at the sub human savages who chose, quite deliberately, to embarrass my home city with a public act of thugery. Violence and football cannot live side by side, and I know which one the populus prefers. If you want to act like that, don your caveman outfit and head out to the hills, you have no place in our beautiful games. Muppets.

That, sadly, is all.

PS I honestly am looking forward to next week, when the Chrimbo stuff will kick off. Good luck everyone - I'm very proud of you.

Who ya gonna call?

Last weekend, amidst a Ghostbusters and Lethal Weapon marathon, I thought back to what a good week it had been to start term 2. The uniform is outstanding, our attendance is steadily getting much better, and the entire school managed to get my "mystery christmas song" melody with my slightly novel piano playing.

Furthermore, it is always a high point of my year when another fireowrk night comes and goes and no-one is hurt - but didn't we have fun with our fireworks last Friday.

So, what have we learned this week?

- The M5 is becoming more and more dangerous - I hope everyone got home alright this week;
- That reception are outstanding when it comes to a minute's silence;
- So are most of the rest of the school;
- That teachers really don't like my singing.

But then, who does. I'm only just trying to work out how I lived with only one uke...

Take care through this first batch of horrible weather, people.

That is all.

"Please will you tune my ukulele?"

So, we reach term 2, when my application for the Ukulele Orchestra of GB is still in draft form, and when we dig out our winter coats (I'd forgotten what it was like to have wet hair. But then, as most of you keep pointing out, I'd forgotten what it was like to have hair.).

So, what have we learned since last we blogged?

Well, we must first and foremost pay massive kiss on both cheeks to our friends at Sketty. Those people waiting to watch McFly realised they'd put money on the wrong horse after hearing us. It was a pleasure and a joy to make new friends, and hear such wonderful voices. We weren't bad either. Thank you so much for our present (please come and see year 6's brilliant display to read / see / hear all about it).

Well, what else?

• Key stage 2 can make a toilet messy, but, according to the scores for the last two days, they also know how to make a gig change and a big difference;
• Key Stage 1 like a firework;
• EYFS like a jungle (but, don't we all);
• Some adults around here need higher standards; fortunately, I have them for them;
• That 'F' to 'G' chord change is easy if you're year 6;
• That we do know how to improve attendance - we did it! (Now, we have to keep doing it...)

So, have a fab firework weekend. Please, please, please stay safe, and let the grown ups do the lighting. I want to hear 250 fabulous stories, from 250 fully fit and fine friends.

That is all.

Photographing snowflakes

So, a new Badly Drawn Boy album hits the ground, a Gorillaz song arrives that I actually like (in fact, I love it) and Ruben is still obsessed with that Warpaint version of Bowie's Ashes to Ashes. But what on eart does all this mean at Badock's?

More ukuleles adorn the halls and aural airspace of the Wood, and cold, cold weather has arrived whilst people's coats are still in the loft. So what have we learned this week?

Year 5 (say it very quietly) might just be starting to make some really good choices.

Year 4 (say it with that strange nose pointing thing) make some quite amazing soup.

Year 1 (say it with no amazement, because we should have known anyway) are superb writers.

Year 6 (don't say anything - you should be listening) are skilled and articulate debaters.

And reception (you can only say it with a smile on your face) are so hard working it's not true.

What good news. That is all. Yes, that is all.

PS Key Stage 2. Beware the toilet of doom ...

"You'll never guess who's on the phone..."

So, that was a week, wasn't it?

As more and more staff bid against each other on eBay for ukuleles, and lose to year 6, we have the closing stages of a positive week for the future of Badock's Wood. What have we learned then, in this week...

That, at last, at long long last, we have collectively worked out how to stand up to scrutiny

That year 6 really do love a uke

So do the staff

That year 5 still can't work out the difference between bad decisions and decisions that never had to be made

That year 2 can use a trip to the woods to produce some amazing writing

That Mr V can make soup, but cannot thread a needle, nor form a 'G' (but diesel for lunch?)

That Mr Scaiff has a strange upside down thing going on.

What we have yet to discover is if they sell certain musical instruments west of the bridge. We shall see.

That is all

PS Thank you staff. You were awesome. Thank you kids. You were pretty awesome too.

