Selattyn C of E Primary School

28/05/2020

Good Morning Everyone………      Good Morning Ms Morgan…………     Good Morning               EVERYONE

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Well, here I am again….I bet you were glad to have a few days break from my

mutterings and mumblings! Sorry….I am back today for one last Muttering!

Yes…………….

……………………….. the time has come to hang up my mutters and get back in the classroom to actually TEACH!

YAY!!

Today has been a busy day again so far, but I have now received the Risk Assessment and Risk Assessment addendum back from their checking and reviewing at Shropshire Council. Phew! That’s a huge relief!

Plus Boris has made his announcement yesterday, so …….. it’s all systems go as school, re-opens to those designated children whose families have already chosen to send their children back into school from Monday 1st June. Classrooms have been organised with the correct amount of spaces and desks, and trays set up for the number of children asking for a place.

My brilliant staff have all been so busy making sure their classrooms are as safe as possible whilst remaining child friendly and happy places to be. These strange times of ‘You Know What’ have made us all revise our ways and that has been the same here at school…..

I have become much more proficient at IT … yes I had to really … wasn’t my choice of course but it was needs must! Mrs Betts has cleared away many years of collected clutter, debris, un wanted resources, stuff! I can not believe I can actually see her desk top now! Miss Ward has converted her classroom to a castle! (Hoping she’ll let down the drawbridge on Monday!) Mrs Hardaker has been just waiting for a chance to tidy away in Class 3PH, Mr Patch liked it better how it was! (He is an unashamed collector of stuff!) So you see we have all moved along a certain journey and as a result we are now different in some small way or another.

I am sure you have all changed too and your families have tried new things and new challenges. I suppose this is what life is about. Meeting the challenges of every day and getting on with them as best we can in our own ways. My garden has had to take a back seat over the past couple of weeks as paper work and the school office have claimed me and kept me chained to the desk and computer! I don’t resent it in any way! Of course not! Who wouldn’t love to spend half term in the office with Government updates and paperwork re social distancing! It’s been great! Thank goodness for Wendy’s sausage rolls and doughnuts! They have saved me!

My cabbages and beans have forgotten who I am and what I look like, and the woodpecker has pecked off as he says I haven’t paid him enough attention lately in my mutterings!

I have also been practising my skipping skills as we will be having lots of skipping challenges and fun next week along with many random playdough activities! It’s been a very long time since I have had my own pot of playdough …. I had to banish it from my house when my daughter was of playdough age as she kept eating it! So a trip down memory lane for me! I really like the smell of new playdough.

I must admit……. before I leave this afternoon…. I am going to have a huge whirl on my chair as I haven’t done it at all this week or last week! …. and I don’t think I will get time to do it next week! Mrs Bennett has popped in to help with some paper work so I’ll have to wait until she has gone again before I whirl!

So…….. as I end….. I would like to say Gold Stars all round to you all, for being such super families and for keeping going through this time. I’m hoping it won’t be too long before we can all meet up again and Selattyn can get back to doing what it does best. It’s still going to be weird without some of you, and not the same at all, and I will still miss those of you not returning yet. Although my mutterings will cease from today, please keep looking out for updates and the usual ‘Newsletter’ which will be back next week. Hopefully that will keep everyone in the Selattyn loop so to speak.

Anyway….

May you be blessed with good health. May you stay strong and resilient. May you be kind to one another and to yourselves. May you keep safe and take care of each other. May God bless you all.

Thank you…. Over and out!

Amen….       Ahh….men

A Postscript:  572 updates, 6 versions of risk assessments, 27 staff memos, 19 sausage rolls, 28 allowed hygiene posters, 4 not allowed hygiene posters, 109 emails related to ‘You Know What’, 33 brownie bites, 117 metres of warning floor tape, 92 litres of Zoflora, (so far), 46 reams of A4 paper, 13 bottles of handsanitiser, 37 packs of green paper towels, 285.5 half drunk cups of black coffee, 7 boxes of tissues and a partridge in a pear tree!

(all statistics approximate at time of press!)

20/05/2020

Ms Morgans’ Afternoon Anecdotes,

Good Afternoon Everyone ……   Good Afternoon Ms Morgan……   Good Afternoon …….           EVERYONE 

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Hello to you all out there…… what sort of day have you had I wonder?

Mine has been busy and full of surprises! The first surprise this morning was that my bread had gone moldy!

No toast and marmite for me today! My second surprise was that all of the teachers and TA’s had just about finished with their classroom re-organising. Their classrooms look amazing! They have been doing this so that they are ready if the school re-opens soon. It has been a very therapeutic exercise in many ways as they have had to clear away lots of clutter and things that have built up over the years. A bit like moving house when you get to have a really good sort out. Mrs Betts has found some lovely cards from about 4 years ago……. Mr Patch has found some maths books he has been looking for….Mrs Hardaker has found that the second door in her classroom actually opens!..... into the hall! …… Miss Ward and Miss Morris found they have a lovely big, big space to work in……..and me……. I have found:-

• A red board marker pen (this has been missing for some time, about 4 months!)

• A ‘Time out’ biscuit still in its wrapper

• A whole box of new rubbers

• Half of a key ring

• Two old Christmas cards, one to Ben and one to Shaky!!! (any light to be thrown on that one?)

• An old photo of a pupil who must be at least 25 years old now!

• A note from one pupil to another! (Year 6! Now I know what you were laughing at!)

• And a partridge in a pear tree.

So…. quite a few surprises there! My next surprise was a wonderful, long letter from a year 6 boy (and his Mum) so much writing and lovely drawings and photos, thank you! My next surprise was finding my desk again under all that SATs preparation work! It actually was still there! A further surprise was that Mrs Bennett and I managed effortlessly to have a ’Teams’ meeting with our school Shropshire Council finance Adviser! (Way to go Mrs B) A not so good surprise was that all the chocolate treats on the’ treats tray’ had been eaten! …… found the chocolate brownie bites from Mrs Samson though, so sanity was restored! It really has been a day of surprises! Mrs Haralambous was also extremely excited to have her very first own desk space! If I’d have known Mrs H, I would have done it ages ago for you, bless!

Yesterday I received, by personal delivery, thank you governor …a most wonderful drawing of a kingfisher. It is such a thrill when you see one of these in real life… this one was spotted where the River Ceiriog meets the River Dee. You lucky pupil! What a great sight… and what a great drawing, thank you.

I also had another personal delivery, thank you another governor, of a beautiful rainbow made from coloured paper. It is now up the office wall and looks very splendid, thank you year 5 pupil, I especially like the metallic blue.

A question….. what sort of music.. if any, are you listening to over these strange days? I heard Holst’s Bringer of Jollity this morning. I had forgotten how much I liked it. Music is like that isn’t it… you sometimes hear a piece and think …”I’d forgotten how good that is!” I also listened to Bruch’s Violin concerto as I drove to school. It is a wonderful piece and transports me to quite another world. So… what do you like? I know my daughter thinks I’m a bit old fashioned in my tastes! I’m sure you possibly think the same! Music is such a personal thing.

I’m also wondering what are you reading at the moment? I am finding it hard to concentrate for long on a book….I think it is because so many other thoughts are going through my head at these strange times of ‘You Know What’. Are you managing to read a book? Maybe before bed or in the morning? I have seen some of the news clips on TV showing schools have put red and white hazard tape across their libraries….. we have gone for a more subtle look with corrugated card in many different shapes just waiting to be painted by children to make the space bright and cheerful, interesting and unique. We have tried as hard as we can to all make our classrooms as welcoming as possible, whilst making them safe for everyone in them. My teachers have had some really great ideas which they have put into practice so that school remains happy and child friendly. (Wish their classrooms could be on TV!) I am very proud of them. I always remember that these are scary times for all of us, me included, and that we all have to support and help each other to do the best we can.

So ……. I have a DVD to watch later……. Looking forward to that!

Take care everyone and stay safe. God bless you.

Have a lovely evening.

Amen….       Ahh….men

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19/05/2020

Ms Morgans’ Evening events,

    Good Evening Everyone ……   Good Evening Ms Morgan……   Good Eveneing …….             EVERYONE

Hello everyone, I’m so sorry I didn’t get to write my mutterings yesterday.

Got waylaid by risk assessment writting. Many apologies.

So…. another busy day with no time for whirling, or even 1-a-day!

Difficult times!

I know it is hard for you all at home tooo and I know just how much harder it is if you are a parent or carer with a child who is allowed to come, back into school when and if wider opening happens. Believe me… I do know how worrying it all is and with never having been in this position before, all of us are just trying to do what is beste.

Please don’t hesitate to phone school and tell me your concerns and worries if that will help at all. I will do my very best to help.

A note about shoes…… if you are hopping to come back to school soon and your shoes have become too small or just fallen apart please don’t worrie…come in your trainers or pumps, that will be fine until the shops open propperly again!

Apparently. it’s ‘Thank a Teacher’ day today ….so sending thanks to all my teachers and teaching asistants – thank you all very, very much. Xxxx

It has been a butiful day outside today so I hope you have all been out in your gardens or out for a walk as your exersise today. I wonder if you are still doing your mini beast topics class 1W? You would have enjoyed yesterday when Mrs Samson was in the office with me and all of a sudden, a sirprise centipeed fell from the ceiling just missing Mrs Samson’s head! We couldn’t see where it might have come from…it was a little wierd! Mrs Samson put it on a peice of paper and took it outside for safety! You could have drawn it Class 1W, or timed it going across the carpet…it was going pretty fast I can tell you.

I expect you have all been thinking of ways to keep busy and out of mischief….. I know Harper has made slime today, he says it is a science activity, but I’m not so sure. I have tried to make slim before… but it really was just goo. I think I must have left an ingreedient out! I usually do that when I am makeing cakes too…so they never rise or taste very nice! I am quite good at making bisckits though!

On that thourt, I will pack up and drive home! No five-a-day and so I am quiet peckish now. Not sure what to cook for diner…. I’ll let you know!

So…… Take care everyone and keep safe. Hope you have agood evening and there is a lovely sunset to enjoy.

Amen….       Ahh….men

A Post Script:_ Did you spot the 21 mistakes? I don’t think I would get expected level with this, do you?

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17/05/2020

Good Afternoon Everyone………      Good Afternoon Ms Morgan…………     Good Afternoon      EVERYONE

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Hello everyone!     Where has the day gone to?    Have you all hidden it?

Well….I am on a new regime today! (Yes, years 5 & 6, another new regime!) I have decided I am giving up cake and chocolate for a while. Very rash my daughter says, apparently! I figure I just can’t give up me five-a-day …. so I’ll keep those going and give up the other two. I had my first migraine the other day and it quite frightened me …. My vision was very lovely, as everything appeared to be in a brightly coloured prism, many faceted and quite phsycadelic. I thought I was back in the seventies … yes, I was there first time round! But Mrs Betts assured me that was not how I should be seeing her, she was not a Picasso cubist painting in full colour, and that I was in fact not quite right! Mrs Betts said chocolate could have set it off…… nevermind about the mega stress of ‘You Know What’ ……. So… I need to listen to Mrs Betts and….give up chocolate! Hey ho!

Well I wonder what you got up to over the weekend? I spent a lot of time in my garden, surprise, and decided I would have a BBQ on Saturday night, as I had already planned to have a bonfire. I bought a disposable one and put my three sausages on it when the coals were grey and ready to cook with …….. Yum! The sounds of sizzling and the smell of cooking sausage filled the air as I lit and tended my proper bonfire. A question for you…. Why does one sausage always roll off the grill and into the dirt? Repeatedly! So I had two lovely sausages on a fork first …and then one sausage with extra dirt, ash and bugs on a fork to finish off with! A three sausage dinner…. What could be better! (A four sausage dinner!)

I have spent today updating my updates, and reading, reading, reading, reading DFE information until I can read no more! All staff, who usually work on a Monday, have been in today to start to prepare for more pupils coming in to school if the government directs us. Mrs Betts’ room looks like we have been transported to Denmark! WOW! Mrs Betts…. I never knew you had so many surfaces….. but…what have you done with everything…. Come on…….Where is all your ‘stuff’? Hmmmmmmm ….. strange!  …… I thought I had seen Mrs Orritt going back and forwards with black bin liners!

Well done Mrs Haralambous…… that is an enormous amount of work ready for the pupils in years 5 & 6, they will be delighted I’m sure! NOT! You have done everything that was on my list for them….. will seven week’s worth of work fit into one envelope do you think? Yes… I’m sure it will. We will make it!

Wow Wendy….where has the library disappeared to? Is it underneath the massive corrugated card coverings? What a good idea. I love the different shapes for the pupils …. social distancing in place of course…. to paint and decorate. Inspired!

Miss Ward and Miss Morris have been doing trigonometry, (This Maths stuff emerged in the Hellenistic world during the 3rd century BC from applications of geometry to astronomical studies. Google it year 6!) to see where the desks have to go in their classroom area to fit with social distancing. Phew… that was a tricky exercise for you both…well done! Top Marks. Miss Ward has brought in some really bright, jazzy warning tape for us to use on the floor when we have to think about moving from one space to another. Thank you Miss Ward. Everyone is doing their very best.

Mrs Bennett is at the Zoflora again…… I really will have to confiscate it! But then I’d have to do it, so probably not……  She is the Zoflora Fairy.

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Mrs Hardaker has been clearing out things too, making sure she is ready for the onslaught of two more children! Could be more… could be less… we don’t know yet!

And me…….. I’ve just been reading, reading, reading, reading, reading, reading, reading, reading and bossing!

