Title refers to the Finance & Premises Committee, meeting this evening. However, this is the school blog, not the school governor blog, so what has Daughter been up to? She had a proper afterschool playdate, where I picked up both her and her friend. They played, they had tea, friend was collected (and threw a huge paddy because she didn't want to go home - am perversely flattered by this). She had school photos taken - whole school one day, and individual the next. They're very nice. I have a soft copy of the individual one, and need to order a copy of the whole school one. She went on a field trip. To a field. They had to take wellies in, named wellies, pegged together, in a named bag. I guess they have problems with wellie loss. I put her initials on the clothes peg I used to peg the wellies together, just to be on the safe side. And this afternoon she went on a reciprocal playdate, which also went very well, except at the end when her friend had a tantrum which I'm expected to see replicated at home any time soon (according to Husband it involved some new and innovative ways of misbehaving that Daugher won't have previously been aware of).
I wasn't there because I was Financing and Premising instead. We approved spending some money on some fun things (play equipment and books) and some dull things (insulation and checking out what needs doing with the roof). I was handed a FMSiS document in which I have to record my governor competencies. Obviously having got myself through the heavy-handed promotion process at work in May, and now being partway through converting my old-style (experienced-based) professional logbook in the new style (competency based) I am delighted to be doing this. Not. I think I can consider myself competent in 'understands finance and budgeting' and 'has numeric and analysis skills' and that's about it. Most of the rest is quite school-specific. Ah well.
Oh yes, Daughter had a half term as well, obviously. Husband took the whole week off, and I decided on the Tuesday that I could do enough hours Monday to Wednesday, plus the following Monday (when my parents had Daughter overnight) to add to a little flexi credit I already had ... and not work Thursday as well as Friday. So that was pretty good, especially as I wasn't very keen on cycling to work four days in a row (and on the Tuesday he didn't even take the car out, I am so furious!) She seems quite happy to be back at school, so all is well.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Have I broken Amazon?
Was I right about Daughter coming home more dishevelled in winter uniform? Not entirely although she did come home one day with her collar turned inside out, which on closer inspection (erm, when she got changed for trampolining) was because her entire polo shirt was inside out.
Next week she will have to be more hevelled on TWO separate days. Wednesday - whole school photo. Thursday - individual photo. I hope they don't do PE with Reception in the morning and then photograph them in the afternoon. Complicating factor - I will be here on Wednesday morning, albeit in a hurry to get out and go to work, but I won't be here on Thursday as I'm away with work. So Husband is entrusted with getting Daughter to school in a reasonable state on Wednesday (with some oversight from me) and then doing it completely unsupervised on Thursday. I will have to leave instructions. He can't do anything other than put her hair in a ponytail (not that I can do much more) but from the front she won't look any different in a ponytail or a plait. Pigtails would have been nice, but not to be.
Lunch continues to go fairly well. Daughter apparently completely forgot that she had a second compartment in her lunchbag one day last week, despite having had lunch from it at home on most days three weeks in a row, and didn't notice she had a sandwich. She had a school dinner on the other day she was in for lunch, and couldn't finish it because she had to go and play with her imaginary friends. She does appear to be making some real friends, but has a large coterie of the imaginary variety at the moment (originally six, but they keep having babies).
I've had to turn down the chance of some initial governor training because I'm away with work. Meanwhile, I've bought a book on the subject, but have neglected it because the same Amazon order also brought me Battle Royale, which I'm currently reading.
I had hoped that my Amazon recommendations would become an even more peculiar mishmash as a result of this - school governance, manga, children's books and slow cooker recipes. But I think I might have broken their algorithm.