Whole of the moon

Greetings all,

This week, I have been blown away by the amount of top quality work that keeps being sent to my desk, especially from years 5 and 6, to add to my star work wall. Equally, our new presentation books in reception are looking superb, and we are right to take pride in the brilliant things that are going on. All visitors thus far, including LA school improvement officers, singing teachers, contractors and new parents, have unanimously agreed that the children look very smart in uniform, that the quality of the work they have seen has been excellent, and that the school looks and feels a really happy and busy place.

So what have we learned this week?

Take that may be good, but we're better.
Year 6's books are not just good, they're better.
Reception this year have not started school as well as we thought they would - they were better.
Key Stage 1 corridors ands classrooms keep getting better. And better.

And, Miss Lee doesn't like spiders.

Music tuition has started, and sounds brilliant. And we've been invited to perform at the Colston Hall. More of this later...

I'll see you all at Molineux, as soon as I've learned how to spell it. One week to the Ryder cup. Why don't they do advent calendars for that?

That is all.

Trying, full marks for not...

Greetings blogosphere.

I met with a number of Bristol heads today who were telling me about their school. I was pleased to see many of them, as I now enter my third full year in Bristol, some of them are becoming friends. However, the main point for me today was how proud I am of what we are achieving every day. Not only was yesterday's singing sensational, a visitor (quite rightly) commented on how good the uniform was, and how smart everyone was. What pleasing news. No other heads, however, are following my three piece suit trend. This is, we are agreed, good news. And key stage 2's books, as I discovered at home this evening, are very pleasing.

In a week where Thea's main learning point was a trip to the village roadworks, and Ruben received a certificate for dance (he gets it from his father - background in choreography can't you tell?), what exactly have we learned.

• Year 5 should know by now that Mr Grierson's standards are high, and I will only accept good behaviour.
• Year 4 can write. And write. And write.
• So can year 6.
• Year 1 and 2 really love the rainbow room.
• Our new reception and nursery friends are amazing - its like they've been with us for ever.
• Year 3, when in the correct learning mood, can really work.
• It was my guitar out of tune, not his. And mine wasn't even artfully out of tune. It was, quite simply, a deaf woman in her 90s with no ears at all who hasn't heard physical sounds for several decades. Other than that it was okay...

So, before I go off to rehearse my "Dance like Baiomar" moves on the Wii, I should say that we have officially decided we are pleased with Monsieur Houllier. And my star board is the business.

That is all.

here he comes...

... hold on people.

He's gathering speed. He's assuming the correct angle. He's braced. Here he comes.

He's re-entering the blogosphere.............................................................................................................................
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now!

Greetings everyone, and welcome back to 2010-11. It has been wonderful to hear all the stories of the things you got up to this summer. And the school, I hope you will agree, is looking pretty good right from the beginning.

I have been really looking forward to this year. I know we can achieve so much, and I have been delilghted to see so many people come back ready to learn and to work.

And so we are to get used to a Mr Houllier. We shall see.

Have a brilliant year everyone.

That is all

And this one?

Just keep trying, and trying, it's just a matter of timing.
Though the climbing is tiring, it's good to see you trying.

Just keep trying, and trying, it's just a matter of timing.
It's exciting, how inspiring, it is to see you climbing.

Have a great last week everyone.

That, really, is all.

Or how about this one...

When you've, given up cola, and nastly chocolates,
You leave the party early, at least with no regrets,
I watch the sun, as itcomes up, and watch it as it sets...



....yeah, this is as good as it gets.

That's nearly all.

End of term - almost

It's nearing the end of term, so I am reminded of the words of Willy Mason:

On and on and on it goes,
The world it just keep spinning
Til I'm dizzy - time to breathe
And close my eyes
And start again
Anew...

I could ramble on. But why disturb something so poetic. Therefore...

...that is all.

So this is ...

... the week before school camp. Am I excited? Am I looking forward to it? Am I up for the challenge?

Well, I am, and I hope everyone else is as it's going to be AWESOME. Or, in the (new) words of year 4, brilltastic! Although, I'm wondering how many pairs of flip flops should a modern man pack for one week? And will year 6 laugh at my pink tshirts? (And, do I care?)

So what have we learned this week?