So… I hope you have all had a good day. It is National Museum Day today …. I must say I feel old enough to be in a museum! (No comments please!) Maybe you have made a little museum of your own at home? I remember I made a little museum once when I was about 7 years old. I kept it in a shoe box until it started to smell and my Mum made me throw it away!

I am just looking up at the window sill above my office desk….. Yes… I think I will be a mermaid tonight. I can be a mermaid, so I will be a mermaid, thanks year 2 pupil for the card! (There is an over exaggerated swish of her tail, and a glimmer of iridescent blue-green as she swims out of the office into the staffroom.) OOOooops, sorry Mrs Bennett, didn’t see you there with the Zoflora, watch my tail please….

So “~~~~~~~~ssssss~~~~~~~sssss~~~~~~~~~      ~~~~~~~~  **  sssss~~~~~”

That’s good night in mermaid talk.

Take care and be good all of you, even Mums and Dads!

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14/05/2020

Good Afternoon Everyone………      Good Afternoon Ms Morgan…………     Good Afternoon      EVERYONE

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Well….well…..well…..well…..well…..well…….well!

What a strange, strange  day.

Hello to you all out there, in here it has been a strange day with reflections on speculations, discussions on assumptions, opinions on suppositions and postulations on presumptions. ….. and that was only this morning!

Now I know why I didn’t go into politics!

Give me teaching children every time ….. and then more of it.

Epilogue about positivity.

I love my job, I love the challenges it brings and the rewards that follow. I love the chance to make a difference to an individual’s life or to their wider journey. I love the opportunities I have to watch the convergence of folk, learning to come together for the greater good. I have learned that to be part of a school community is like being wrapped in a rich and diverse blanket. Heavy with angst and fear on some days, and gossamer light with hope and expectation on others. Over forty years in the profession has helped mould me and shape me into the person I am today, which is resoundingly positive and eternally optimistic. I make no apologies for being who I am, and for always trying to see a way through. I am passionate about education in its widest sense and the holistic progress of every child I teach …. but with that comes responsibility, accountability and a huge, on-going duty of care.

I know.

I’m a glass half full girl and I’m afraid I can not be anything else.

Coming back into school…or not coming back into school, is a very difficult decision for all parents and carers to make. I understand, and will not ever judge – but if we are to open schools on the directive of the government, to whom I am accountable, I will do it positively, with great consideration, and to the best of my professional and personal ability.

Epilogue finished! Phew! Sorry Mrs Samson, got it off my chest now.

Proper anecdotes…..

So…. I’m actually drowning in paperwork today. I have my arm-bands on as I am not a strong swimmer. Unfortunately, I could not find a matching pair this morning so I have one yellow and red one, and one multi-coloured with pirate cartoons on! At least they are helping me keep my head above the deluge…just!

Actually, I have something else to help keep me afloat today ….. some very special five-a-day cookies! With one for luck too! Delicious, delicious, delicious! Thank you so much year 2 and year 5 and year 7 pupils! What a treat!....and what lovely salt dough decorations too…. Again, thank you. xxxx I thought the moustache paper was hilarious and it did make me laugh … you were quite right year 5 pupil! How well you know me!

Anyway…. I am looking forward to the week-end and hoping it is going to be a bit warmer…my poor runner bean plants are looking decidedly sad after the morning frosts this week. Apparently, I should have covered them with a fleece….. I will do that next time, should I use the navy blue fleece with the long zip and side pockets or the black fleece with the short zip and draw string bottom? I’m not at all sure!

I think Mrs Bennett has become quite passionate about the smell of Zoflora! (this is a disinfectant years 5 & 6, not a type of zoo plant!) For she is spraying it on as many surfaces as she can! I have had to rescue my big black note book and my diary just now before they were liberally doused with it! It has a rather nice fragrance ….but even so!   Only joking Mrs B… you are a super, super hero. I am actually extremely grateful to all my staff for being so brilliant at keeping school safe and clean in these times of ‘You Know What!’ We have a very strict regime in place and staff have been a great team making sure the daily risk assessment register is completed and all actions and cleaning requisites are completed. A million thanks to them all. xxxx

I am reading a book at the moment about ‘collective nouns’.  “WHAT would you ever want to do that for?” say year 5 and 6 pupils! Well it actually is very interesting…. Did you know that a collective group of racoons is called a ‘gaze’? Or that a collective group of stingrays is called a ‘fever’? Or that a collective group of hippos is called a ‘crash’! That sounds extremely fitting doesn’t it!

Talking about words, I had a simply excellent limerick from a year 3 pupil! Fantastic! I really enjoyed reading it, thank you, talented writer coming through!

Also talking about words, let’s use these to end the week…..

May God bless you. May he make you strong and hopeful. May He give you the strength you need. May He give you the grace to be thankful, and to appreciate all you have around you. May He grant you peace and understanding.

Amen….       Ahh….men

13/05/2020

Ms Morgan has more formal 'Mutterings' to deliver to you all today about the potential re-opening of school. Please read this important letter on this matter and if you are not sure about any of its contents, please feel free to telephone the main office (01691 659744) during normal school hours.

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For parents of children in Reception, Year 1, Year 2 and parents who are keyworkers. After reading the letter, please complete this form regarding school re opening. 

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Thank you.

Ms Morgan's normal mutterings will be back tomorrow! 

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12/05/2020

Good Afternoon Everyone………      Good Afternoon Ms Morgan…………     Good Afternoon      EVERYONE

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Well….a very, very busy day again here, with much to discuss and deliberate over.

All staff were in, (safely with social distancing and risk assessments adhered to) to help put together a framework for how our school would function if the Government’s plan for Reception pupils, Year 1 pupils and Year 6 pupils were to return to school on 1st June, to join the key worker pupils.  As a staff, we all work as a very tight knit team, and support each other through thick and thin, so it is very important that we all have our say in this matter. As per usual, my staff were appreciative of the difficulties and dangers of the situation, but ready to put our heads together to make things work safely for all concerned. Way to go Selattyn! Positive mental attitude!

(PMA remember that years 5 & 6) There is still much to do, and I am sure you will all be reading communications , hearing different messages, seeing information and discussing opinions about it too. Please rest assured I will keep you in the loop!

So…… I’m now eating a very late lunch as I type…whoops red pepper fell out there! My sandwich is a little too stuffed full of salad…. I try to get the whole week’s worth into one sandwich and then that’s me done for the next seven days! I haven’t as yet had time for whirling …. and also haven’t whirled because Mrs Bennett was in earlier and mustn’t know about it! So, once I have finished eating I think I will have a quick whirl before I start the updates and emails!

The sun is out now but wasn’t it cold earlier this morning? I think the wind must be coming from Iceland ….I must check with my village weather person! I have just planted some raddish, rocket and lettuce seeds outdoors and I am imagining them shivering in their little soil beds and refusing to germinate…I don’t blame them!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> WHOAH!

Well I must say that was well needed! I feel so much lighter and freer now! Thank goodness for whirling!

Did you know, that today is actually National Apple Pie Day! I’m sure you did. I wonder how many apple pies will be made and eaten today? Not in my house…. as I don’t like cooked apple! I could just have to pie bit, as I simply LOVE pastry though.

It is also National crouton day …which is now too late as I’ve eaten my salad.

National fruit cocktail day …. Which sounds like my too healthy alternative five-a-day, which again isn’t happening because I’ve already had 4 of my proper five-a-day! Digestive, shortbread, wafer and a special individually wrapped biscuit like you get in Costa! Very posh! (Thanks Mrs Lloyd!)

National ferret day ….absolutely no thanks!

And…. My favourite one so far…. National frog jumping day! Yay! I’ll certainly be doing that when I get home.

Not Mrs Orritt though as she really, truly doesn’t like frogs or toads!

Oooh that’s lovely! I’ve just made a cup of Earl Grey. Cheers!

Have you noticed there are a lot of ducks on the roads at the moment? I expect it is because they are nesting, so I have to drive carefully on my way to school in case I meet some in the middle of the road. The other day, at lunch time on the yard, no pupils in that day, staff that were there suddenly heard a loud duck noise. We all turned round to see if we could spot the web-footed creature….. nowhere to be seen! Then came the call again, louder this time. We all scanned the area again…. But still no duck. “Odd” we all said, “That’s certainly odd!” Third time of the QUACK….Mrs Betts started laughing ….she’d realised it was the ring tone on her mobile phone as her son called her! We all laughed and laughed!                    The things you laugh at when you’re in lockdown!

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So…. has anything funny happened to you this week? Anything odd or unusual? What makes you laugh at the moment? I’m sure some of you have been polishing up your joke delivery! I know a reception pupil who has!

I’m not much good at jokes as I usually get the punchline wrong!

So…another day done, another day of lockdown and home learning for most of you. Another day of emails, updates, downdates and midwaydates for me. Another day of getting on and doing the best we can. Another day of making the most of what we have. A good day here filled with my favourite people… not every single one of my favourite people…..  as of course you weren’t here!

I hope you are all keeping safe and feeling well, I hope Mums and Dads are keeping even-keeled and not too fraught with it all. I send you my very best wishes for a nice evening (“don’t use ‘nice’ Ms Morgan, you must know a better word than that!” Say my year 5 & 6 pupils!)  (“Sorry!”) Take care of each other and God bless you all.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> WHOAH!

Amen….       Ahh….men

11/05/2020

Good Morning Everyone………      Good Morning Ms Morgan…………     Good Morning               EVERYONE

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Well, what a very busy morning so far! I think there have been updates of updates

on updates!! Soooo much paperwork I’ve had to go back to my five-a-day! Thanks DFE! I’ll now have to buy larger trousers ….and it will be an essential shopping item!  BUT…….. it is all very, very important as it is all about you coming back into school! Hoorah! Steady on….. no rushing please! …… it’s very slow and small steps, only Reception, year 1 and year 6 first. I know…. It doesn’t seem fair either to those who don’t want to come back but can do so, or to those who can’t come back yet but want to. You can’t please all the people all the time…. I usually do well if I please just one!

So….. I am busy with meetings, one with Governors (Yesterday) and one with staff (tomorrow) to put some careful plans in preparation to make it safe enough for you to come back into Selattyn. How’s it going to work? What’s going to happen? How is playtime going to be safe?.... What about lunch? …….so many questions! Well please rest assured…. Things will be not be quite as they were….. there will be different strategies and different ways of doing matters BUT…. Things will be as safe as we can possibly make them following the Government’s directives. Once we have all formulated a framework and we have all got our heads around it….I will let you know, what you need to know, and hopefully it will help you all keep in the loop that is ‘school’.  In a few days, Mrs Bennett and I will give those families with pupils allocated to potentially be back in school, a ring to see if their places might be taken up or not. So hold that thought…..

Ah yes…. I wonder…can you invent a new game that a child could play, on the spot, without any equipment? It could be just a game for one person or a game for more than one person and you must be clear about the rules. If you come up with anything…let me know.

On a different note……. Lah lah lah

Did you know that today was National Limerick Day? … Not the place, but the type of poem that was made famous by a man called Edward Lear who wrote a lot of nonsense rhymes…..I feel I identify with him very well!

So…. I wondered if you could write a limerick? No rude ones please! They have a set format or structure like this:

There was a headteacher named Claire,

Who ate five-a-day in her lair,

Her mid-drift increased,

With her biscuit-ie feast,

T’was the stress of her job to be fair!

Have a go….see what you can come up with, then you could send them into school! Remember always to be kind!

……. and as I always seem to be talking about food…. I must say I had THE most delicious sausage roll of all time last Thursday! It was home-made, still warm, crumbly, with the flakiest pastry ever, and proper sausage meat in side. Oh what a treat…..thank you so much year 2 pupil. You would easily win junior bake off! Not forgetting the broad bean plants too ….. they were strong and sturdy, ready to plant straight away into the soil, marvellous……I let Mr Patch have two as he was so excited about them…. and I had one. So thank you year 3 pupil….. great gardening skills! …..and yet more thanks, as yesterday along came an enormous, fantastic chocolate cake decorated with icing and chocolate buttons ….a junior bake off rival I think! There were also warm scones with jam and cream! What a treat, thank you year reception and year 2 siblings, and mummy!  I haven’t as yet tried the recipe for chocolate fork biscuits…. Thank you year 3 pupil, another junior bake off contender! I will make these at the weekend when I have bought the ingredients on my essential trip to the supermarket. I think fork biscuits are really essential…don’t you! Definitely way bigger trousers needed now!

Hello year 1 pupil….it was so lovely to see you out riding your bike carefully on the road with Mum and baby sister. Mt goodness…how you’ve grown, but you still have the cheekiest smile ever! Thank you for my lovely card… I especially like the love hearts, they are tricky things to draw and colour, so well done.

Well, Mrs Bennett has decided we need a new hoover….. she has apparently ‘given up’ with the old Henry as it is not picking up properly and has an odd noise coming from it! I’m happy with that, as I love a new hoover! Best not tell Auntie Pat yet ….. she will know all in good time when she comes back! We have also been ordering more boxes of disposable gloves, which is actually way more difficult than one would think!  What is the size difference between small, medium and large, and should we have with or without powder? Who would know! …..and after all the deliberation …. ….. ….. and a twenty minute wait on the telephone ……they are not available!

So we have had to start again with another firm! …..and don’t even get me started on disposable aprons!