Next week she will have to be more hevelled on TWO separate days. Wednesday - whole school photo. Thursday - individual photo. I hope they don't do PE with Reception in the morning and then photograph them in the afternoon. Complicating factor - I will be here on Wednesday morning, albeit in a hurry to get out and go to work, but I won't be here on Thursday as I'm away with work. So Husband is entrusted with getting Daughter to school in a reasonable state on Wednesday (with some oversight from me) and then doing it completely unsupervised on Thursday. I will have to leave instructions. He can't do anything other than put her hair in a ponytail (not that I can do much more) but from the front she won't look any different in a ponytail or a plait. Pigtails would have been nice, but not to be.
Lunch continues to go fairly well. Daughter apparently completely forgot that she had a second compartment in her lunchbag one day last week, despite having had lunch from it at home on most days three weeks in a row, and didn't notice she had a sandwich. She had a school dinner on the other day she was in for lunch, and couldn't finish it because she had to go and play with her imaginary friends. She does appear to be making some real friends, but has a large coterie of the imaginary variety at the moment (originally six, but they keep having babies).
I've had to turn down the chance of some initial governor training because I'm away with work. Meanwhile, I've bought a book on the subject, but have neglected it because the same Amazon order also brought me Battle Royale, which I'm currently reading.
I had hoped that my Amazon recommendations would become an even more peculiar mishmash as a result of this - school governance, manga, children's books and slow cooker recipes. But I think I might have broken their algorithm.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The Guv'nor(s)
First governing body meeting this evening. Husband came home early from work to allow me to go and have tea in the staff room first (the staff room into which we are only allowed by invite; a bit like vampires). Teachers and governors were all introduced to each other, so now I know the first names of just over half the teachers (would be nearly all were it not for my faulty memory) including Daughter's teacher. I promise not to tell her ... especially given that her teacher has the same name as one of her best friends.
We went through the head's report to the governing body, approved a conduct and capability policy we didn't get to read (it's pretty much a three-line-whip from the local authority, hm), amended and approved an arts policy, volunteered for committees, and discussed cycling to school.
I am on the Finance and Premises committee, and also the Appeals and Complaints committee (which has never met).
That's all. Oh, and met the other parent governor who works for my employer, so I will have to have a chat with him at work some time (get the goss, etc).
Daughter wore her winter uniform for the first time today - was going to hold out until October, but it was a bit chilly today, plus I think the novelty got her into it a bit quicker than if she'd worn her summer dress! I do expect her to come back looking a lot more dishevelled after PE though - far more of a faff to get into a polo shirt and pinafore than into a dress.
We went through the head's report to the governing body, approved a conduct and capability policy we didn't get to read (it's pretty much a three-line-whip from the local authority, hm), amended and approved an arts policy, volunteered for committees, and discussed cycling to school.
I am on the Finance and Premises committee, and also the Appeals and Complaints committee (which has never met).
That's all. Oh, and met the other parent governor who works for my employer, so I will have to have a chat with him at work some time (get the goss, etc).
Daughter wore her winter uniform for the first time today - was going to hold out until October, but it was a bit chilly today, plus I think the novelty got her into it a bit quicker than if she'd worn her summer dress! I do expect her to come back looking a lot more dishevelled after PE though - far more of a faff to get into a polo shirt and pinafore than into a dress.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Not a lot to report
Where did the last nine days go?!
We're now on the cusp of the next stage of school settling in - when the morning sessions start to have lunch appended to them. Exciting! It's also when I start to ease myself back into work, which is less exciting.
Daughter is having a packed lunch on Monday and Wednesday, school dinner on Friday. This is with familiarisation with school dinners in mind, plus her nursery friend is doing the same, and if they have different lunches they'll be at different tables - woe. Friday is also chip day.
I have to send the money in on Monday, not entirely sure how this will work - she'll need to give the money in, having taken it out of her bookbag, but will need to understand that it's not that day that she'll be having the hot meal.
Several of us were up at the school office on Friday, having waited all week to receive a menu for school dinners, and having NOT received a menu. I ended up being tasked by Daughter's teacher to find out what week the school is on, because armed with that knowledge you can find out online what is for dinner next week.