That Lewis is awesome, and we all hope his awesome-ness rubs off on the rest of us.

That year 5 know an awful lot about space and about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

That Skype is not a made up word, but a brilliant device for teaching and learning (and gags).

That England simply couldn't handle the pressure, and we can now enjoy the world cup without feeling pressurised.

That Mary Poppins is evil.

Have a brilliant camp everyone. And, if you're not going to camp, have a fantastic science week.

That is all.

Please, please, please forgive me...

... for not blogging for while. I have had the small matter of a WORLD CUP to watch, whilst trying to read several hundred reports, write the school improvement plan and rid Thea of this annoying mud habit she has developed (all over our new white walls, I almost wept). Still here I am, just in time for Glastonbury, Wimbledon and ENGLAND VS GERMANY.

So, what have I learned recently.

Readership of this humble blog is wide ranging.
Report reading and football watching, surprisingly, do go together.
That in Afghanistan, 3 cups of tea is a very important milestone.
That year 6, when they put their mind to it, really can write.
So can Year 1.
Reception's results are amazing.
That some people are very interested in the number of swimming costumes to take on camp.
That shouting at people on the telly does not necessarily enhance the performance of people over 6,000 miles away at the time, even at my volume.

And what has the world cup taught us do you think? How about

That surprises and shock results still make us smile.
That someone showing absolute passion and enjoyment for the game can overcome the hatred of years of resentment.
That a good goal, whoever scores it and what ever its aftermath, is a good goal, and worth watching several times.
That a man in tears due to how proud he is to wear his country's colours is a deeply humbling moment.
That an act of kindness and sportsman (or sportswoman) ship will always win over even the meanest hearted critic.

Keep watching. COME ON ENGLAND.

That is all.

Get well soon Mr V.

These are a few of my favourite things

Greetings,

Term 5 has been long, difficult, sunny and very, very productive.

I thought I would wish you all a very happy holiday with a new take on an old song.

Burgers and hot dogs all sizzling and flipping,

Jugglers covorting, and tall men a-skipping,

Welsh drummers thrashing the shine off their skins

These are a few of my favourite things.

Iphones and music and Thea and my Rube

Tall men a-skipping appearing on you tube

Thatchers and Westons and Apple-y stings

These are a few of my favourite things.

When year 6 swear, or they chew gum,

Or they answer back,

I simply remember my favourite things, and then I don't feel, so bad.

Amazing what you can come up with after a KFC.

Have a great hols. Stay safe.

That is all.

Chopin versus Jam-and-Spoon

It may sound like a purist's nightmare, but those were the two tracks I downloaded last night, after being reminded of the former by an old stash of cassettes (cassettes - I loved em, especially that squeally noise on rewind in your walkman) and of the latter by seeing a middle aged man in an inappropriate hat. And, no Bailie, I was not looking in the mirror.

Les Sylphides, the Chopin selection I "legally borrowed" from t'internet, has a lot to say about our current journey. To begin with, it sounds a bit chaotic. In the second movement, it begins to form an order - a slightly dishevelled, tie-askance kind of order but shape and form none the less. Then, the turbulence, questions are asked, notions are challenged, but from it all, the order returns, stronger and more harmonious than before. Then, at its climax, once things are correct, in place, as they should be, with an unshakeable foundation of clarity, all players move in syncopated motion and deliver somthing simple, sublime, unremarkable, yet magnificent.

I like that I do.

As for Jam and Spoon, that is nothing at all like our current journey. It reminds me of being a spotty, blonde (yes, blonde, and not chemically blonde) teenager who used to take the newspaper to nightclubs to read during all the grunge stuff. Not exactly romantic, but, oh, the stories I could tell...

30 years on, by the way, you are remembered Ian Curtis. RI exceptionally calm P. I hope your troubled soul found some rest.

So, what have I learned this week.

- Sorry, but I will not tolerate those low standards of work.
- I am less sorry, but will still not tolerate appalling behaviour;
- To people just like that shy little girl in my office this evening, I meant what I said, and I will do everything to keep my promise;
- To parents like the one in my office this evening, ditto, and tell me if I don't;
- Year 6, your work is awesome;
- Maths paper B was vile. Utterly, utterly vile;
- Miss PW couldn't do maths paper B;
- Jess P can wither you with a look... or is that Jess Withers...?
- Shelby can do the bull dog like the best of em... so can Kane... so can Chantelle...
- Year 1 are amazing at poetry.