So….. as the time ticks on, I must away to finish my notes for staff tomorrow……

Keep well and keep being you. Try out some of Mrs Betts’ new Pick & Mix challenges! Polish up that 2 metre bubble and stay alert! Be safe, God Bless,

Amen….       Ahh….men

10/05/2020

Good Morning Everyone………      Good Morning Ms Morgan…………     Good Morning               EVERYONE

Good Morning Everyone……   Good Morning Ms Morgan……   Good Morning

Well hello to you all this chilly morning…I can’t believe the massive drop in

temperature from Saturday! At least 11 degrees! (So, how many degrees was it on Saturday years 4 & 5? …..and if it dropped a further 15 degrees, what would be the temperature then?) I have a dilemma at the moment …. I only have boots or sandals! Not sure boots are quite right for the office in May, but it’s definitely very-cold-feet time in sandals! Even the sparkly pink nail varnish is peeling off!

So… how are you all doing? I wonder how many of you sat and listened to Mr Boris’ little speech last evening? I listened very carefully and then again at the 10:00 o’clock news….. and ….. I have to say I am probably as confused as you all are! Until we have further enlightenment, or directives from Shropshire Council, I’m afraid to say that I only know as much as you do! I am having a meeting with Mrs Samson and Mr Hobbs this afternoon (two metre distancing observed obvs) to chat about the possibilities that the speech put forward and of course I will let you all know the moment anything concrete has been sorted. I just want to let you all know that whatever the actual outcome…. Whatever happens in reality, however it pans out….. we at Selattyn will be ready for it, have planned carefully for it and will do our very best for you all.

(I know Harper was very pleased that year 2 was not mentioned…. but his Mum …. not so joyful!)

I expect there are some mixed feelings in your households too! Life is so very complicated isn’t it!

This morning, I have already had two cups of strong coffee and three of my five-a-day! I think Mrs Bennett thinks I am a bit stressed! (She is right!) However, I must say I am going to limit myself to just the three-a-day this week as I realised my black trousers, that I usually wear for school, do not actually do up! Oh dear! Panic stations! Any one got a quick-thinner exercise routine I can do sitting at my desk? No? Right…down to two-a-day then I suppose!

I hope you enjoyed the V.E. day celebrations and you all had the chance to put up your bunting or listen to some war-time songs? I planted out some more runner bean plants whilst singing along with next door’s music….. “We’ll Meet Again” by Vera Lynn. A classic. All of us neighbours all raised a glass of something at 3 o’clock. Together but not together, if you know what I mean (social distancing) and it was nice to feel we were all part of a celebration, even though we couldn’t sit together or mingle. There were also slices of a beautiful sponge cake with strawberries and cream (Judy does bake an excellent sponge!) and buttered fruit loaf, put on people’s doorsteps….YUM! Also why the black trousers are redundant at the moment!

Changing subject completely … all of you pupils who deal with cattle … I must say…… aren’t they HUGE!!!  The field at the back of my garden has had lambs in up until now, but what a shock……. On Saturday…… very, very, very big and nosy cows have now come on the scene! I did know that cows were large, of course, …but as I usually only see them at a distance I forgot actually just how very large … and have you ever known such nosy animals? As soon as I’m out there, they come from right far away at the other side of the field, to stand right up against my fence….all 54 of them! (Probably only about 25 in reality but it looks more, and I do usually exaggerate!) It’s quite hard to be raking soil to a fine tilth when being stared at by a large cow only 2 metres away from you! … and what strange noises they make. I accept the ‘moo’ or ‘bellow’ but the huffing and puffing? The jostling for position and the head butting and pushing…….well…they reminded me of all of you lining up after lunch play! There is always one, who wants to be at the front, (you know who you are) and one who wants to just annoy the one next to them, (is that you?) and one who is facing the wrong way,(definitely you) and one way over in  the field who has no intention of lining up anyway! (That used to be me!) Cows, bless them…. They are my new best friends!

I wonder how you are all getting on with your home-school learning? Thank you year 3 pupil, it’s lovely to hear how you have been so busy. I’m glad you like the BBC bitesize, I think they are good too! Well done you for writing to your friends….. and all the way to Australia! Wow! A well-travelled letter indeed!

I think Mrs Betts and I are going to put up another ‘Pick & Mix’ sheet today. Mrs Betts’ daughter has been giving her some good ideas and challenges to use ….so watch out for those. I know Harper has just about lost the plot with his school work…. unless it’s number maths ……. so I’m sure some of you will be feeling the same. Bless! All I can say is…do your best and just try to do a little bit each day of something. That way you will be pleasing me and that’s always a good thing! (Ithink!) ….. and no doubt pleasing your ‘home-teachers’ too.(An even better thing!)

Last night, when I couldn’t sleep, I wondered whether Sir A (Lloyd-Webber) will be making up a musical about the ‘LOCKDOWN’ I think I might drop him a line to suggest it….. and maybe make up a song or two for him to include!

…..anyone done a rap yet about it? Let me know! That would be great.

Well…I better be off now….. Mr Patch has given me a whole ‘Maths Calculation Policy’ to look at and amend… wonderful!....thanks Mr P!... Great news! Another eighty-three hours of my life gone! Hey ho.

So…. hold fast and keep smiling, think of all you have achieved so far in 7 weeks! Take great care of yourselves and look out for one another. Missing you all very much here at school.

God bless you all.

Amen….       Ahh….men

May God bless, take care,

06/05/2020

Good Morning Everyone………      Good Morning Ms Morgan…………     Good Morning               EVERYONE

​

Hellooooooo to all of you out there! Well, it’s Thursday but like a Friday really! It feels

really very strange to be having a bank holiday Friday instead of a Monday doesn’t it but I must say I am looking forward to it.

Around where I live there has begun to be strings of red, white and blue bunting fluttering in the breeze. Looped from hedges and window-sills, from porches and gates it is all looking very festive and very nostalgic.

V.E. Day – such an important date to celebrate and remember another time of hardship and bravery, of courage and loss. I will be hanging out my bunting tomorrow and getting ready to share a glass of pop with my neighbours  (in a socially distanced way of course) as well as a few tales and thoughts about the special anniversary. Are you doing anything? I wonder how many people will be outside and saluting the heroes of that time, and also saluting just the ordinary folk who made it through and kept the home-fires burning?

I think my grandsons are making cupcakes, iced in red, white and blue … hopefully they will be yummy and I will get one left on my doorstep! Thanks boys!

Mrs Orritt and Mr Patch have been in today, very, very busy getting work sorted for the day when you return to school – whenever that may be! I hope it will be soon as I am quite fed up without you all! I think I may turn into that annoying older person who says…..”My, haven’t you grown!” Some very lovely young ladies dropped off some homemade sausage rolls today along with some broad bean plants. I must say they have become very tall indeed! (the young ladies not the broad beans yet!) I am happy to say, I shared the sausage rolls with staff for lunch. They were truly delicious ….. rival Greggs any day!. Thank you xxx The broad bean plants are wonderfully healthy and strong and will be planted in my garden, and Mr patch’s garden this weekend. Thank you too…xxxxx (I believe they have been grown from seed from Mr Tim Kirk’s garden …. So of course they are upstanding and saluting to attention!)

Mrs Bennett had a few words with me about my recklessness re twirling too much yesterday. I think she is quite right….. 3 chairs was a twirl too far. (But I am sure I spotted her having a sneaky quick twirl when I was In the staffroom!)

I know Mr Boris is revealing some news on Sunday, which might contain a hint of what is going to happen next in schools. So….. what I’m worrying about is…does your uniform still fit you? Can you still locate 2 shoes that match? Do you know where your school bag is? Can you locate your reading book? I’m sure you all can …. But just in case, better put them on the list of things to deal with in a little while or so!

OMG….I forgot to do ‘Star of the Week’ yesterday. That’s it …it’s official…I’m losing my grip!

So…… do you have any good suggestions? I was thinking that it should be someone around you in your household who goes that extra mile for you, someone who picks you up when you are down, someone who shows you they care by the little things they do for you. Have a think…………………………………………………………….. got someone?............................... Now go and tell them that they are your superstar!                           Well done!

I wonder how many of you will be doing something different this weekend as it’s a holiday one? I know Mr Vasse is planning a spot of camping, inside or out doesn’t matter as long as it makes you happy. If you get to do something great, maybe drop me a postcard or a letter to let me know about it?

I will be having yet another bonfire as I have had to saw off the wooden planks of my two garden benches. The plan is to have the wooden planks replaced with lovely new ones on to the metal ends, to make two smart new benches. I must admit, I sort of went off the idea at 7:30am this morning as I was sawing each strut, (let the saw do the work Claire … my Dad would say. But it isn’t doing it… I would reply!) face as red as a tomato, perspiration dripping off my nose, ear-rings jangling, dressed ready for school, in my jacket, sandals and linen dress. Not a good look as the neighbour popped his head over my wall and said…”…are you alright there Claire? Do you need assistance? Are you sure?”  “Thanks….but I’m fine thank you…. Just a bit of sawing!” I don’t think they quite get me.

Hey ho! Nevermind…..

So my friends, I hope you are all staying safe and being kind and helpful to each other. Seven weeks is a long time but I think we have probably all learned a great deal over that time. I have learned to let go of things that don’t matter, to be positive about the things I can do and not moanie about the things I can’t do. I have learned that people are all different and that some people need help to be ok and feel good about themselves. I have learned that we can all be very resourceful and learn to use what is in-front of us and around us, we don’t have to buy new things all the time. I have learned that it is ok to feel sad, to ask for help, to need those around me. I have learned that ‘stuff’ doesn’t matter, it is not what we have that’s important, but who we are, and the mark that we make on this Earth as we pass through. I hope my mark is a good mark and that I am a better person now than I was seven weeks ago. Are you? I’m sure as sure you are. I have every faith in you all.

So……………………….. take a moment this weekend to reflect. Have good fun and enjoy your time. Be greatful for the things you have and tell those you love that you do!

May God bless, take care,

05/05/2020

Good Morning Everyone………      Good Morning Ms Morgan…………     Good Morning               EVERYONE

​

Wednesday, half way through the week! Do you remember the song we used to sing

about the days of the week? We must do that again when we get back together,

I remember it had some actions too. Can you remember them?…… I think I have forgotten some of them! Ah… hello Mrs Orritt…. Sorry I was just trying to remember the actions to the days of the week song, I didn’t mean to nearly strike  you…. I was just doing Friday, punch the sky day! Are you ok?  Phew, that’s good, first aid’s not my forte,  yes, the song … the one that goes …..Monday, let’s have fun day, Tuesday, hear some news day, Wednesday, see some friends day…half way through the week. …… There, I have started you all off now! Maybe you could make up some new words for the song to do with your new routine at home? (Only appropriate and nice lyrics please!)

Well as it’s Wednesday…… I am already anticipating my whirling!..... but today….hush!.....hush! …… I’m going to try a different chair out!...... Revolutionary! I’ll keep you posted.

Talking about being updated…. I am now at 296! Nearly as many words as my ‘Mutterings’!

So… Wednesday is a bit of a hard day for me as I have to get my own coffee and five-a-day! It’s as bad as being at home! I made a cup of coffee when I got here about one hour ago…. But….as usual I’ve only had a few sips and now it is cold! (“Yes….fairly typical Ms Morgan,” say all year 5 & 6 pupils…. “Your desk is usually littered with half drunken cold cups of coffee!”) Harsh but true.

Right….. just made a new coffee and having 2 of my 5-a-day! One digestive and one gingernut.

It’s Miss Ward’s birthday today (an important one!)….. and I already know there will be cake this afternoon (Yay) ….. so I’d better go easy on the biscuits or I’ll have to up my minutes of sit/running which quite honestly the carpet area underneath my desk can’t take! It’s already looking threadbare and scuffed! I have decided that today will also be a sausage roll day … so it’s carbs all the way! I’ll do fresh air and salad tomorrow!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ WHOAH!

Wow! Please don’t mention it…..not a word…. But I have just been whirling on Mrs Roberts’ chair. I’m astounded at how much whirlier hers is than mine! I think because it has arms, it makes it easier to spin faster! I think I’ll try Mrs Bennett’s later to compare!

So…how are you getting on with the new work set? I’m really looking forward to reading some of your novels and hearing about how you have all got on. I had a distress call at home yesterday … Harper was doing fractions! (Or NOT doing fractions!) Say no more!...... Meltdown time, fraught Mum time, Dad gone in the garden time, ring Nonna time!  All sorted now. Fractions are tricky things aren’t they?  I actually quite like them, and percentages, but I really can’t stand converting units of measurement or probability!  So I guess we all have our areas of where we struggle and need a little support and help – a bit like life really, and definitely like ‘you know what’ time.

Wendy has put up the large letters some of you did that spell ‘HOPE’. She has stapled them on to the bin store so that people can see the message as they drive passed the school. So, thank you to those children who made them – they look lovely.xxx

¬¬¬”¬”¬”¬”¬”   ¬¬”¬”¬¬”¬”¬”¬”¬”¬””¬”¬”¬   ”¬       ”¬    ”¬”¬¬”¬”¬”  ¬”¬”¬”¬”””¬”¬”¬”¬¬ ¬¬¬”¬”¬”¬¬”¬ ”¬”¬”””””””¬¬ ¬¬¬”¬¬”¬”¬¬”¬”¬”¬”   ¬””””¬”¬”¬”¬¬¬¬       ¬    ¬¬¬”¬¬     ¬¬”¬¬      ¬¬¬¬” WHOAH!!!!!!!!!!!

Not so Wow! Mrs Bennett’s chair is worse than mine! It has no-where near the amount of spin ….. quite stop start stop start! I think it needs WD40. Hmmmm a little job for this afternoon!

Ah yes….before I forget… Wendy has asked if you would like to make her a ‘Recycle your Plastics’ poster for her recycling box at school? We can use the box when we come back to school to collect all our plastic. Wendy will choose the best ones to go on the box. There’s a challenge for you!