My hour and a half introductory governor session on Thursday turned into the entire morning, which was okay as I had no other plans. We (new foundation governor and I) attended assembly - the first assembly Reception children had attended. I could see Daughter down at the front, was willing her NOT to turn round. It was a very good assembly (actual subject would give away the identity of the school, so not saying anything) but Daughter couldn't remember anything about it when I picked her up.
First governors' meeting on Tuesday - my parents were supposed to be taking Daughter for the time between me going to the meeting, and Husband arriving home, but they're now otherwise occupied. So I'm going to see if our neighbour can fill the gap, otherwise Husband will have to come home early.
We're now on the cusp of the next stage of school settling in - when the morning sessions start to have lunch appended to them. Exciting! It's also when I start to ease myself back into work, which is less exciting.
Daughter is having a packed lunch on Monday and Wednesday, school dinner on Friday. This is with familiarisation with school dinners in mind, plus her nursery friend is doing the same, and if they have different lunches they'll be at different tables - woe. Friday is also chip day.
I have to send the money in on Monday, not entirely sure how this will work - she'll need to give the money in, having taken it out of her bookbag, but will need to understand that it's not that day that she'll be having the hot meal.
Several of us were up at the school office on Friday, having waited all week to receive a menu for school dinners, and having NOT received a menu. I ended up being tasked by Daughter's teacher to find out what week the school is on, because armed with that knowledge you can find out online what is for dinner next week.
My hour and a half introductory governor session on Thursday turned into the entire morning, which was okay as I had no other plans. We (new foundation governor and I) attended assembly - the first assembly Reception children had attended. I could see Daughter down at the front, was willing her NOT to turn round. It was a very good assembly (actual subject would give away the identity of the school, so not saying anything) but Daughter couldn't remember anything about it when I picked her up.
First governors' meeting on Tuesday - my parents were supposed to be taking Daughter for the time between me going to the meeting, and Husband arriving home, but they're now otherwise occupied. So I'm going to see if our neighbour can fill the gap, otherwise Husband will have to come home early.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Sickie Day #2
Didn't take Daughter into school today, having established there is a rather vague 24-48 hour exclusion for vomiting, provided it wasn't demonstrably caused by too much birthday cake. She is fine now, although the fact that she had the worst tantrum of her entire life at her friend's house this morning leads me to think she is not quite right yet.
I escaped the bedtime routine last night to go to the new parents' meeting at the school. There was wine! I approve.
There were various bits about school routines which I've taken on board and filed away somewhere, but not too much of great significance.
My only notes concern:
- having been told not to bother with plimsolls until the spring term, as they don't go outside for PE before then, we've not been told they ARE needed, for going on the new climbing equipment, so I now need to source size 10 plimsolls in late September, which may be reasonably challenging
- we've been advised that if our children are going to have school dinners at all, it's a good idea to make sure they have them early on, as they will get a lot of help and supervision at lunchtime (hot or packed) when they first start staying, so it's a good opportunity for them to learn how school dinners work
I asked the mum we saw this morning about this, and her daughter is going to have school dinners on a Friday (chip day) and maybe one other day. Daughter is quite keen on this little girl at the moment (only one in her half of the class from nursery) so it'd be nice if they went to lunch together, and they'll only do this if their lunches 'match' (ie packed or hot). So I think we will at least do the Friday thing. Head is rather dismissive of the healthiness of packed lunches, but I don't see what's so intrinsically healthy about a school menu which potentially allows a child to have something-with-custard for pudding four days a week.
Also on the subject, it's a bit strange catering companies inventing things to put on their menus - bit trick to help your child choose what they're going to eat if you haven't a clue what the dishes are! For instance, if you Google 'larkhay biscuits' (one of the puddings) you get five hits, all of which are school menus by the same catering company. Mysterious biscuits!