So to end it all, two announcements.

1. James MIlner is worth more than £20 million.

2. Someone called Mrs Dibble is back next week.

That is all.

(Psst, by the way John, it's Dean Friedman.)

I haven't heard the Blow Monkeys in years...

... but, thanks to the Big Hits of the 80s, I have been reliving my teenage years like you wouldn't believe. Kylie, Bros, and, dare I say it, Brother Beyond. Even I had hair and teeth then.

So, having finally found exactly the correct tie combination for my new candy stripe shirt, and my prediction about the Lib Dems not doing anything bearing financial fruit, I look forward to another weekend of Just dance on the Wii, and getting up too early to play In the Night Garden with Thea. And with it, a think about what we have learned this week.

We have learned:

- I don't like playing Mr Grumpy, but nor I am I prepared to tolerate low expectations;
- I will play Mr Grumpy if I think people's expectations are too low;
- Miss Walmsley doesn't like the word humongous;
- I am rubbish on the new whiteboards;
- My Maths group like Monster munch;
- So do I (not technically a new fact, but worth a remention);
- All Kane's are funny blokes;

Final weekend of the season. Up the Villa. That is all.

I could call you Betty...

Apart from one or two bits of Badocks craziness, we've had a really good first week, and, after a little sunshine, everyone looks amazing.

What have we learned this week?

• Year 1 know their lines, especially Beerbelly beerbelly;
• Mr Vaisey could be a body double for Tim Henman;
• Year 6 are calm, maybe too calm...
• Reception, a bunch of salty sea dogs, have ensured even pirates write to each other politely.

And, of course, everyone has been mesmerized by our new boards. Awesome.

Enjoy the sun everyone. That is all.

most humble and abject ...

... apologies for the length of time between blogs. I had forgotten - simply - that it was part of my Thursday night routine until far too late.

Nevertheless, here am I. New glasses (well done Lewis, the only one to spot them) hair (everyone's spotted that - even me own Mum lost me in the supermarket last week, first time since 1984) and a carling Cup runners up medal to show.

Anyway, what have I learned since the lost toe-tipping into the blogosphere...

• year 5 are no good at looking after books;
• bolognese should never be tampered with;
• all children should still maintain their best work even if it is not their own teacher in class;
• that my ukelele is really easy to fix if the tuning pegs keep slipping;
• that year 5 like my car, but not Mr Scaiff's;
• that Miss Lane likes my car, even though we only ever take the same short journey in it;
• that adults, like children, sometimes shy away from the truth;

I venture back to the land of my birth this weekend. Is this wise I hear you ask. To be honest, ever since I planned the trip, I have had my doubts. However, I will spend an evening jamming with Jos, which is always worthwhile. I can give him that awful mandolin back.

Come on the villa.

That is all.

Is it good enough?

A question I have asked the staff to ask this question repeatedly. We all have to ask ourselves this. I have asked myself this question over and over again over a long, enjoyable, work and extra-snacked fuelled half term. Is it good enough? Is that piece of work good enough? Is your behaviour good enough? Is your attitude or attendance good enough?

Believe you me, when staff's work this week has been lacking, the same question has been asked - is that really truly good enough? As good as you can do? As good as our children deserve? As good as Southmead can get? Deserve? Give? You're going to get bored of me asking the question, but ask it I shall, and, at the risk of going a bit Yoda, challenge it I will, and ask for more shall I.

What have I learned this week?

That good organisation breeds good learning.

That failure to include is an excuse to fail.

That blaming others where your own faults lie is an excuse to fail.

That even in the bleakest moment, determination is a chance to excel.

That we will be inspected before the summer.

That good poetry is faultless.
That bad poetry is fairly faultless too.

And so, before I say "COME ON YOU VILLAINS" for Sunday, and, don't worry Dad, or Colin, I'll get tickets for the FA cup final, I would like to end by sharing a poem I wrote at this evening's staff meeting, because teachers have to do homework too.