I’ve just come back to the office from being up in the hall and as I passed the poly-tunnel I thought, where are you my year 5 & 6 gardeners, my maintenance lads, who tidy and sweep and clear away for me. I really miss you and the poly-tunnel area is looking decidedly unloved! Come back soon! Your poly-tunnel needs you! I have grown some seeds in my green house, and will do some more this weekend, that can go in the school poly- tunnel for a while so if you come back you will have something to be getting on with, pot on etc and then hopefully some plants ready to sell like last year.       I also keep thinking about whether you are all practising a talent for the show? I was thinking of doing my whirling and twirling on stage, but Mr Patch doesn’t think we have a risk assessment to cover it! Apparently!

Oh… and the conkers that you planted a few years ago, have grown….and grown…. and some have grown… and grown… and grown! One is about 2 metres tall now. (Could be used for an upward social distance measure guide)

I remember when we planted them all … I think it was our year 6 pupils? Correct me if I’m wrong ….(“We will Ms Morgan, as ever!”) So I think my colleague, Mr Evans, will be very happy that they have grown to such a good height and are so healthy! A success!

On that note…. I will leave you to hopefully have even more success throughout the day. Take good care of each other and enjoy the sunshine that is out again. Stay safe. God bless.

Amen….       Ahh….men

Post Script: WD40 done! *************************** WHOAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  WOW! The fastest by far now!

04/05/2020

Good Morning Everyone………      Good Morning Ms Morgan…………     Good Morning               EVERYONE

Well, up bright and breezy this morning so….. hello to you all! I hope you are all ok?

Listening to the radio on my way to school this morning, I heard it was

 ‘National Teacher Appreciation Day’ today…..well how very lovely I thought! # Thanks.

Then I got to thinking…..yes! I am very appreciative of all of my teachers and staff here at Selattyn. They are my second family and fill my life with laughter, support, chat and reasons to be alive. They are all so very different…. All have different qualities and specialities…. But I value each one and hope that I tell them enough just how grateful I am to them all. If I don’t then……. Hello lovely staff, a million thanks to you all xxxxx

So…. in these weird times of ‘you know what’ …. Of course we now have a whole myriad of extra ‘teachers’….. parents and carers who are doing home learning with their children….. IT firms who are developing copious amounts of ‘learning-on-line’ (Bless them!) Brothers and sisters helping their younger siblings to do their home learning, grandmas and grandads who are helping their grandchildren through skype or zooooom or whats app, finish their designated work, and even BBC with their Bite Sizes to fit all! So thumbs up to them all…..three cheers and whoop whoop for all teachers on this special day!

Oh …. thank you Mrs Bennett, some lovely strong coffee to keep me going, how very kind of you. I have only just finished my cold toast and butter, (wonderful polish bread with sunflower seeds) so coffee will be marvellous! (she’s such a treasure!) ….and one of my five-a-day, digestive, thank you year 5 pupil who left a packet on the step ….you are like the biscuit fairy! …..and by the way….your little wooden rainbow is now in the office window for all to see, lovely!

Last night….. I was deliberating over what to have for supper. Not having a freezer at the moment means that I don’t buy very much meat or fish as it doesn’t have a very long shelf life. So…… as I didn’t feel like couscous and salad again, I went into my pantry to survey the ‘tins’. Hmmmmmm. OK….. tinned potatoes, tinned corn beef …..YES!!!     I’ll make corned beef hash…what a comfort! Exactly what my Mum sometimes cooked when we were camping in the back of beyond, in a rainy field, in a valley in North Wales. On a rickety, single burner primus stove, (no camping tables and lovely Gaz kitchen sets then I’m afraid) Mum would valiantly cook up this delight, kneeling down in the wet grass, praying that the wind wouldn’t blow out the stove’s flames. We would all sit down on an old groundsheet outside next to the tent, tea-towels on our laps, and our mouths would water as each of us four children balanced an enamel plate, full of steaming corn beef hash upon our knees. I can still remember the taste! Pure absolute YUM!     So…I opened the tins,  I fried the onions, added the cut up potatoes and the cut up chunks of corned beef and left to sizzle until a lovely, thick, crunchy crust had formed. ( Extended noun phrase using 3 adjectives years 5 & 6) Then…. garden coat on, boots on, serve up on an old-fashioned enamel white plate with blue rim, out I go. 8:30pm…. in my field garden….. sitting on my Dad’s old falling-to-pieces bench ……a steaming plate of corned beef hash with beans on my lap …… and wonderful memories of camping with my family. What a great supper!

So….. my lovely pupils…. What memories are you making during this lockdown? Memories are so important. They help to keep us connected and help make the future even better, as we can add bits of the past to it.

Heavens…. Is that the time!...... my, my ….trips down memory lane can sometimes take over the ‘here and now’ though …so be careful!

Well, yesterday Wendy was in school, putting her finishing touches to all the great gardening features she has made. A bug hotel…. bird feeders… bird houses…. wind-chimes…. You really are a super star Wendy. Thank you so very much. I think the pupils are going to love all the things you have done whilst they have not been here. The birds are already having a feast!

However….all was not roses for everyone here yesterday, as poor Mrs Bennett had a tiresome time with ‘Business World’ AGAIN! (A computer system for ordering and paying and financing etc!) I have banned her from going on it today so that she can hopefully have a happier day! (… and I have brought in fruit cake for afternoon tea!)

Also…… there was a strange smell in the cupboard in the kitchen, which I investigated but to no avail! Plus…. I emailed the wrong attachment to Mrs Samson ….. and …… the road sweeper lorry made me move my car back and forth into different spots until he had completed the kerbside clean (reversing isn’t one of my strong points!)

Hey ho ….

So … no singing today as yet … please try to do some at home and I’ll do some on my drive home to make it fair.

I hope you are all still getting some exercise? I am trying a new regime ……running on the spot for twenty minutes whilst sitting down, each to their own.

Take care and keep up the good work. God bless you all, keep safe.

Amen….       Ahh….men

Post Script: I have just caught Mrs Bennett on Business World again!!!!! What am I going to do with her?

03/05/2020

Good Morning Everyone………      Good Morning Ms Morgan…………     Good Morning               EVERYONE

Well hello everyone….start of week 7 on lockdown!

Wow!....... 44 days of not seeing you all, and counting! Actually it’s 51 days since I’ve

seen you all as I wasn’t at school for the week before lockdown! No wonder I’m missing you all!

I quite often pop up to the hall to look at the ‘Stars of the Week’ photos to see what you look like! Goodness….some of you are very young up there! It’s like a blast from the past with lots of pupils who have left us for secondary school as well as you older ones looking as if butter wouldn’t melt at age 5! I feel positively ancient!

So…. what did you get up to over the weekend? Were you busy in the garden like me? I think I have become a little obsessed with working in my garden! I’m the sort of person that has to have a project on the go …especially if the weather is good. I need no excuses…..I’m off out! I must say something has been digging little partial holes in my garden at the moment! It would be very nice if they were to dig in the bits which need digging…. But no! They are digging at random places in the grass. (I can’t bring myself to say lawn as it is a bit scruffy) I think it may be ……..1) mice  2) rabbits – but there are no droppings  3) deer – not likely at all   4) small gnomes with spades.

Anyway….I have successfully dug and levelled an area of the grass and had a bonfire to get rid of all the roots and dead branches. Mrs Bennett has almost finished her project in the garden, which has involved a pick axe and electric saws. (very serious indeed!) Neither of us can move much today ….. too much digging and pick axing!

To cheer me up….. Mrs Lloyd told me a piece of great news today!...... my second best shop is now open, Colour Supplies! Not that I’ve been to B & Q yet, but it’s sooooo  good to know they are both open if I need them! My daughter would tell me I need to get out more…. But it’s LOCKDOWN!

I have put more work on the website for years 5 & 6 today….. and Mrs Betts has put some on for years 1 & 2. (MR Patch’s and Mrs Hardaker’s will go on tomorrow) I am really a bit mixed about this. I’ll tell you why. I think there is a fine line between learning at home and staying positive and happy with those around you, and being fraught and upset because the work is daunting and annoying to do at home, and everyone’s super busy and it just means a whole lot of hassle. Maybe some of you are a bit of a mix between the two? So…. just do the best you can and know that in the end…. We will make sure you get to be where you need to be.

I think talking is very important – (which is why you do so much of it, I hear years 5 & 6 pupils say.) Some of the time I actually talk to myself – but I don’t always agree with myself, which can be a little confusing. Talking helps to put things out there, to put things in perspective and allows us to talk about our worries and our fears. So don’t forget to talk…… as long as it’s polite ….Just Say It!

Having said that, Mrs Bennett and I are having an agreed ‘silent hour’ apparently, in order to get things finished!

“Oh …… Mrs Bennett, guess what?....…. Just thought I’d mention…….. did you know that…..?  Oh ….Has it only been 27 minutes, it feels like ages! …. Sorry 33 minutes to go. I’ll put my finger on my lips!”  …. Well I wasn’t very good at that was I?

Another thing I haven’t been very good at is going to bed….I find myself going later and later and make all the excuses under the moon to myself. Are you the same? I think it is the lack of routine …. Well…I’ll blame that anyway!..... Even when I get to bed….I find I can’t get to sleep and I toss and turn for the whole night, or what seems like the whole night! Perhaps someone can suggest a solution. (without medication) I can’t do counting sheep as I’m animal phobic, I can’t count bricks building up in a wall as I worry that I don’t have the pertinent Health and Safety policy, I can’t drift along a lazy river as I’m not a good swimmer and don’t have any arm bands…. So what can I do? I’ve tried reading, but my torch battery runs out before I get to the end of the book and then I have to tell myself off ….No…it’s just zzzz  zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz   zzzzzz  zzzzzzzz  zzzzzzzz   zzzzzz zzzzz  zzzzz  zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Oh sorry ..dropped off then! That’s it! I’ll just have to write more mutterings!

Well…. Mrs Bennett has snuck out to start the daily routine of cleaning, so I must away to help. I usually get to do the door handles and the staff room worktops. We do our own computers and telephones and then do ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ as to who gets to do the staff toilet!

Happy times!

So bye to you all for now. Stay safe and polish up that bubble.

May the Fourth be with you!

Love to you all and your families.

God Bless.

Amen….       Ahh….men

30/04/2020

Good Morning Everyone………      Good Morning Ms Morgan…………     Good Morning               EVERYONE

Give us an F, give us an R, give us an I, give us a D, give us an A, give us a Y……..

What have we got????????     FRIDAY!     Yay!

Hello everyone, how are you all today? I hope you are all ok and the rain hasn’t dampened your spirits too much? I haven’t heard from my knowledgeable weather-villager today, so I’m not sure what the weekend holds for us all, but I hope I can get out into my garden again to finish off digging my border, and the special deep hole for the tree I would like to plant to remember my Mum and Dad! This morning when I peeped at it on my way out to the car…it looked more like a very small diametered, deep, pond! (Is there such a word as diametered? … please check for me, thank you!)

I am so lucky that I am still able to come into work every day (even though the updates are now at over 294.5) I feel for all of you who have lost the structure of the school day and all that it brings with it. I do understand just how hard it is, having to stay at home and reinvent a different daily structure for your selves. I’m sure you are all doing a great job and of course every family will have it’s own way of coping and getting by. I wonder how you all differentiate the weekend from the week days – or not! I know in my grandson’s home, they are having a ‘film night’ on Saturday nights with popcorn and the lights off! Harper makes a sign about the film coming up on screen and uses a torch to show Mum, Dad and little brother to their seats on the settee! (Not that the two and a half year old actually sits in his designated place for long!) So, that is very different from other nights of the week! Apparently, in Mrs Robert’s house they are camping out, but in…… In the dining room, the lounge and the spare room to make a change to the ‘norm’. (The dog also joins in, making the most of Mrs Robert’s empty place in her proper bed to snuggle in!)

The difference for me is that my alarm doesn’t go off on a Saturday and Sunday, which is heavenly! Snoooooooze!

On a totally different topic …….I keep forgetting to say a big thank you to Mrs Ross for all the lovely mugs she gave to the staff here when she stopped being a volunteer. They all have beautiful William Morris type patterns on them. (Reference for you, years 3 & 4) I am quite particular about mugs! (You would be – I hear my year 6 pupils say!) I like quite a fine china mug for tea. For coffee, I quite like a squatter, more continental type cup/mug, and for hot chocolate ……. there is nothing better than a hand-thrown earthernware mug, preferably in a shade of blue. Don’t even get me started on glasses! Suffice to say flutes for fizz every time!

You will be ecstatic to hear that Mrs Haralambous is in today, and she is at this very moment putting stuff together for when you all come back to school! Yes….absolutely hundreds of thousands of worksheets for you all to do, one after the other, in a back to school frenzie! I have ordered more pencils as I’m sure you will wear them out so quickly, with sooo much writing! (Not really – rest easy! Only thousands!) (Not really…… rest easy…… we would never do that to you all, Mrs Bennet wouldn’t let me use that much photocopying paper for a start!) We are already thinking of ways forward for you all though, and I am planning what is going to be best for all of us. Most of all…..don’t worry. Whatever you have done or not done, managed or not managed work wise, please do not worry. We will not judge each other, we will all listen to each other and make sure we are all ok. Yes even you, Year 6. We will get you ready for secondary school spit spot! We will celebrate the wonderful and the mysterious, the positive and the ordinary of each and every one of us and be glad to be who we are. xxx

Well….it is the First of May today! Pinch, punch so they say! Mrs Bennett doesn’t do ‘pinch, punch’ apparently! I think she is a little worried about me not knowing my own strength after I have had three weetabix!