Other than that, I have food for thought on whether it is appropriate to let a child play around a war memorial, and had a chat to Daughter's class teacher and both teaching assistants, who all asked after her. Apparently all the children were concerned about her too, as she's the first child to be taken out of the class poorly. They were very kind and said it was quite understandable that I'd made a wrong call (both TAs are parents too, but not the class teacher), which made me feel better. Insistence on mentioning that her lips had gone blue - not so much.
Back in tomorrow - Daughter was disappointed not to go in this afternoon, which I am actually really pleased about.
Unrelated to last night - I need to think about whether to put Daughter's name down for the work playscheme. I don't intend to use it this Christmas or Easter, or probably even next summer, but if I want the option I may need to do something about it soon-ish. Although I'm not contracted to work the long holidays, it might suit to have her go and do something for the day during the holidays anyway, to give us a little break from each other, and give her something to do. I suspect not for the foreseeable future though, as she's not really the kind of child who can just drop into a situation, make friends and have fun, she needs quite a lot of settling in. But it's worth considering and finding out more for the future.
I escaped the bedtime routine last night to go to the new parents' meeting at the school. There was wine! I approve.
There were various bits about school routines which I've taken on board and filed away somewhere, but not too much of great significance.
My only notes concern:
- having been told not to bother with plimsolls until the spring term, as they don't go outside for PE before then, we've not been told they ARE needed, for going on the new climbing equipment, so I now need to source size 10 plimsolls in late September, which may be reasonably challenging
- we've been advised that if our children are going to have school dinners at all, it's a good idea to make sure they have them early on, as they will get a lot of help and supervision at lunchtime (hot or packed) when they first start staying, so it's a good opportunity for them to learn how school dinners work
I asked the mum we saw this morning about this, and her daughter is going to have school dinners on a Friday (chip day) and maybe one other day. Daughter is quite keen on this little girl at the moment (only one in her half of the class from nursery) so it'd be nice if they went to lunch together, and they'll only do this if their lunches 'match' (ie packed or hot). So I think we will at least do the Friday thing. Head is rather dismissive of the healthiness of packed lunches, but I don't see what's so intrinsically healthy about a school menu which potentially allows a child to have something-with-custard for pudding four days a week.
Also on the subject, it's a bit strange catering companies inventing things to put on their menus - bit trick to help your child choose what they're going to eat if you haven't a clue what the dishes are! For instance, if you Google 'larkhay biscuits' (one of the puddings) you get five hits, all of which are school menus by the same catering company. Mysterious biscuits!
Other than that, I have food for thought on whether it is appropriate to let a child play around a war memorial, and had a chat to Daughter's class teacher and both teaching assistants, who all asked after her. Apparently all the children were concerned about her too, as she's the first child to be taken out of the class poorly. They were very kind and said it was quite understandable that I'd made a wrong call (both TAs are parents too, but not the class teacher), which made me feel better. Insistence on mentioning that her lips had gone blue - not so much.
Back in tomorrow - Daughter was disappointed not to go in this afternoon, which I am actually really pleased about.
Unrelated to last night - I need to think about whether to put Daughter's name down for the work playscheme. I don't intend to use it this Christmas or Easter, or probably even next summer, but if I want the option I may need to do something about it soon-ish. Although I'm not contracted to work the long holidays, it might suit to have her go and do something for the day during the holidays anyway, to give us a little break from each other, and give her something to do. I suspect not for the foreseeable future though, as she's not really the kind of child who can just drop into a situation, make friends and have fun, she needs quite a lot of settling in. But it's worth considering and finding out more for the future.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Malingering (not)
Daughter is off school sick. I suspected her of malingering (if that thought doesn't cross your mind when faced with a small child who doesn't really want to do something, and is claiming a tummy ache, you are a better/more trusting/more gullible person than I am) and eventually got her to school. I was very understanding, I swear, and made it clear to her that not going to lunch with her grandparents, and not seeing her friend this afternoon were simply consequences of being ill, not punishment. She managed to get up eventually, got into her uniform, arrived at school at 9.20, came home, phoned Husband to tell him all about it ... as soon as I put the phone down, it rang again, with Daughter's class teacher saying she was as white as a sheet and shivering under a blanket in the book corner.
