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.