May Day! (no panic…..not the call for help one) When I was young, (Yes a very, very long time ago Class 4M) today would have been the day for wearing hand-sewn and decorated-with-flowers- felt skirts and taking a long coloured ribbon attached to a very tall wooden pole rigged up on the school field, weaving in and out and dancing round and round, and getting ourselves in a terrible knot, tangled around the Maypole!

“Fun?” You ask.      No….I used to be terrified, as I was the tiniest, thinnest, smallest pupil in the top year of the juniors and I could never work out how to hold up my felt skirt and hold on to the ribbon at the same time. (Scarred for life – can’t look at a felt skirt without fear even now!) Plus Steven Dundas, my dance partner, only had eyes for Sally Dix my best friend.

I wonder what traditions you have in your family for May Day? I’ll keep an eye out as I drive past for any maypoles in the area!     So….. lunch beckons, tomato soup today. I’m saving the rest of the sausage rolls for next week in case of emergency! I’ll pop off now and leave you all in peace. I hope you all have a good weekend and manage to relax and reflect. Keep safe and remember the two metres apart thing – that’s really so important for keeping us all safe. God bless.

Amen….       Ahh….men

29/04/2020

Good Morning Everyone………      Good Morning Ms Morgan…………     Good Morning               EVERYONE

Well….. what a busy morning …..I don’t know where the time has gone to!

My main theme of the day today is …..  KINDNESS …..

Why is that? I hear you say?..... ….sorry, forgot to change font back! ….. and colour!

Well… let me explain…. The other day, on my ‘mutterings’ …. I mentioned that I was missing my sausage roll for lunch, and do you know what! Yesterday early evening, as I was working away in the main school office, I heard the front door go and there was Miss Morris standing at the glass window with a packet of 4 frozen ‘Greggs’ sausage rolls ……. for me! I was quite overcome by her kindness, and felt very lucky. I felt even more lucky just 10 minutes ago as I tucked into one! Thank you Miss Morris…..you are a very kind superstar!

So…. have you been kind today? Or yesterday? I THINK WE SHOULD ALL TRY TO BE ESPECIALLY KIND TODAY.

(OH NOW I’VE ACCIDENTALLY PUT CAPS LOCK ON!) There….. concentrate Ms Morgan!

It’s also been quite tricketty here in the school office, as Mrs Bennett and I are trying desperately to log on to a government website that we are supposed to use. This is the 24th time of trying! Personally, I am quite fraught with it all! (Mrs Bennett is more even-tempered, so is fairing a little better!) Whoever thought that integrating EXCEL into anything was a good idea? So excuse me a moment………………..

“Yes….right click, has that done it?” 

“No, not really. It has now deleted all the data!”

“Ah….. should it have been left click then?       Any chance you can reload?        Or undo?      Even?”

“No…. no reload button. It’s ok I’ll type it in again, Ms Morgan!”

“Yes…. I’ll keep quiet from now on!”                  (New speaker, new line years 5 & 6.)

Computers…… enough said!

Thursday…. Star of the Week Day! Well…I’d like to award the reception pupil who has been in to school on quite a lot of days, STAR OF THE WEEK! She has been so helpful and industrious and sensible – I can’t believe she is only reception. She has been teaching me some really funny jokes! So….. Star of the Week she is! Well done!

Who would you like to award a star to today? It’s not supposed to be yourself but…. If you think you have really done a super, great job at something, you can award it to yourself! Don’t forget to draw yourself a certificate!

…..and what do you think about ‘Colonel’ Tom? I think he is absolutely brilliant! What a superstar, and how amazing, brilliant and kind of him to raise so much money for the NHS. I definitely think he should be a Star of the Week!         Any birthdays? Yes…. Wendy’s yesterday, so we have all had cake and sung happy birthday to her.

So….I have now had sausage roll AND cake … I think I’d better go outside into the courtyard behind the conservatory to do 50 star jumps, yes, 50! I can do this!” ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………….. “Yes…. Just coming Mr Patch! …Give me a moment as I can’t quite speak yet! …Maybe 50 was a little over optimistic!...... 23 will have to do!”

Mr Patch is just doing some important jobs at the front of the school regarding moss build up apparently. He has a really nice ‘vintage’ watering can, which I have my eye on.

“Yes …that looks great Mr Patch.  Much better. Yes, I have spotted your lovely watering can. Oh…. It’s a favourite of your wife’s!” Ah …. That’s put paid to any idea I might have had of commandeering/borrowing it! Bother!

“Why… what is wrong with my face Mr Patch?”  “I’ve just been doing star jumps! Trying to keep ‘My body is a Temple’ mantra alive…OMMMmmmmm. What do you mean you’ve never seen a bright red temple!”

Sometimes life is a little difficult!  …… Sometimes life is very difficult! I know we are all experiencing difficulties and change at the moment and we have to try to stay positive and keep going. That is what it’s all about. So……………… ………………………………………………………. “……….. 47, 48, 49, 50! Did it! I said I would do it!”

“No thank you….it’s ok Mrs Bennett….just leave me here for a moment. I’ll be quite fine in a little while!”

My good friend and colleague, Mr David Evans, use to have a little motto …..’I can…I will’ …. and it is at times like these that I think of him, and try to put his maxim into practise. God Bless.

Here we are Mrs Bennett, a lovely cup of Earl Grey tea – 3 dips for me and very strong for you. Would you care for a chocolate hobnob? No!    …… Just me then! (I think I deserve one after 50 jumps.)

So my ‘lost pupils’ wherever you are …..speak tomorrow, take good care and BE KIND!

Amen….       Ahh….men

28/04/2020

Good Morning Everyone………      Good Morning Ms Morgan…………     Good Morning               EVERYONE

Yes! Year 6 pupil….that is EXACTLY the woodpecker! How clever of you……………….

It is wonderful….I now have it sitting on my windowsill, thank you so much…

(not an actual woodpecker, a lovely coloured drawing of one) …. and thanks to

your brother too, for his interesting insight into his home life doings, mutterings of his very own!

……and thank you Reception pupil, I haven’t had a certificate for years and years!

Well…it’s Wednesday today …. so I will have to fit in my twirling round at some point

today, but I haven’t managed to find a slot yet! I have been busy eating my cold toast and

butter at the same time as checking through report sheets before they are posted out! (I apologise if you receive any ciabatta crumbs) Yes…. Very good Mrs Betts… those are all ready to go now, thank you. Miss Ward has given me her class reports in a very, very bright, cerise pink box file! An amazing colour which quite ‘pops’ in this office of predominantly blue and yellow. (I think she has chosen that colour so I can’t possibly lose them! How well she knows me!)

Talking about colours…..I absolutely adore the certain blue colour that comes when I close down my computer at school, when the little whirly thing says ‘just closing your programmes’. It is the most beautiful, calming blue and very, very intense. I think it is a happy colour, one which makes me feel like smiling. I love colours… which is strange as given the option, I usually choose to wear black! (which my artist brother would say is not a true colour) I wonder what your favourite colour is? I know quite a lot of boys love red…including my grandson …. and some definitely love yellow. Lots of girls in the younger age range love pink and purples. I guess we are all different, which is good, and maybe we change our choice as we get older. What do you think?

Well….I’m afraid I have some unsatisfactory news for you. An update on the virtual gov meeting. Not good news, Mrs Bennett and I are not happy bunnies. (Emoji sad face!) So…. we were doing well and had our sandwiches early, got our computers ready, and a laptop and an iPad for back up. We logged into the programme and even clicked on ‘JOIN’, nodding to each other and were feeling pretty smug …. “We’ve got this! ….How hard can it be? No probs!” BUT… the reality was quite a different kettle of fish…. once all other govs had joined effortlessly, it became clear that……. Mrs Bennett’s computer had sound but no picture….my computer had no sound or picture, laptop had picture but no sound, iPad blocked everything! HELP!

Mrs Samson was patient with us, Mr Vasse had managed to set his up with a wonderful scenic background, Mr Patch’s was the clearest ….  in his lovely home study, Mrs Simpson kept showing us her dog, Mr Hobbs was not there, then there, then not there, and Rev Nicholson was spot on. Mrs B had to telephone Mrs Samson so that they could hear us in the office and see us from my screen ….. but if we hung up the phone…we could hear them, but they couldn’t hear us …. which I think some of them thought was quite good! After lots of helpful hints…..” turn the microphone on”, “ click on the little un-mute icon”, “ turn up the speaker volume”, turn everything off, then on again”, “try headphones”, “try standing on your head”, “ try shouting”, “go into settings and click everything”, we finally decided that enough was enough and one by one we left the meeting. What a disappointment! So we rang  …… Shropshire Council IT team who said….” Your devices are not compatible!” GREAT!!! ….. Back to square 1.

Roundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundand …STOP!     Apparently the way forward is USB leads or something but I think I’ll leave that for another week!

So……. there is another disaster in my life…well my grandsons’ as their fish tank is leaking! All over the reading books for school! Oh dear! We will just wait and see what they look like when they’ve dried out! Perhaps they won’t notice they are a little wrinkled!  So…. where do you get another fish-tank from in lockdown! I think the fish will have to manage in a large bowl today and we will have to see if one can be delivered! I will google it!

Life is full of problems isn’t it? Well….my Mum would have said…..It’s not the problem that matters…it’s how you sort it out that counts! So hopefully, Harper will make this clear to the goldfish whilst they are in their temporary home and all will be well very soon.

Roundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandroundandround………WHOAH!  That’s it ….I’m done with twirling today!

So…. everyone….I hope your day goes well and you manage to sort out any problems you come across. Hopefully yours won’t need USB lead solutions or hairdryers …but if they do…good luck!

Missing you all as usual, and hoping you are all well and staying safe. Take good care of each other.

Farewell for now,

Amen….       Ahh….men

27/04/2020

Good Morning Everyone………      Good Morning Ms Morgan…………     Good Morning               EVERYONE

Hello again, Tuesday Collective Worship would usually include some singing so….

What shall we start with? Oh good choice from year 3 ….This Little Light of Mine. Ok….

Off we go ………

Ok ….one more ah….yes….year 6 pupil ….Kum Bah Ya?....Oh fabulous…another of my very favourite! Let’s do all 4 verses, then repeat verse 1 …. And let’s have some change of dynamics! No… that doesn’t mean shouting loudly!

Great! I feel much better after a good sing ….. however, Mrs Bennett has vacated the office! Probably a bit much!

So…. how are you all getting on this morning? With all this rain, the trees are all so lovely and green in their patchwork spring coats of emerald, lime, jade and bright green. (Metaphor class 4M) Looking up from the office window, the canopy is an extraordinary collage of so many different greens, as vibrant as a jewelled tapestry. (simile Class 4M) What is the view from your window like? Could you write a list of all the things you can see? I was listening to all the different bird songs at dawn this morning … apparently it is the busiest time of singing for birds around our gardens at the moment. I can concur with that!  … and yes I was awake at dawn!

Today is shaping up nicely here in the office. I have been busy typing away, I have had 2 of my 5-a-day already (one shortbread finger and one digestive!) and quite a quantity of caffeine! I blame the singing!

I am considering however, having the other 3 of my 5-a-day before the undoubted furore of the on-line Governor meeting this afternoon! I’m not sure whether I should let them know in advance that I don’t think my PC has a camera! ….or Mrs Bennett’s. Yes…I think I will have those other 3, as my stress levels will be too high later on to eat anything! …. And my slippers are already wet!

If you are driving past school at all, I hope you can notice the lovely rainbow picture we now have up in the office window… Thank you Reception pupil for doing that for us when you were here last Friday with Mr Patch and Mrs Orritt. I am loving seeing all the different rainbows around in windows and on fences and gate posts and enjoying eveyone’s different interpretations. I have a lovely large one in my lounge window at home, done by Harper, and there are so many reasons why it makes me smile every day.

There are a lot of speculations flying around about when we might all come back together into school. It has been 5 weeks now since the initial temporary closure – or partial closure for us. In some ways that doesn’t seem very long but in other ways…….. it seems like a life time! Time is such a funny thing isn’t it? How do you feel? Are you longing to get back here to that structure, those friends, staff, all your school things and noisy playtimes? Or are you dreading it, much preferring home life and being able to be with your family? I’m sure we will all feel differently about it and we will have to help each other a great deal when we do get back together as a community. I’m sure your parents/carers have their own thoughts on this too!

Well….I’m going to go and have my packed lunch a little earlier today, so that I’m not eating my ham and salad sandwich in front of the non-existing camera! I have water to drink today after yesterday’s escapade and a very healthy coconut and nut bar! I wonder what you will be having? I wonder if you are having something very yummy …..I would really like a hot sausage roll with brown sauce and a piece of sticky chocolate fudge cake, but that’s not going to happen! If you are lucky enough to be having this ….then please don’t tell me!

Ah yes…before I forget… did any of you see on BGT a children’s choir the other week that sang  Stormzy’s

“Blinded By Your Grace”? They were so good and reminded me of doing our wonderful productions …BUT…..

I think we could have rivalled them big time! It made me smile hugely! Thank you all of you. xxxx

So bye for today, I hope you are all being kind and helpful to your parents and carers. Remember ….as my Mum used to say….”Manners maketh man” so use those pleases and thank yous and remember to give some of your very best hugs to your parents/carers and siblings ….yes…even your siblings!... today!

Stay safe and keep social distancing, (I think some of you could write me a really good rap for social distancing!)