Oops.
So I have learned:
- Daughter is maybe not quite as good an actress as I was thinking
- super-late arrival of Reception children is not a hanging offence
- wobbly Reception children get to sit on teacher's knee when they arrive
- there is a lovely clean, snuggly blanket for shivery children
Which is all good. On the minus side, I have been able to get into school twice without any sort of challenge other than buzzing in - both times I was buzzed in, there was no one paying much attention in the office so I just walked straight through and down the Reception classrooms.
Daughter is now asleep on the sofa while I'm starting to go through the National Training Programme for New Governors workbook - swot. I've not been given this to do, I just figured I might as well be well informed before I go to my first meeting.
Oops.
So I have learned:
- Daughter is maybe not quite as good an actress as I was thinking
- super-late arrival of Reception children is not a hanging offence
- wobbly Reception children get to sit on teacher's knee when they arrive
- there is a lovely clean, snuggly blanket for shivery children
Which is all good. On the minus side, I have been able to get into school twice without any sort of challenge other than buzzing in - both times I was buzzed in, there was no one paying much attention in the office so I just walked straight through and down the Reception classrooms.
Daughter is now asleep on the sofa while I'm starting to go through the National Training Programme for New Governors workbook - swot. I've not been given this to do, I just figured I might as well be well informed before I go to my first meeting.
Monday, September 15, 2008
No election required
I appear to be a parent governor. There were three people proposed for three posts, so I'm in. One is carrying on from a previous term, so it can't be too bad. Can it? I've been to talk briefly to the head, and spoken to the chair of the governing body on the phone - we are meeting next week.
So, that's quite exciting. Eek!
I've also had sight of the second booklet (because it does exist, it's just a little behind where it should be), having emailed its author. I suggested I could take a look at it, as a fresh pair of eyes. I made a few suggestions, but it's really very good, useful.
What else? Oh, the milk saga. I tried to call the Cool Milk agency, but got no answer, so convinced myself there was no way that the registration had worked (someone else said they'd had an email on registering) and tried again. Still no email, so later I managed to get someone on the phone. Indeed, neither attempt at registering online had done a blinkin' thing, so I did it over the phone. I now have an email, and Daughter IS getting milk next week. It's a good job she's not five until March, if she was a September birthday we'd have missed the limited free milk at this rate!
I'm holding off on volunteering to help in class, for the time being. I don't know yet how much time being a governor will take up, but the first meeting is in a couple of weeks, and is at 4pm, so will either involve Husband coming home early, my parents taking the Daughter for a couple of hours, or perhaps one of the neighbours having her for an hour or so, just to fill the gap between me going to school and Husband coming home. So I may not want to introduce extra complications into life right now.
So, that's quite exciting. Eek!
I've also had sight of the second booklet (because it does exist, it's just a little behind where it should be), having emailed its author. I suggested I could take a look at it, as a fresh pair of eyes. I made a few suggestions, but it's really very good, useful.
What else? Oh, the milk saga. I tried to call the Cool Milk agency, but got no answer, so convinced myself there was no way that the registration had worked (someone else said they'd had an email on registering) and tried again. Still no email, so later I managed to get someone on the phone. Indeed, neither attempt at registering online had done a blinkin' thing, so I did it over the phone. I now have an email, and Daughter IS getting milk next week. It's a good job she's not five until March, if she was a September birthday we'd have missed the limited free milk at this rate!
I'm holding off on volunteering to help in class, for the time being. I don't know yet how much time being a governor will take up, but the first meeting is in a couple of weeks, and is at 4pm, so will either involve Husband coming home early, my parents taking the Daughter for a couple of hours, or perhaps one of the neighbours having her for an hour or so, just to fill the gap between me going to school and Husband coming home. So I may not want to introduce extra complications into life right now.
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