Words
Complex, simple,
Efficiently, easily, emotionally,
Scribbled, heard, felt, meant...

That is all.

Half a year gone...

So here it is - the half way point of what is turning out to be yet another breath-taking rollercoaster of a year in life at Badock's Wood. I cannot believe it is now 6 months since I first greated people on that first, fine, fresh September morning. However, it is, and much has happened. The pace of change and progress of the school as a whole has been decent; in the next six months, it must become lightspeed-like.

What have I learned this week? I have had a very mixed week personally, and therefore my learning list is more surreal than ever, which, let's be honest, is pretty surreal even by my standards. I have learned:

1. That boys the world over love a blocked loo, for reasons I cannot fathom.
2. That the attendance of the children (and some of the adults) is worse than I feared.
3. That Mr Scaiff's passport photo is....interesting.
4. Still, regardless of how hard we try, children cannot respect the thousands of pounds worth of books that we bought.
5. That when gathering to pay respects, the utter dignity of silence can warm even the coldest building.
6. That I will have no choice but to be far tougher with some children (and some adults) if I am to maintain the standards for which I strive.
7. That old colleagues are old friends.
8. England will probably score more than I predicted in the whole tournament. A little more, anyway.
9. That some of our children persist in being mean to others, even when they use the internet.

Have a good half term everyone, and rest, because the second half of the year will be a challenge, especially for those who cannot handle one.

RI very well deserved P mate. All the best x

From this side of the desk..

... I have to tell you all that I'm very proud of what we have achieved. However, we still have far to go.

I am unbelievably sorry to any staff I have upset or offended, and never sought to cause distress, embarrassment or worry. However, as we start the next chapter in the school's history, everyone should be warned that, in what should be an ever-continuous search for nothing less than perfection, I shall not tolerate anything less than the best, and nor should others.

I have already told my dining table, where I do all my work at home, that we shall be getting even better acquainted.

Oh, and we failed the audit.

Anyone got Webley tickets?

That is all. Thank you all.

And it's all gone quiet over there...

Greetings. I told you the second lot of snow would do us some good...

This week I have been mostly listening to Delphonic. As people are only just catching up with my Empire of the Sun revelation, I amy as well tell you what you'll all be listening to in a few months time. There's not much on that ipod Kyle...

Weightwatchers caused major ructions in Chateaux Willis last night. After her departure, the last of the mince pies were devoured...

This week I have been delighted and impressed with the amount and quality of good work heading my way. I am already halfways down my second set of stickers.

Keep it going all.

That is all

Start...stop....start again

Morning all,

Well, what an exciting week. We opened we started, then we closed, then we opened again. I'm sure you were all "working" very hard during the two days we were closed. I'm sure there was no sledging (Miss Sims?) or snowballing (Mr Scaiff?) or building of snowmen (Mrs PW?) and you all used your time productively. And one member of staff, I shall name no names, was using a CJ Hole sign in a most inappropriate manner...

The kingdom of Yatton was covered in snow from Tuesday night, so on wednesday morning, having plundered the local Somerfield for milk, I challenged all the youngsters in the road to a snow ball fight. I won. The key point in the battle was when I was cornered on the end of Mrs Salter's drive, but managed to free my self with a double handed deluge that hit Jack (from No 4) and Josh (from No 1) square in the faces, allowing me to escape across the road and reload. It was, after all, "work".

And today, back at school, we have closely followed the prescribed curriculum ... provided of course that the prescirbed curriculum involves hot chocolate, forest walks and snowballs. (Pssssssss for those of you reading this asap, I believe Miss Parnell has issued a challenge to Mr Scaiff after a missile went astray earlier on. My money's on the tall one - height always conquers in this type of skirmish. And kids, don't gamble.)

So, with this week's planning put on hold until next week, and next week's planning not completed in the two days off, the teachers think they've got it made.

You will all be delighted to know that the inclement conditions have not prevented the weightwatchers regime from continuing in Chateaux Willis. However, low fat fajitas (I ask you) are far more enjoyable when watching the Christmas Dr Who on Sky plus (Timothy Dalton as a time lord... I'm not convinced I'm afraid. Good Bond, bad Galifrayan, that's what my nan always used to say).

So, keep warm this weekend peeps.

That is all.