God bless,

Amen….       Ahh….men

26/04/2020

Good Morning Everyone………      Good Morning Ms Morgan…………     Good Morning               EVERYONE

Monday morning! Well….. the beginning of another week of lockdown! I hope you are

all ok and are up, washed, dressed and raring to go with the ‘Home Learning’ again this

week? Not quite yet? ….. Oh! Well never mind, I’m sure you will get to it very soon!

I have been sorting out Class Teachers’ short reports to be sent out to your parents/carers! We didn’t manage to have our Parents’ Evening slots at the end of the Spring Term, so this is a way of keeping everyone in the loop.

I have now become quite quick at folding them and putting them together with a letter, into the A5 envelopes. Mrs Parish and Year 6 pupil who usually do the newsletters every week ….I take my hat off to you. You are so much more efficient than me! I am missing you both very much! Good job they are self-sticking envelopes for health and safety reasons! Mr Patch and Mr Vasse would be quite pleased with me! (H&S Governors)

I must admit that the weather-guide-villager was absolutely correct about the rain, wasn’t he? I had been out in my garden since early morning – potting on the runner beans (grown from seed by Harper) from the greenhouse and watering the chillie seeds, and the courgette seeds, that have now germinated! I also had to empty out a huge concrete planter pot and put all the soil in my ancient wheelbarrow, then move the planer with much heaving and shoving, before filling it back up with soil in its new position on the new patio! That was fun! I then decided to prepare a bare patch of ground and sow it with grass seed. Then….. the wind got up ….. the temperature dropped and….the….rain…. absolutely …. poured …. down! Grass seed….what grass seed!

(Now all in my recently shingled area!) Well, these things are sent to try us!

I wonder what annoying things you have had to deal with these last few days? I wonder what annoying things your Parents/Carers have had to deal with over the last few days? Are they the same things I wonder?

Wendy is in school with us today and she has been very busy indeed with a can of WD40! What a wonderful invention ……. Turning rusting, seized up nuts and bolts into free moving, undo-in-a-trice nuts and bolts! NOT!

I think I will have to drill the nuts and bolts off ….. but Mr Patch has confiscated the power drill and taken it away from me! So the rusted up drainage grills will have to remain in-situ! Until Mr Hobbs or Mr Pimble can come back again and use their Governor powers. I think that is the sort of thing they mean by ‘Governor powers’?

(It’s now afternoon as I have been distracted – does that sound at all familiar? Sorry, some year 5 & 6 pupils, who become distracted in class on a daily basis and are regularly chastised for it…. I didn’t realise just how it kind of creeps up on one and sneaks away the day.)

Ah… thank you Mrs Bennett, a lovely cup of Early Grey will help with the disappointment …...and obviously a custard cream will help even more! I’m actually very thirsty, as for a special treat I brought with me a can of Pepsi Max! Unheard of for me! I was really looking forward to it, ice cold, with my packed lunch and set off up to the hall followed by Mrs Bennett the regulation 2 metres behind. As I was carrying way too many things all in one go, I unfortunately dropped the can of Pepsi which landed on the pathway on its bottom edge. As I picked it up a hissing noise was emanating from the slightly bent metal and suddenly a fountain of ice-cold fizz spurted up like a geyser and hit me straight in the eye! Great! The more I moved,(off balance by the temporary blindness) the more I was covered in sticky sugar-free mess! (How is it even sticky if there is no sugar?) By the time I had made my way up the rest of the steps, into the hall and across to the kitchen, all there was left was a few measly no-longer fizzy  mouthfuls ….and a trail of sticky splashes to clean up! I’ll stick to my usual water from now on!

Well, the day has run away with me again and it’s nearly time for home! I wonder do you keep to the school times with your learning at home? My grandson told me quite seriously that as he had finished the multitude of pages of work set him for last week, he was having a day off today… for his own health! Unfortunately, his Mum heard and has put paid to that little caper! I expect today has been a little fraught in their house.

Anyway, I am up to 208 updates to date. That’s quite a lot to update but thankfully not all of it applies to a Headteacher (pot hole in-filling information for example) and some of it quite frankly is a repeat of a repeat.

But …. I read them all anyway just to be on the safe side and to make sure I am updated!

I hope you are all keeping updated and staying safe. How are those 2 metre bubbles doing? What will we do when we don’t have them around us anymore? That’s a strange thought. I feel mine is like an old friend now.

So….stay well and be good. Don’t forget your manners and your kindness.

Amen….       Ahh….men

23/04/2020

Good Afternoon Everyone………      Good Afternoon Ms Morgan…………     Good Afternoon        EVERYONE

Hooray! Friday afternoon! ….. and the sun is still shining!

I hope you have all had a good day and have now packed away your school work for the

weekend. It’s funny without a school structure to the day isn’t it? At home, I find myself not really being able to get on with anything until I have got quite cross with myself! That mostly does the trick, I usually confiscate my phone, put away the iPad somewhere I can’t reach and hide the chocolate biscuits! Thinking about it…I am surprisingly hard on myself!

It has been a quiet day here today. Mrs Bennett and I have been tapping away on our computer keyboards making sure we are keeping up with our paperwork. Not quite as exciting or enjoyable as teaching all of you, my lovely pupils, but at least it is keeping me out of trouble! I miss seeing you all and your smiling faces, I miss you asking me how I am and how was my day, I miss you thinking I haven’t seen you talking when you should be writing or writing when you should be talking, I miss you making a noise in the dinner hall, I miss you shhh-ing saying hush Ms Morgan’s coming! Yes …..I must admit I miss you a lot!

However, some good news …….

I am thrilled to report that contrary to expectations …… I did it! I actually signed in to the virtual platform and am all ready for our practice virtual Governors’ finance meeting next week. Yes, you doubting Year 5 & 6 pupils … you see… you really can do anything you need to do, if only you put your mind to it and try hard! Mrs Samson is going to be so pleased with me!  Mrs Bennett managed to do hers way before me, very well done to her – I think she had remembered to use her instructions, whereas unfortunately I had deleted mine!  I wouldn’t like to be in an IKEA furniture making race with her as she is just SO good at interpreting instructions.    Anyway ….we are both very proud of ourselves, understandably!

I think doing a virtual meeting means I must come to work in my pyjama bottoms and slippers, as it is only the top half of me that will be on view! I have seen his on the TV adverts so I know just what to do. Well let’s hope it is not raining as my slippers are a bit on the flimsy side!

Yesterday was quite an exciting day for me. I actually got to have a scooter race with a Reception pupil. I have not been on a scooter for a while (58 years approx.) and feeling the wind rushing through my hair, the sun’s warmth  on my face, my scooting leg extended out behind me in a full arabesque, skyrocketing with the playground zooming beneath me ….. was quite magical!                         

 “What’s that you say Reception pupil?”            “It wasn’t quite like that?”         “ What do you mean?”

“OK …. So my hair didn’t actually move much; and it wasn’t quite a full arabesque and the playground was a bit zoom-less I suppose, but the sun was on my face and I did actually scoot!”

The truth can be so hurtful!

Oh well…..I had a great time and that is the most important thing.

Other lunchtime activities were undertaken; Mrs Bennett enjoyed shooting goals in the portable netball hoop. (I think she score 306 goals in 5 minutes! Impressive!) Mrs Orritt scooted quite speedily in and out of the coned obstacle course – all those mounted pony games over the years have most certainly helped! I also played dress up princesses with Class 2B princess cases and Mrs Orritt and Mrs Bennett enjoyed the ‘tell-a-joke’ slot.

Mr Patch had his lunch downstairs quietly ……. He needed a few minutes respite apparently!

Ah….. and I must report that we all breathed a sigh of relief when Mrs Bennett managed to actually order some more hand-gel sanitiser. My goodness….what have we been doing with it all! She has managed to procure some three litre pouches of the stuff, which I am sure will be marvellous – I’m not sure she’s going to be quite so pleased with herself when she realises that she has to decant it all into the little hand pump bottles using a funnel, but hey ho – don’t let’s tell her yet!

…..and have you been out in the garden today I wonder? I know Class 1W have been doing lots of minibeast huntings so I’m sure they have been out and about!  Apparently, according to a very prestigious and knowledgeable villager, rain is forecast for Sunday – so make the most of it whilst it is still sunny and dry.

As excited as I was yesterday - over the scootering – (dropped in, prepositional phrase year 5 & 6) I am almost beside myself for tomorrow ……………..…………… Yes, you see, B & Q in Shrewsbury have re-opened!!  

I know!!   How marvellous!!   It is quite honestly my most favourite shop in the world! I know I probably won’t be able to go there tomorrow, as I don’t have anything that is ABSOLUTELY essential to buy from there. Making it NOT an essential journey! But…. Just the fact that I could now go there will probably be enough!

I wonder what you are looking forward to tomorrow? Any way ….whatever you do, take great care and keep safe. Have a good weekend and look after each other.  God bless you all.

Amen….       Ahh….men

22/04/2020

Good Morning Everyone………       Good Morning Ms Morgan…………      Good morning         EVERYONE

Well, apparently it’s ‘Thank You’ Thursday today, so I think it would be rather nice if

we all said a lovely ‘Thank you’ to whoever is right near to us today ……………………………………………………………………… Well done everyone.

​

I will certainly be saying ‘Thank you’ to Mrs Bennett for all her hard work and support, she’s back in the office in her bubble.  Mr Patch and Mrs Orritt are in school today and I have already said a big ‘thank you’ to them for coming in and making sure school can still be open for any children of Key Workers. Thanks to Miss Ward and Miss Morris who came in yesterday! Thanks to Mrs Betts, Mrs Lloyd and Wendy who came in on Tuesday .

Hmmmm… who else could I say ‘Thank you’ to today? Well I guess I should start with God, and say a prayer of thanks for such a lovely Spring morning again. I need to say thanks to the people who work at the petrol station so that I can still drive my car and keep school open. I must say thanks to Faith who is going to make me a rainbow painting to go up in the school office window. (She’s also painting a stone with a rainbow….good idea, I might have a go at that too!) Thank you to Mr Hobbs for using his strength and patience to take off and put back the drain gully covers, thank you to Mr Pimble for trying to rod the drains, thank you again to Wendy for clearing out the drain gullies. What a lot of people and time drain gullies take! I have never stopped to think about it before but they are such overlooked, humble, everyday items, not flash or hi-tech, or ostentatious but vitally important for life’s on-going pattern. I think there are a lot of people around us who are like those drain gullies!

I always say ‘Thank you’ to my daughter for the gift of my grandsons who fill my life with such joy and variety! …..and I guess we all must say a very big ‘Thank you’ for our families and friends, and for those people who care for us and keep us safe and sane. I will be out on my door-step again tonight clapping for the NHS and Carers, and ALL the other people who are keeping us all going. (My next-door neighbour comes out and bangs a really large saucepan with a really large spoon and makes a really BIG noise! (Notice repetition for linguistic dramatic effect years 5 & 6 please!)I think I might try and rival her tonight! What could I use? I don’t have a really big saucepan (dinners for one get a bit lost at the bottom!) Ah… I know I could borrow a tambor from school and a beater and even maybe the large cymbal….that would certainly make a noise and I would feel that you were all there helping me. (metaphorically speaking only, as we wouldn’t all actually fit on my door-step!)

So… how are you all doing today? It’s Thursday – so no twirling as Mrs B is here! Apparently, we have to try to ‘log-in’ to a type of virtual meeting platform later this morning! “Yes” …. I hear you year 5 & 6 pupils saying,

“ ….like that’s going to happen!” Well actually Mrs Samson says everyone else on the Governors has managed it …..so apparently we must try our best! I’ll let you know how that goes!

I have a very disappointing tiny pot, of tiny mints on my desk today. I found them in my office desk drawer and as I had a delicious chicken Kashmiri korma curry last night, I thought I would have a few, as even a 2 metre social distancing circle doesn’t guarantee that ‘fresh breath’ aroma following curry! BUT… they just don’t taste of anything at all! Not a hint of mint, just chalky white tablets! Ah…. Just seen the expiry date… January 2008! I really must tidy my desk drawers on a more regular basis! Right…… Wrigleys it is then. Last resort.

I watched the ‘Sewing Bee’ on television last night. Did you? No….just me then. It echoed my thoughts of yesterday, when I talked about sewing. So I’ll throw in an optional challenge ….. Can you make a simple waistcoat out of another old garment (which is not a waistcoat)? If you are allowed…have a go! Please don’t use a garment that is still being used or worn or is actually on someone. I think I will try over the weekend as I have lots of old garments hanging around and see what I can come up with.

Nearly forgot! It’s STAR OF THE WEEK DAY! I think today, we should all nominate someone we think that deserves a star. We must tell them they are stars of the week and tell them the reason why.

There…. That should be enough stars to be getting on with! One more…..  

Ah… bless you Mrs Bennett, a lovely cup of coffee, with one of my five-a-day! Thank you so much. A garibaldi today ….. now does that actually count as a proper one of my five-a-day? Well…I shall say yes!

So here’s to all of you at home who are doing such a great job of keeping safe, working hard and keeping going! Cheers to you with my coffee and garibaldi!

I’ll speak to you again tomorrow, pray that you are all well.

Amen….       Ahh….men

21/04/2020

Good Morning Everyone………       Good Morning Ms Morgan…………      Good morning         EVERYONE

Woooaah!

It’s Wednesday …… so I am in the office on my own (Mrs Bennett has retreated to her garden

for some much needed space from me) and on these days, I usually have one or two little times in the day when I spin fast on my twirly chair! This morning I have gone round 16 times and now feel a little dizzy! (Don’t try this at home please) I think I need caffeine!

