Snippets from the Classroom and Beyond
W44 February 2006
Something
went wrong with the January issue of Snippets on the web! Somewhere between my
computer with an upgraded new operating system, and He What Runs The Village Website with an old operating system, the
published edition got computerly garbled (new word I’ve
invented – computerly). The net result was that
January appeared with the requisite number of pictures but the pictures were shown
alongside the spaces where they were supposed to be – AAAAAAGH!!!. This month I will try to do better and John has
promised to show me how to put the copy straight on the website. Here’s hoping!
Any way, I’m going to start this with the same paragraph that I started the
Parish Magazine copy with. Here goes:-
As
I sit here at my computer in a somewhat bemused state waiting for inspiration
to hit me, I thought I ought to warn you, the readers, that there might be more
than the usual number of repetitions and errors in this issue than has become
the norm. Let me explain. The last edition of Snippets for the Parish Magazine
was written on 22nd of November covering events up until that date
and dealing with the programme for December and 
January. Because of
telephone line and computer problems, the on-line version did not appear until
late December. Then came the deadline for the edition of Snippets to be
published in the Whiddon Down Parishes Magazine – 9th
January – covering February and March, their magazine being a bi-monthly
publication. In my wisdom(?) I thought I ought to put
out a January on-line version to stay up to date which, bearing in mind the
tardiness of the December on-line issue, was published on 12th
January. Now, it’s the 23rd January* and it’s time for this, the
February Magazine copy. If I’m lucky, I can just change the photographs to
colour for the on-line versions, but when it is over a week to the beginning of
the next month, I have to do a rewrite covering events that happen in the
latter part of the month. I’m confused but I hope some of you can understand
the problems that are sometimes faced in staying as up to the minute as
possible!( *Actually,
it’s now 14th February!)
As
you will see from the picture on the left, I have included a photo of the top
half of the new school newspaper’s front page. The paper is called The Cherry B
as you can see and is a very professionally produced publication.
Congratulations to the team who have produced it. They all appear in the photo
on the left of the photo above. The newspaper will be issued on a termly basis.
Going
back to last term, there was a snag with the pre-Christmas activities. Somehow,
the children’s visit to the Northcott Theatre to see
the pantomime had been inadvertently cancelled by the theatre. Luckily, seats
were available on 4th January and were taken up by the school. That
meant that the pupils of Cherry B School started
the Spring Term with a visit to the pantomime. I was never so lucky!!!
This
term the theme is
On
the staff side, Michelle Goddard has settled in well in lieu of Mr McKenzie and
she is proving popular with both children and staff. Another member of staff
will soon be required because we are about to lose Charlie Fearn.
She will be going off to join the Royal Air Force in April where I’m sure she
will do well. Is there anybody who likes cross country running to take over
from her? With our current all-female staffnow, I’m
sure there is room for that scene from Shakespeare’s Scottish play – you know
the one, hubble bubble toil
and trouble, or something along those lines. How dare you suggest that I am
calling the staff witches !! Anyway, for goodness
sake, don’t tell them what I said. I don’t want to end up in the stock-pot. Interviews
for a replacement teacher for Charlie took place at the end of
January/beginning of February. I don’t yet know who has been selected.
12th
January was the sad occasion of the funeral of 31 year old Daniel Netherway at St Mary’s Church. He was a former pupil of the
school and I’m sure our hearts go out to his family and all the bereaved. Mrs. Brimacombe attended the service. It must be a shock to
teachers such as her when their former pupils pass away.
There
has been a need to bring out in print a set of “Behaviour Expectations” for the
children at lunchtimes because of some somewhat unruly specimens amongst the
packed lunch brigade. The school makes a point of educating the “Whole Child”
and personal behaviour is part of that education. I, on a personal basis, don’t
think it unreasonable for the children to be “brought up with a round turn”
when overstepping the mark. I hope that this is the last we hear of such
behaviour.
We have another
non-uniform day for UNICEF on 3rd February. Forthcoming Assemblies
will feature Keith Vaughan on Road Safety and, at a later date, an Oral Health
Promoter to give a presentation on dental hygiene.
By
now of course, all the after-school activities have restarted after the
Christmas break. There is no escape. They are everywhere: cross country
running, taikooing, dancing, nature
following, netballing etc, etc. Talking Taiko, don’t forget the date the
drummers have with Kodo over the half term weekend.
This will be a great experience for our group.
The
calendar stands as:
3rd
February – UNICEF Day – non uniform
17th
February – Road Safety Assembly
20th-28th
February - Spring Half Term
21st
February - Taiko invitation to perform with Kodo
28th
February – Children back to School
8th
March - Swimming Gala (Crediton Leisure Centre)
7th
April – End of Spring Term
24th
April – Summer Term Begins
PGR