Well, I listened very, very carefully last evening, in my garden with my coat on, to catch the call of the woodpecker again. After quite a while sitting very still and not moving a muscle, there it came …….. drrrrrrrrrrr….drrrrr….drrrrrrr but not a hint of a french accent I’m afraid,  so I am making a final decision that it is indeed a ‘greater spotted’ woodpecker. It would be lovely if someone could do me a beautiful drawing of one for my office …. thank you, year 2 pupil, I knew you would! You are very kind.

How are you all this fine morning? How are Mums and Dads and Carers getting on? “All fine!” Well that is marvellous and just what I would expect from such a wonderful bunch.

It’s not easy is it? Four weeks… that is one long time to be altogether for 24/7 ….. and be expected to work at the same time! So well done everyone…keep going ….. this will end at some point, I’m quite sure of it.

Parents/carers; If work is becoming a sticking point for your little offspring, and tempers and patience levels are a bit raggetty then STOP! Have a break, do something different, not even vaguely related to a work sheet! Even for a whole day. Yes… we all want to be making sure we keep some learning going, but I think everyone’s mental health and family getting-on-ness is just as important. So do what you need to do in order to stay cohesive, strong and happy!

Now…I have heard there are quite a lot of pupils who have been teaching themselves something new from ‘You Tube’ or other website places! (Stay safe on these internet places and always ask an adult if it’s appropriate and ok) Well, I must say I am impressed! Some of the new skills I have heard about are:- teaching yourself to knit; teaching yourself to bake scones; teaching yourself the harmonica; teaching yourself about the solar system with homemade cookies in different sizes (remarkable); teaching your self sketching and watercolour painting; and teaching yourself Japanese! This last one sounds a bit too difficult for me but, I remember the day I learnt to knit and when I learnt to sew, I was seven I think and my Mum taught me how to knit during an enormous storm. It was a good way to take my mind off the loud thunder-claps and lightning flashes. I have always been glad of these skills and have certainly used them throughout my life so go on…..have a go! Could you make an outfit? Could you knit a hot pot holder? Could you make a cushion cover or a pencil case? I’m sure you could. We could have a ‘new skills’ table in the hall to show off your creations.

Oh yes and …. don’t forget the Talent Show! I’m certainly looking forward to hearing the harmonica, year 5 pupil!

I have just realised…. I have not even had time for one of my five-a-day! I must do something about that at once……………

Had to make my own tea ….. but snuck 2 shortcake fingers in to the office as well! No-one else here so I’m bewildered as to the subterfuge but bear with….. Now the big decision - shall I twirl now or leave it until later? Later I think, as I want to enjoy my little tea break without worrying about centrifugal force results. (look it up year 6!)

Ahh! That’s better. I can now concentrate fully whilst I update myself on the DFE updates. Let’s make a prediction as to how many updates I will have been updated by, before the time you are all back in school! I will say 896!

Ok …..updates done for another day, just one thing left before I start the end-of-day cleaning routine. (No it’s not a new street dance Class 4M) – I am actually disinfecting and sanitising, and I have a risk assessment sheet to tick the boxes as I cover door handles, desks, telephones, computers, mouses, toilets, basins, worktops, pens, photocopiers  and sinks in a thick layer of 80% alcoholic gel. (Should be a comment here but I’d better not!)

So bye for today, keep smiling and staying safe,

Woooaah!

Amen….       Ahh….men

20/04/2020

Good Morning Everyone………       Good Morning Ms Morgan…………      Good morning         EVERYONE

​

Hello there everyone. I must firstly apologise for you receiving two lots of mutterings

today. I was very late in finishing them yesterday due to lots of random interruptions

and so you had to have them this morning!

Interruptions …… they are funny things aren’t they? Sometimes any interruption is welcome or even desperately wished for – like when I have to write a big report or fill in 84 pages for an OFSTED self-evaluation, then I absolutely wish and wish for something to interrupt what I am doing so I can have a reason to stop! Other times (maybe when I am listening to a favourite piece of music or eating something delicious or on a mission to get something finished) then interruptions are a real nuisance and I try my hardest to ignore them. Yesterday’s interruptions were a mix of very welcome, and needing to be ignored, but the end result was that I was late in finishing my mutterings!

I am in fact, right now, being interrupted by one of my five-a-day! An absolutely yummy peanut cookie which is both sweet, yet salty and very crumbly and buttery! (That would be a very good description to go into your biscuit evaluation sheet years 5 & 6!) ………… yes, that was definitely a very good interruption!

I was wondering last evening, what birds do you get to see or hear in your garden or on your exercise walks maybe? Yesterday, I heard (rather than saw) a woodpecker. It was such a loud noise in my peaceful garden! I stayed very still and looked up into the canopy of new emerald-green leaves just beginning to unfurl and waited….and waited….. All at once I saw a flash of red and there it was! A beautiful woodpecker happily drilling into the dead branch of the tree. “Now Ms Morgan, what type of woodpecker was it?” I hear you ask……. Well I’m not altogether sure so am doing some googling to find out!

Mrs Bennett is also googling….. but for hand gel …… and anti COVID floor cleaner! She is not having much luck bless her ……. and it is in no way as interesting as woodpeckers.!

Well….I have just had my packed lunch, which was middlish. I had a very nice sandwich, which included lettuce, and even some grapes for pudding! “My goodness Ms Morgan.” I hear you year 5 & 6 pupils say? “You are being good – we simply have never known you eat actual fruit and vegetables before!” “It won’t last!”

No…..I dare say it won’t but I am at least trying!

This muttering seems very food orientated! Not that I’m obsessed with it you understand but without my main-stay of 88 children and their needs to keep me busy and my brain occupied, I find I am quite often thinking of irrelevant things.

Like which way does water actually flow down a plug hole? Why??? Remember that question pupil A in year 6?

Or Why is a scooter called a scooter? Or How grey is my actual hair going?

Talking of hair……. I’m wondering what the first day back at school will look like? Will I still recognise you? Will there be many man-buns? Will I see hair styles that have never been seen before? How many people have resorted to their home styling salon – pudding bowls and clippers at the ready! Will I have to hand out free Kirby grips for very long fringes? (‘Kirby grip’ probably shows my age but it’s such a nice noun phrase) There must be some wicked hair-styles going on around the country at the moment! I think we most certainly must have a WEIRD and WONDERFUL hair day when we get back ….. before you all queue up at the hairdressers/barbers!

Sorry Mrs Bennett, yes of course…. I’ll gladly pass you your hand knitted Alice band.

Oh …….. there you are!!!!!                          I couldn’t quite see your face before.

So there we have it, two mutterings in one day, you are all very spoilt!

Just enough time to say I hope you are all keeping that 2 metre bubble nice and clean and tidy.

Keep that social distancing going, be helpful and kind and stay positive.

Bye for now.

Amen …       Ahh….men.

Amen….       Ahh….men ( Two today as yesterday’s got left behind)

A Post Script:- Having found the results of googling woodpecker, I am now thinking it is infact a ‘Greater Spotted’.

A ‘Lesser Spotted’ sounds too small and not enough red. Although it could quite possibly the ‘Middle Spotted’ which is not usually seen in UK but resides in France. I will have to listen very carefully tonight and see if I can make out a French accent.

Mrs Bennett also has a dilemma as she has found 53 different types of floor cleaner! (None of them French) 

19/04/2020

Good Morning Everyone………       Good Morning Ms Morgan…………      Good morning         EVERYONE

​

Well….hello again!

What a strange Easter Holiday that was!

I hope you all managed to eat a few vegetables with your chocolate! I have decided I quite like spinach with caramac now I’ve got used to the taste.

Well….I wonder what you have all been doing?  I’m sure you have all been super busy and super helpful and super well behaved and super delightful. I would expect nothing less!

So…. the start of the summer term. I would usually be frantically doing and re-doing practise papers for SATs now and cramming mathematical and grammatical facts into the already full-up brains of my year 6 pupils. Taking traditional methods of teaching (chalk and talk and talk) to new levels in the aim to ready my lovely pupils for doing their very best in their end of year 6 assessments. Year 5’s would have been automatically driven along by the sheer excitement and determination of their older peers and would have been wholeheartedly putting their all into their end of year 5 test run-up time!

But NO! That is not on the menu today! I have to think quite differently, and diligently get on with my paperwork in the office -  2 metres apart from Mrs Bennett.

I admit that there are advantages …… Mrs Bennett is much quieter than all of you pupils, and generally speaking doesn’t ask anywhere near the amount of questions that you do. She is also very, very adept at making a cup of Earl Grey tea just as I like it (5 quick dips of the tea-bag only and no milk)  I do reciprocate, as we share tea making duties and the occasional chunk of Toblerone!

I have been spending a lot of time in my garden lately and have been trying to tame a very overgrown and tangled area into a useable patio. As my favourite store of all time – B&Q – is not open properly, I have had to resort to building my patio with any reclaimed and re-found patio slabs and bricks that I can find in the wilderness. It has made me very resourceful and although trying to level it with only soil was tricky, I am very proud of the result! It has a certain pre-owned look which I think suits me very well! I have actually not sat on it as yet and enjoyed a glass of red, cherry aid as I have had to divert to other tasks such as moving my green house and making an outside table. (DT was never my strong point so it is a little unusual and not terribly straight! The birds seem to love it however, it could be classed as the largest bird table around!)

Soon…. I am sure I will get the chance to enjoy my labours!  

I have also been talking a lot to the lambs (medium sized now) that keep running up and head butting my fence! There are about 7 of them who regularly come far enough into their field to get to the end of my garden. They all have different personalities and one is much naughtier than the rest! Reminds me of Otto but please don’t tell my daughter! I think hearing the lambs with their mothers and the wonderful birdsong has been my best Easter treat of all. It has certainly made me feel less alone when I can’t see my family! Well done nature!

I wonder what has been your best Easter treat? (not counting chocolate) I am sure you have also been very resourceful and have made and done some interesting things. Don’t forget you can always take a photo or do a drawing of them to keep a diary of this strange time.

All your teachers have put new work for you to try on the school website today, I know, “How terribly kind of them all!”  Thank you Mrs Samson for uploading it …. I really must learn how to do it. I have mastered saving as a PDF now so things are infact moving forward!

Anyway …… I must away now and help Mrs Bennett anti-bac all the door handles and disinfect the kitchen area,  cloakrooms and floors……… Oh dear, she has apparently finished! That was very remiss of me, I must do better tomorrow! Tomorrow- always a chance to put right those things we did not do very well today.

Another day done and the sun is still shining, stay safe and take great care. Be kind to one another.

Love to you and your families and carers.

Bye for now,

Ms. Morgan

​

03/01/2020

Please click link - Ms Morgan's mutterings for end of Spring term.

Happy Easter to you all!

01/04/2020

Good Morning Everyone………       Good Morning Ms Morgan…………      Good morning         EVERYONE

​

Well, running a bit late today! Government is in full swing this morning with

addendums for this, vouchers for that, updates for staff, reminders for pupils and

parents/carers…..they must be exhausted! Bless! So many words in the world!

I woke up this morning and decided I had eaten way too many carbohydrates this week (and last week) so I’m on a mission to get fit….yes, another mission Class 4m….I know you have heard this before!

So, I have devised an exercise plan that can easily be done in the main school office, as that is where I seem to be residing mostly at the current time! Have ditched the lycra to save Mrs Bennett’s sanity … and my modesty, but am wearing sensible shoes and have my hair clipped up. Not a good look but needs must!

Here goes………………………

Whoah – 50 star jumps soon became just the 10, I think that’s enough for the first day!..............

Cripes – have inadvertently displaced a rather large pile of paperwork with the skipping rope.

Sorry Mrs Bennett, I’ll sort that out in a moment for you!

………………. 36, 37, 38, 39, 40!    40 skips – well done me! I was aiming for 50 and then gradually increase each day until I get to my all-time record of 1000 per day. (I was only 24 at the time but I did do it!)

OK…. A quick water rehydrate moment…

Now on to the arm swings……. “NO!” …… ok… sorry …… not the best idea!

You can get past me now Mrs Bennett….. yes...go for it!

Phew! I’m absolutely shattered. I think that’s quite enough for now. Come back in …all is safe again Mrs B.

Well children, perhaps you can design your own little exercise regime to do each morning. Probably best not to skip with a rope indoors though.

Thursday again already, so Celebration Assembly time….. Mrs Bennett, Mrs Betts and I have decided that today, (drum roll) the collective ‘Star of the Week’ must definitely go to all your mums, dads, grandparents and carers who have been working with you over the past two weeks! I’m sure you will agree they have all been superstars and of course you are all very grateful to them. So, Mums and Dads, Grandparents and Carers give yourselves a very big pat on the back …… and here is your star.                             

You are very welcome

​

I’m hoping that the letter writing is going well, Class 3PH pupils! Yes…a little bird told me about your writing to each other some of you. I think that’s a great idea…. and I hear some art work on canvas is happening too! Well done that person! Yes, I know everything!  (My daughter would most definitely disagree with that statement)

I also know that doing work at home is not easy for any one, and so I’ll just reiterate, do whatever helps you, or whatever you can manage. Do what makes you grow as a person, or makes you proud, or makes you less stressed and feel good. It’s not all about class work, it’s about being together in these challenging times and being there for each other in so many small ways that make a difference. (If OFSTED however provide you with an

‘After-You –Know-What’ Questionnaire ……. then obviously it is about Maths, English and Science etc etc!)

So….I seem to have missed elevensies! Oh!

Great! That now means I can have a few mini eggs with my lunch as I haven’t had any 5-a -day! Get-in!

They seem to be my new foible….. those yellow, shiny packets containing little hard coated chocolate speckle-ie eggs …..I’m attempting a new record as to how quickly I can eat them all!

Well, I’m off to do some photocopying now, keep safe all of you and try to do something nice for someone else everyday.

I pray you will all stay well and keep that social distancing going, take care,

​

​

Amen …       Ahh….men.

31/03/2020

Good Morning Everyone………       Good Morning Ms Morgan…………      Good morning         EVERYONE

Well…..hello to you all again, I hope your morning is going to plan and that you have

not become the victim of too many April Fool’s Day pranks! I was thinking about all the

fun I have had, (mostly at pupils’ expense obviously!) over the past 40 years of teaching. There have been some spectacular successes but also some damp squibs, as with everything in my life!

One of the best was in the good old Stottesdon days, when I took lots of pretend Government SATs papers, all looking very official, and when the pupils woke up on their first morning, I announced they would all have to do a Pilot Test as our school had been especially selected! I kept a very straight face and Miss Ward and other helpers were in on the prank. There were worried faces, cries of  “…. but that’s not fair!” Toys thrown out of several prams and mutterings and moanings, as I seated them all in rows! Once I had their full attention, I gave out their pretend test papers and told them all to “…turn over and begin” ….. and there on their first sheet were the large letters of the words, “APRIL FOOL!” Anyone remember that from way back when?

Yes….. that was a good one!

When I taught in a middle school, the year 8 pupils got their own back on me as their very strict form tutor. (Surely not you Ms Morgan!) They rigged up the proverbial bucket of green gloop over the entrance door to our form room and as I walked in …..well…..you can guess the rest! They were a surprisingly enterprising lot, who went on to great things actually!

So….today is a little tame…… but I will dream up some excellent ideas for next year - so watch out!

I’m sure your parents/carers can relate to this dilemma, I have so many important jobs and pieces of paperwork to do but…… I can’t seem to get going on them! My most pressing decision that I feel I must make first, before I begin my proper work is ……. How to choose between the two tins of soup I have on my desk for lunch?

(Yes, much of my life revolves around food I’m afraid to say!) So any votes….. what would you suggest…..

Cream of tomato? OR…. Smoked bacon and three bean? (Rhetorical question only, sorry!)

If it wasn’t for ‘You Know What’ I could ask year 5 and 6 pupils, and we could have a debate on the health merits or politically correct choice! I know you would advise me with your usual care about my well-being! Oh well….I’ll just have to play rock, paper, scissors on my own somehow to decide ………………………..…………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

There, done! Cream of Tomato it is!

If you are wavering on what work to do first, why don’t you gather some data together (not if your parents/carers are on a video link call or virtual platforming please!) What is everyone’s favourite soup/sandwich/cake etc? Then you can do a bar chart, pictogramme, venn-diagram, Caroll diagram, pie chart! That would help surely!

I must admit I am missing our ‘Life’ chats class 4M. No one to keep me in check, or advise me, or challenge me politically! (You know who you are!) So maybe keep that daily diary going and include top tips for an indecisive Headteacher!

Elevensies …so soon! I must let you all get on and go in search of my ‘five-a-day’ pack, (Shortcake today) and shot of caffeine.

Hope you are all keeping safe and I pray that you are all in good spirits and keeping as positive as you can.

Until tomorrow, please keep strong and be good!

Amen …       Ahh….men.

30/03/2020

Good Morning Everyone………       Good Morning Ms Morgan…………      Good morning         EVERYONE

Hello to you all again on the last day of March! Where did those 31 days go?

It’s Tuesday ….so normally we would all have a bit of a sing in Collective Worship.

So perhaps everyone could try to make time today to sing at least one verse of their

favourite hymn? Hmmmm ….which one should I choose? I’ll probably go for ‘This Little Light of Mine’ as it’s upbeat and has a great, positive message. Sorry Mrs Bennett, block your ears if you wish, as I sing out both verses and all three choruses! --------------------------------------------

There, I feel much more energised now! Promise me you’ll all try it today?

It’s safe now Mrs Bennett! Oh right…. Apparently Mrs Bennett tells me that singing is up there on the list of things to do to keep you mentally healthy and happier….. it’s proven to release chemicals to boost your immune system! I really wonder which magazines Mrs Bennett is reading?

On a more serious note, I hope you are all managing to try to complete a little bit of school work without being prompted too often. I have spoken to all staff now and we all agree that you have more than enough to get you through this week. Easter holidays are work free, obviously! (There won’t be enough time, what with all that chocolate eating!) Then staff will post more information on new work for after the holiday period on our school website – so look out for that!

Whilst I’m on this subject, please can I remind you all to keep safe and take great care when you are on the Internet, either researching, doing work, keeping up with friends or simply gaming or surfing. Remember the school rules for your E-Safety and never go on to sites that would not be allowed on at school. Don’t interact with anyone you do not know in real life. Please make sure you have adult permission when you use the Internet and that your parent/carer always oversees what you are doing. Thank you, I need you all to keep very safe!

It all seems very odd here, not having practices and get togethers for putting on an Easter ‘Thing’. I am actually suffering from withdrawal symptoms – What shall I do with all this bossy-ness? How shall I deal with my need for control? What is there left that I can organise? I wish you were all here to help me deal with these issues.

Poor Mrs Bennett!

Mrs Hardaker has been making a large up-side-down rainbow with the pupils here. They are going to put it up on display in the hall for everyone to see. It will have two large white clouds with the words …. “Have Hope….Keep Smiling” I think this is a lovely message so thanks to them for being so positive. Maybe you could come up with a positive slogan or saying today and draw it out as part of a piece of art work and stick it up in your kitchen to keep everyone positive! (Ask first about the sticking up!)

Now, as it is that time, I’m just going to have a cup of coffee and two of my ‘five-a-day’ ….. biscuits, not fruit I’m afraid! Digestives today!

So….keep that 2 metre bubble going still, and as the Bible teaches us…Obey your parents (or carers).

Elevensies calling, so bye for now.

Keep well and safe everyone.

Amen …       Ahh….men.

29/03/2020

Good Morning Everyone………       Good Morning Ms Morgan…………      Good morning         EVERYONE

Well, it’s Monday morning but not like any Monday morning I’ve ever known!

I hope you managed to keep busy over the weekend. I went out into my garden,

despite the chilly wind, and finally managed to have a bonfire to burn all the old apple tree branches that have been waiting there in three very large piles for the past 4 months! (Complex sentence year 5 and 6 pupils – with a prepositional noun phrase dropped in!) Phew!.... that was a long bonfire! (…and a very long sentence actually) I’m sure, like me, you are finding it very annoying that you are unable to do those things that we all take for granted in a normal time. Like popping to the garden centre to buy plants (that’s me) and have a coffee (..me again) or meeting up with friends for a fun afternoon or going to the cinema. Well, because of ‘You Know What’ we are now having to invent other ways in which to keep ourselves amused and/or busy. As I’m a creature of habit I find this very tiresome!

I am sure you and your parents/carers are way better at it than me….. I wonder what you have been up to?  

If you are allowed, perhaps you could build a diary board in pictures or photos of new things you have done, instead of the old things – if you know what I mean. Those could go in our big display gallery when we all get back together again in school. Or, some of you excellent artists might like to build a portfolio of ‘Signs of Spring’ in mixed media …. Whatever materials you have to hand.

How are you all getting on with your projects? Ah… like that is it? Yes, I totally understand. Well….just try to do your best!

I know my grandson is being a little selective on what he actually does at home work-wise. PE in the morning with Joe Wicks is fine apparently…… writing a daily diary is not! Maths sheets are again fine….. spelling and grammar sheets are most definitely not! He has said he would like to do a project …. but unfortunately that is not what he has been asked to do! Life is very, very tricky!

I hope you are all keeping up that excellent behaviour we have in school… and being very helpful and kind to your parents/carers. Remember all the work we have done about keeping a positive mental attitude – well now is the time for it! Great I knew those lessons and worship sessions would come in useful.

Well….I’d better get on and do some work in the office. Mrs Bennett has been typing away like fury and answering her emails….I am now way behind. Never mind, I’ll give myself a stern talking to right now and then get on!

As always, my thoughts are with you all and I hope and pray that you are all keeping well and safe.

Take great care.

Amen …       Ahh….men.

27/03/2020

Good Morning Everyone………       Good Morning Ms Morgan…………      Good morning         EVERYONE

Wow! I woke up to another bright blue sky this morning and am sure like me

you are determined to make the most of it before the grey skies set in from tomorrow

– typical as I will be at home then!

​

So…. pupils, forget the work set today (wouldn’t interfere with adults’ work load obviously!) and get out in the garden if you can. That seems to make perfect sense to me.

As a small celebration to mark having made it through the first strange week of school due to ‘you know what’ …. I am having a sausage roll for lunch, which as many of you will know is one of my favourite unhealthy pleasures! Today would be pizza day normally so I don’t feel too bad about it!

​

Yesterday, the few pupils here made some lovely large letters collaged in natural materials to spell out the word HOPE. They looked great and certainly that word has become even more significant to all of us as we hope for normality to return very soon. I feel very strongly that I need to hold on to my hope, as sometimes it is all we have.

​

I am finding it very hard to be separated from my grandsons – who you know are a huge part of my life and I know it will be the same for every family in some way, shape or form.

Why don’t you skype them? I hear you say?

Well….. as you may remember…I am not the most au-fait with technology.

Next week, however Mrs Samson (Chair of Governors) says we have to get a ‘virtual meeting platform’ set up! Yikes! Now I’m for it… they will actually see how bad I am at I.T.

I’ll have to spend the weekend swatting up!

Hope you all have a great weekend, albeit a strange one for now.

Thinking of you all and praying you all keep safe and well.

Take care of each other and keep that bubble going!

Amen …       Ahh….men.

26/03/2020

Good Morning Everyone………       Good Morning Ms Morgan…………      Good morning         EVERYONE

​

Another glorious morning for us all weather-wise, so lucky to have the spring sunshine.

Driving upwards to Selattyn this morning, I thought how fortunate we are to have such

fantastic countryside around us instead of buildings and concrete. Something to be grateful

for in these times!

​

I must say a huge sorry for not being there on your last few days of normal school. I know you don’t miss me! …..but ….. I miss each and everyone of you and would have liked to have said farewell and sung Shalom with you all. I will have to put that on hold!

​

Thursday and …..Celebration assembly –Star of the week this week goes to …..MRS BENNETT for her wonderful perseverance and un-mitigating patience with all the hullabaloo around ‘closure’ last week. Not that we are exactly closed completely, just very paired down. Without Mrs Bennett and Governors it would have been impossible for me to put plans in place for school from a distance!

Hmmmm strange not hearing all your news of those activities you get up to at home.

I know it will be hard for you all not to be able to continue with your hobbies and extra goings-ons and very frustrating for mums and dads too. All that talent not being tapped! BUT…… great news! Once we have all been allowed back into school again and normal duties are resumed, we will have the biggest Talent Show on record, known to man! I promised years 5 and 6 we would have one, so let’s do it! Simon Cowell beware!

So, you talented bunch – why not use some of your time at home honing your chosen talent or skill – singing, playing a musical instrument, reciting a poem (one you have written?), showing off your magic circle skills, dancing, telling jokes or whatever your particular talent happens to be. (not body noises thank you!)

Well, I wonder how many of you have managed to make a rainbow? I know the children here had a go and came up with some great ideas. I’m sure some of you did too! If you managed to do one, maybe write a poem or a short story about it to go with it?

So, I’m just about to go and have my lunch outside. It is so strange not serving you all and listening to your tales and anecdotes, hopefully you are sharing those with your parents/carers to keep up the tradition!

Keep going with that two metre social distance bubble and with doing at least one thing a day to be helpful to those around you at home.

Take care of each other.

Amen …       Ahh….men.

25/03/2020

Good Morning Everyone………       Good Morning Ms Morgan…………      Good morning         EVERYONE

Well, what a strange time! School, but not as we know it!

Where are you all? It is very odd without all of your voices, whispers, and laughter.

I hope you are all keeping well and observing the two-metre distance rule!

That’s a very large personal bubble – but all designed to keep you safe.

​

I am busy in the office making sure I am answering the Government when I should, and generally keeping up to date with all the hundreds of updates and emails I am receiving about ‘You Know What’. I have decided I would even much rather be teaching science! …and as some of you year 5 and 6 pupils know, that’s definitely not my favourite.

Here at school the sun is shining and the daffodils are out, bobbing their heads as if to say….”Where is Everyone?” Each one is so different – just like all of you pupils, all so individual and colourful.

​

I am sure your parents or carers are getting to know your learning-styles and just how colourful you can all be. I hope you are not working too hard – remember you must enjoy this lovely weather and get plenty of fresh air out in the garden. You must also be very kind to your parents/carers and help them to have an enjoyable time too!

Maybe you could do some lovely art-work on Rainbows. Use anything you can (or are allowed) to make your version of a rainbow. A picture, a drawing, a collage, a natural garden rainbow or even a 3D one. Any art work you do we will bring together and have a gigantic gallery display when we are all back in school together.

​

**A message to parents/carers…….

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Please do not stress about the work sent home! It is just there to do a little bit of. No pressure from school at all! It is not expected to be all completed or absolutely perfect. You are first and foremost parents/carers  and those little people’s emotional health and wellbeing is just as important – as is yours! I know just how difficult it is to work from home whilst there are youngsters around, so just do it your way, any way you can…. and that will be great.

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Above all….keep safe and well and know that I am thinking of you.

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Amen …       Ahh….men.